University Of Otago Dorms

Otago is famous for its residential college communities. We have 15 diverse colleges catering mostly for first-year students.



Flatting is also an important part of university life, offering both responsibility and independence. Dunedin has a wide range of rental accommodation from historic houses to multi-unit, purpose-built complexes.

The Student Accommodation Centre’s accommodation advisers are available to talk to you Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm, or you can talk to a schools’ liaison officer.

Accommodation options

There are five main accommodation options available to students studying in Dunedin at University of Otago:

  1. Shared flatting
  2. Living in a ‘studio room’
  3. UniFlats
  4. Residential Colleges
  5. Homestays

Residential colleges

Find a college to be your home away from home

Postgraduate/­Mature students

Consider Abbey College or Uniflats

International students

Options include colleges or flats

Rental accommodation

Find a flat

Short term options

Temporary, short-stay and Summer School accommodation

University of Otago students

If you are planning to attend University of Otago please start the process of applying for a Residential College or the University Flats through eVision.

You will need to select a qualification first and then select Apply Now to register through eVision.

List of qualifications

After you have created your eVision account find the link on the right to apply for a Residential College or University Flats.

You are able to change your selected qualification through eVision easily if you are unsure what you would like to study next year.

Otago Polytechnic, Foundation Studies or other institutions

Otago Polytechnic students can only apply for limited places to stay at Salmond College. Foundation Students can apply for Salmond College.

Start your application with Te Puna student accommodation portal



Are you eligible to apply?

When to apply

Full year and first semester

  • Applications open 1 August for full academic year accommodation.
  • Study Abroad/Exchange students may apply from 1 August for first semester.
  • Postgraduate students are welcome to apply at any time for accommodation at Abbey College.

Second semester



Applications open 1 April each year.

Key dates

  • Full academic year accommodation in the residential colleges should be made before the end of September for selection on the 1 October.
  • Initial offers will be emailed from 7 October, or advised if they are on the general waiting list.
  • Applications continue to be accepted after 1 October, but will not be considered for the first round of offers.
  • International students eligible for first semester accommodation should apply before 1 December each year.
  • Applications received after these dates may be considered as places become available.

Important information

  • The University of Otago requires accommodation applications be made online.
  • Students who have attended or are attending a New Zealand secondary school in 2019 or 2020 require a Common Confidential Reference Form completed by their school on their behalf.
  • Make an online request for a Common Confidential Reference
  • Students that did not attend a New Zealand secondary school, but attended or are attending school in 2019 or 2020 need to print the CCRF PDF file and complete section A and then forward it to their school for completion. CCRF PDF File (PDF).
  • Students applying for an undergraduate college who have not been attending or attended secondary school in the past two years are required to provide two character references.  
    These should be emailed to [email protected] and will be attached to the accommodation application.  These must be provided to be considered for a place in a residential college.
  • Students that are transferring from another tertiary institution will be considered for a place once they have an unconditional academic offer from the University of Otago. 
  • Students transferring from another tertiary institution for second semester, should contact the Student Accommodation Centre as soon as they have an unconditional academic offer to ensure their accommodation application is forwarded to their first preference without delay.