This is a guide to help you calculate your fees, understand the different fees that are charged and how and when to pay your tuition fees. The figures supplied will also assist you in making fair cost comparisons between courses and institutions.
Tuition fees increase each year and the fees in this guide are for 2020.
Domestic Fees
The tuition fees listed below are for domestic students only. Tuition fees for international students are in the International fees section of this guide.
Most domestic students who are new to tertiary education will be eligible for one year of fees-free study at Otago.
Visit the Fees-free study at Otago page
Each figure listed in the table below represents the tuition fee for a normal full-time course comprised entirely of papers from the specified subject area. For example, the fee for a normal full-time course made up entirely of papers from Computer Science, Design, Geography, Information Science, Music and Science will be $7,202.00.
Many students will, however, enrol for papers from a range of subject areas, and may enrol for less or greater than 1.0 EFTS (equivalent full time student) in a given year. As a result, your actual tuition fee is calculated on the basis of fees for each paper that you include in your course. The fee for each paper is calculated according to the fee for its subject area multiplied by its EFTS ‘value’ (the proportion of 1.0 EFTS it represents).
Tuition fees bands for subject categories
The main fee bands listed below, with associated fees (GST inclusive) are for New Zealand citizens or those who hold a New Zealand residence visa; and are residing in New Zealand for the duration of their programme of study.
Tuition fees for Subject Categories (per 1.0 EFTS)
| Undergraduate (excl. Honours) | |
|---|---|
| Arts, Languages, Theology, Mathematics, Education | $6,027.00 |
| Commerce, Teaching | $5,755.00 |
| Law (excluding Honours) | $6,723.00 |
| Computer Science, Design, Geography, Information Science, Music, Science | $7,202.00 |
| Physical Education | $7,202.00 – $8,326.00 |
| Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Surveying | $8,326.00 |
| Dentistry | $16,011.00 |
| Medicine | $16,011.00 |
| Physiotherapy – Years 2 to 3 inclusive | $7,202.00 |
| Physiotherapy – Year 4 | $8,405.00 |
| Postgraduate Taught | |
|---|---|
| Arts, Languages, Theology, Mathematics, Commerce | $8,189.00 |
| Law Honours | $7,856.00 |
| Computer Science, Design, Geography, Information Science, Science | $9,398.00 |
| Health Sciences | $11,430.00 |
| Dentistry – MDS | $37,439.00 |
| Postgraduate Thesis and Honours | |
|---|---|
| Arts, Languages, Theology, Mathematics | $6,853.00 |
| Commerce | $6,608.00 |
| Law (thesis only) | $7,410.00 |
| Computer Science, Design, Geography, Information Science, Music, Science | $8,002.00 |
| Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Surveying | $10,150.00 |
| Medicine | $10,150.00 |
| Dentistry thesis (Non clinical) | $10,357.00 |
Example tuition fee calculations
Example 1:
A first year student enrolling for a Health Sciences first year course (all papers are 18 points)
| BIOC 192 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $1,080.30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CELS 191 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $1,080.30 |
| CHEM 191 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $1,080.30 |
| POPH 192 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $1,080.30 |
| HUBS 191 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $1,080.30 |
| HUBS 192 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $1,080.30 |
| PHSI 191 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $1,080.30 |
| 1.0500 EFTS | $7,562.10 |
Example 2:
A student in the second year of a BCom/BA double degree course.
| ECON 201 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $863.25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECON 202 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $863.25 |
| ECON 206 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $863.25 |
| HIST 215 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $904.05 |
| HIST 225 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $904.05 |
| FREN 232 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $904.05 |
| 0.9000 EFTS | $5,301.90 |
Example 3:
A part time BCom student
| MART 301 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $863.25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MART 303 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $863.25 |
| MART 304 | 18 points | 0.1500 EFTS | $863.25 |
| 0.4500 EFTS | $2,589.75 |
For detailed paper costs please refer to individual papers under their subject headings
Student Services Fees
The University of Otago is required by Government regulation to ensure a range of support services are available to students. These are funded through the charging of the Student Services Fee.
The Student Services Fee is compulsory; however, there are certain exemptions that may apply. Please refer to the University of Otago website for more information on the exemptions and for a more detailed overview of the Student Services Fee.
Student Services Fee page
Below are the compulsory Student Services Fee charges (GST inclusive) for 2020:
| Campus | Full-year | One semester only |
|---|---|---|
| Dunedin campus | $830.02 | $415.01 |
| Christchurch campus | $265.00 | $132.50 |
| Wellington campus | $165.51 | $82.75 |
| Southland campus | $136.68 | $68.34 |
| Postgraduate students enrolled at Christchurch campus (studying full time, on campus) | $265.00 | $132.50 |
| Postgraduate students enrolled at Christchurch campus (studying part time, on campus) | $40.83 | $20.41 |
| Postgraduate students enrolled at Wellington campus | $40.83 | $20.41 |
| Summer school (up to maximum of $830.02 when included in a full year of 2020 study) | $138.33 |
Students enrolled for courses taught entirely at a distance are not charged the Student Services Fee.
The Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) membership is voluntary in 2020 and there is no charge for membership.
Administration fees
The following non-refundable fees (GST inclusive) may be charged (where applicable):
| Fee for late payment of fees | $100.00 |
| Plus additional charge per month or part thereof | $25.00 |
| Fee for late paper submission | $120.00 |
| Fee for late declaration completion | $120.00 |
| Application for Special admission | $93.00 |
| Application for Discretionary Entrance | $93.00 |
| Application for Admission ad eundem statum | $93.00 |
| Credit for study elsewhere | $93.00 |
| Final Exam Only (per paper) | $93.00 |
| Reinstatement of enrolment after cancellation | $59.00 |
| Tuition refund fee (for students who withdraw from their entire course) | $100.00 |
Payment of fees
The University issues your invoice via the ‘My Account’ page in eVision with all the information you need to organise payment. Once your fees have been paid and you’ve completed course enrolment, you’re officially enrolled.
Fees should be paid, or student loan arrangements finalised, before you begin your studies.
Note: Tuition fee invoices are displayed in a student’s eVision portal, the University of Otago does not post printed invoices to students.
Tuition Fee Due Dates
Please see below for the due date for payment of tuition fees:
| Students registering for study at the start of the academic year are required to pay all fees enrolled for by | 10 February 2020 |
| Students registering for second semester study only are required to pay all fees enrolled for by | 10 July 2020 |
| Students registering for Summer School are required to pay all Summer School fees enrolled for by | 10 January 2020 |
A late payment fee of $100.00 will be charged if accounts are not paid by the due date.
If a student increases their programme of study during the year by adding one or more papers, the additional tuition fee for those papers is payable 20 days from when the change of course is registered.
Method of payment
Fees must be paid in New Zealand Dollars and can be paid by any one of the following means:
1. Internet banking (NZ bank account holders)
Internet banking via Bill Pay is possible from all major New Zealand Banks.
| Bank and address: | Westpac New Zealand LimitedWestpac Moray Place BranchPO Box 5345, Dunedin 9058NEW ZEALAND |
| Bank Account Name: | University of Otago – Student Tuition |
| Bank Account Number: | 03-0175-0660238-01 |
| SWIFT Code: | WPACNZ2W (for payments outside N.Z.) |
Please ensure you add your name and student ID as the payment reference.
2. Western Union Business Solutions payment portal – GlobalPay
For International students the University of Otago uses the Western Union Business Solutions payment portal, GlobalPay, for you to pay your tuition, accommodation and insurance fees. GlobalPay now accepts Credit Card as one of the payment options for certain currencies.
Find out more about paying your fees through the Western Union Business Solutions payment portal (and to log in to make your payment)
3. Telegraphic Transfer
If you are not able to use the Western Union Business Solutions payment portal and need to make your payment from an International bank account, you can make payment via telegraphic transfer to the University of Otago bank account:
| Bank and address: | Westpac New Zealand LimitedWestpac Moray Place BranchPO Box 5345, Dunedin 9058NEW ZEALAND |
| Bank Account Name: | University of Otago – Student Tuition |
| Bank Account Number: | 03-0175-0660238-01 |
| SWIFT Code: | WPACNZ2W (for payments outside N.Z.) |
Please ensure you add your name and student ID as the payment reference.
4. Government Student Loan – Studylink
The Ministry of Social Development administers the Student Loan Scheme.
Visit the StudyLink website for applications
Please apply for your Student Loan early. After your loan is pre-approved, StudyLink contacts the University to request your enrolment and tuition fee information provided you have selected the ‘Pay fees’ option in your application. These details can be confirmed to StudyLink once you have completed Course Declaration.
StudyLink will pay the tuition fees from an approved Student Loan directly to the University. It is important that you keep track of your application via your MyStudyLink and make sure that your Student Loan is finalised by the time you commence study.
Note: Student loan does not cover administration fees such as Admission fees, late fees and Final Exam Only fees. This means that you will personally need to arrange payment for any of these fees incurred.
5. Payment at AskOtago (Dunedin campus only)
Payment by EFTPOS and Credit Card is available on the Dunedin campus at the AskOtago Counter located in the Link (by the Central Library).
Please note payment by Credit Card will incur a non-refundable 2% surcharge
Each bank has a set daily transaction limit for the amount that can be processed by EFTPOS per day. To find out more about daily transaction limits please contact your bank.
Please note that the University of Otago can no longer process a cash payment for tuition fees on campus. If you wish to pay your tuition fees with cash you will need to go to a Westpac branch to deposit your payment into the University of Otago Tuition bank account.
6. Scholarship
If your tuition fees are to be covered by a University of Otago scholarship and it has not been applied to your fee account, it means that the internal processing has yet to be completed.
7. Third Party Payments
If you receive a tuition fee account and your invoice should be directed to a third party such as your employer; please contact the Fees Office for assistance.
Changes of course
If you wish to add, drop, or change papers, and have completed the course approval declaration, you will need to complete a change request form.
Visit the change request form page
The 2020 deadlines for making changes to your course are below:
| Adding – by 5pm on: | Deletion – by 5pm on: | Withdrawing – by 5pm | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer School Papers | 13 January 2020 | 13 January 2020 | 3 February 2020 |
| First semester papers | 28 February 2020 | 13 March 2020 | 1 May 2020 |
| Full year papers | 28 February 2020 | 20 March 2020 | 11 September 2020 |
| Second semester papers | 10 July 2020 | 24 July 2020 | 11 September 2020 |
If you add a paper to your enrolment, any additional fees incurred are payable 20 days from when the change of course is registered.
If you delete a paper from your course of study by the due date you will be entitled to a refund of tuition fees for that paper, (excepting the $100.00 Tuition Refund fee if all papers are deleted).
If the last day to delete has passed, you can withdraw from a paper. However, there is no refund of fees for withdrawn papers, and your liability for any unpaid fees will remain.
For more information, see:
Adding, deleting and withdrawing from papers page
Changing your course page
The deletion and withdrawal deadlines for non-standard date papers shall be one-third and two-thirds of the way through the paper respectively, normally calculated based on the start date and end date of the paper.
See the paper database for these dates in relation to a specific non-standard date paper
Deletions or withdrawals after the deadlines noted above will be permitted only in exceptional circumstances which are beyond your control and which prevent you from completing your course.
Learn about withrawing under exceptional circumstances
Refund of fees
A student may be deleted from enrolment in papers up until 5pm on:
| Summer School papers | 13 January 2020 |
| First semester papers | 13 March 2020 |
| Full year papers | 20 March 2020 |
| Second semester papers | 24 July 2020 |
If a student deletes in full and has completed the Course Approval process, tuition fees paid will be refunded in full, less a Tuition Refund fee of $100.00.
A student may withdraw after these dates, and may receive up to a 50% refund of tuition fees in exceptional circumstances only (sundry and administration fees are non-refundable). In these cases, withdrawal must be completed by 5pm on:
| Summer School Papers | 3 February 2020 |
| First semester papers | 1 May 2020 |
| Full year papers | 11 September 2020 |
| Second Semester papers | 11 September 2020 |
Withdrawal under exceptional circumstances refers to withdrawal after the usual deletion or withdrawal deadlines, in the event that you are prevented from successfully completing a paper or papers due to unexpected and exceptional circumstances such as sudden and significant illness.
Learn about withrawing under exceptional circumstances
If you elect to use a Government Student Loan to pay your University fees, and those fees are paid by StudyLink to the University out of your student loan, and you subsequently become eligible for a refund of all or part of your University fees, the University will make the refund directly to StudyLink (to be credited against your student loan balance). This is consistent with the provision in your student loan contract with StudyLink.
Note: If you are enrolled in a programme and the University has incurred costs on your behalf for external clinical placements, then these additional costs must be met by you, and will be deducted from any refund.
Fee enquiries
For further information about fees, contact:
Revenue Management Office
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand
Tel +64 3 479 9006
Fax +64 3 479 9035
Email [email protected]
Australian students
Australian citizens and permanent residents pay the same fees as New Zealand citizens if they are studying in New Zealand. If they are studying distance learning papers from outside of New Zealand they will need to pay international fees. They are also not eligible to apply for the New Zealand Student Loan or Allowance unless they have been living in New Zealand for at least three years and are normally living in New Zealand.
International fees
International Students studying at Otago pay international tuition fees.
The figures listed in the fees schedules are a guide only and represent the tuition fees for a normal full-time course comprised entirely of papers from the specified subject area.
Many students will, however, enrol for papers from a range of subject areas. Your actual tuition fee is calculated on the basis of fees for each paper that you include in your course.
Tuition fees may change from year to year by a modest amount. If your programme extends beyond a calendar year (January-December), you will be required to pay the tuition fee applicable for the current year. Tuition fees may only increase by a maximum of 5% per annum.
The tuition fees do not include the student services and administration fees. Information on these fees is available in the sections above.
International tuition fees for each division
Payment of International Tuition Fees
The University of Otago uses the Western Union Business Solutions payment portal, GlobalPay, for you to pay your tuition, accommodation and insurance fees. You can pay from your bank account with a telegraphic transfer, or domestic transfer.
GlobalPay now accepts credit card as one of the payment options for certain currencies. The Credit Card option is only applicable to students that need to convert their home currency to NZD. Please note that students whose home currency is USD do not have this option available.
Five Reasons to use Western Union Business Solutions payment portal
- It’s easy to use and you can make your payment faster and receive your payment receipt sooner.
- Save money by choosing a telegraphic transfer from your bank. There are no transfer charges from Western Union Business Solutions for this type of payment.
- You can use your own currency and still be sure that your full payment amount will be made in New Zealand Dollars.
- Once you make the payment, the exchange rate is locked in for 72 hours, making sure that the full amount is paid.
- You get peace of mind, knowing that your payment will arrive in full, on time, without any extra charges or delays.
How to make your payment
- Log into the international student payment portal to make your payment.
- Enter your student information.
- Enter your payment amount in New Zealand Dollars.
- Select your payment method – telegraphic transfer – choose your country and currency*
- Enter the details of the person making the payment and print your bank transfer instructions.
- Complete your payment at your local bank branch or with online banking using the printed instructions.
*due to international banking regulations transactions in some currencies are not available. If your currency does not appear as an option for telegraphic transfer, please select an alternative currency such as USD$.
Need help?
Email [email protected]
If you are not able to use the Western Union Business Solutions payment portal and need to make your payment from an International bank account, you can make payment via telegraphic transfer to the University of Otago bank account:
| Bank and address: | Westpac New Zealand LimitedWestpac Moray Place BranchPO Box 5345, Dunedin 9058NEW ZEALAND |
| Bank Account Name: | University of Otago – Student Tuition |
| Bank Account Number: | 03-0175-0660238-01 |
| SWIFT Code: | WPACNZ2W (for payments outside New Zealand) |
Please ensure that you add your name and student ID as the payment reference.
Note: International students from sanctioned jurisdictions should see additional information on information sharing for the purpose of processing payments.
Tuition Fee Due Dates
Please see below for the due date for payment of tuition fees:
| Students registering for study at the start of the academic year are required to pay all fees enrolled for by | 10 February 2020 |
| Students registering for second semester study only are required to pay all fees enrolled for by | 10 July 2020 |
| Students registering for Summer School are required to pay all Summer School fees enrolled for by | 10 January 2020 |
A late payment fee of $100.00 will be charged to accounts not paid by the due date.
If a student increases their programme of study during the year by adding one or more papers, the additional tuition fee for those papers is payable 20 days from when the change of course is registered.
How to obtain a tuition fee receipt for student visa purposes
Tuition fee receipts are not automatically generated. To request a tuition fee receipt for student visa application purposes, contact the appropriate email address:
New students:
Email [email protected]
Returning students:
Email [email protected]
Tuition fee receipts cannot be issued until your payment has been received into the University of Otago bank account. Due to this we encourage new students to make payment well in advance of their student visa application deadline to allow the Revenue Management Office and the Student Visa Office time to supply a receipt.
Tuition fees for International PhD students
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students are eligible to pay tuition fees at the New Zealand domestic level. International PhD students must be resident in New Zealand during their study, apart from approved temporary absences overseas for the purposes of doctoral research, to be classified as domestic fee paying students.
Dependants of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students will be treated as New Zealand domestic students for the purposes of fee payment at primary (approximately 5–12 years of age) and secondary (approximately 13–18 years of age) schools.
Refund Policy for International Students
If the University withdraws an offer of a place or is unable to provide the course, all tuition fees paid are fully refundable. If, however, an offer is withdrawn on the basis of incorrect or incomplete information supplied by the student, the University reserves the right to retain up to 10% of the course fee.
A student who has received a conditional offer of a place but fails to meet the conditions of the offer will have the course deposit and any tuition fees refunded in full.
A student who has not been required to secure his/her place with a deposit, must provide written notice of withdrawal from courses by 5pm (NZ time) on:
| Summer School papers | 13 January 2020 |
| First semester papers | 13 March 2020 |
| Full year papers | 20 March 2020 |
| Second semester papers | 24 July 2020 |
If a student deletes in full and has completed the Course Declaration process, tuition fees paid will be refunded in full, less a Tuition Refund fee of $100.00.
Fee Protection Policy
The University is governed by the Public Finance Act, the Education Act, and University Council regulations in regard of student fees. An individual fee account is maintained for each enrolled student. In the event that the University is not able to offer an academic programme for the semester intake indicated on the student’s Offer of Place, all funds will be refunded to the student. Further information on the University’s refund policy for international students can be found above.
Change of Status
International students who are granted New Zealand residency while enrolled may be eligible to pay domestic fees for the current and subsequent years (see below). Proof of change of residential status can be demonstrated only by presenting an original passport and letter confirming eVisa approval.
To be considered for a refund of fees to the equivalent domestic fee level, the date of award of the residence visa (as printed on the eVisa approval letter) must be prior to:
| Summer School papers | 13 January 2020 |
| First semester papers | 13 March 2020 |
| Full year papers | 20 March 2020 |
| Second semester papers | 24 July 2020 |
Award of the residence visa after these dates will mean ongoing charging at the international tuition rate for the duration of the paper(s). International students with pending New Zealand residency are advised to seek advice from the University about their situation prior to enrolment.
Information is available directly from:
The International Office
University of Otago
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand
Tel +64 3 479 8344
Fax +64 3 479 8367
Email [email protected]