Overview
The University of Otago is New Zealand‘s oldest university and is known for its vibrant student life, world-class research labs, performance spaces, lecture theaters, study areas, and sporting facilities. Dunedin sits in a natural harbor on the south end of the southernmost island of New Zealand. Located at the start of the Otago Peninsula, Dunedin is surrounded by vast natural areas including the Silver mountain range, the Taiera River and plains, and countless remote beaches that are home to two rare species of penguins. A true student city, Dunedin‘s population of 130,000 includes over 25,000 students and the university is just a short walk from the city center. Study climate resilience and sustainability at the first university in New Zealand to achieve Fair Trade status due to its sustainability practices and positive social impact. Dunedin offers opportunities for all sorts of outdoor pursuits and is a culturally rich town.
Academics
Find Otago classes (classes are called “Papers”)
Fall semester participants (Direct enrollment): Willamette students participating in fall semester will enroll directly into the University of Otago and be able to take a wide range of courses from across the curriculum. This option follows a long history of Willamette students studying at University of Otago in any number of subject areas. The fall program does not include a faculty leader. On-site support and activities are accessed through the University of Otago.
Spring semester participants- Climate Resilience and Sustainability: This Otago program offers undergraduate students with interests in environmental science an opportunity to spend a semester studying topics and conducting research related to climate resilience & sustainability. Students travel and study with a cohort from ILACA schools led by a consortium faculty member and enroll in both Otago classes and environmental science and studies courses specific to the program. The University of Otago has internationally renowned facilities, field stations, and research vessels. These, combined with interdisciplinary campus collaborations, a curated list of climate resilience focused and research-based classes create a wide range of possibilities for students interested in participating in fieldwork. The one mandatory class for the program will be an intercultural course delivered by the Office of Māori Development. This course will include a series of excursions oriented around culture learning with an environmental sustainability theme that serves as the foundation of the program. Students will engage in climate resilience & sustainability service-learning activity both in their host community through Otago‘s Office of Sustainability in their home community before and after the program. The impacts of a changing climate are both global and local; service learning reinforces that we are not mere observers to these impacts but rather bear individual and collective responsibility for actively contributing to a more sustainable and just future.
Housing
Students live in shared housing in Otago’s University Flats (Uni-Flats). Among the roughly 160 flats, there is a subset organized around sustainability called The Sustainability Neighborhood. Students have access to campus cafeterias and stores, local restaurants, supermarkets, and residence hall kitchens. Students can walk to classes and explore the area by foot, bike, bus, or taxi.
Dates
The Dunedin program is available during either fall or spring semesters, though each semester has a different structure. Please note the difference in calendar from the Willamette term dates.
Fall: Early July-late November (direct enrollment in University of Otago)
Spring: Late February- June (Climate Resilience and Sustainability - ILACA Consortium)
Cost
Please see the Willamette Sponsored Programs Cost Matrix for detailed explanation of the cost of each program. New Zealand requires that all international students purchase a specific type of insurance. This cost is included in the cost paid to Willamette University.
Pre-Departure Resources
- Pre-arrival information for international students
- Average living costs at U of Otago
- Otago Application Process (do not complete until instructed by the OIE)
- Housing information and application (do not complete until instructed by the OIE)
- Otago Daily Times: article about indigenous exchange
- Local News
- Local Weather
- Embassy of New Zealand: historical and government information
- CIA World Factbook
- Lonely Planet Guide
Tūrangawaewae Pōkai Whenua | A Place to Stand, A World to Explore
A new partnership introduced in 2018, offers study at Dunedin as part of an indigenous student exchange (ISE) program set up to host students from indigenous communities in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Students are encouraged to take classes in the Maori Studies department. Fall semester only (July - November). The exchange program encourages Maori students from the University of Otago to study at one of the six partner universities, including Willamette University during Spring semester. Please talk with an OIE advisor about this opportunity. Article announcing exchange.
Miranda Livers studied in Dunedin as the first WU participant in an Indigenous Student Exchange opportunity.
