Tuition Fees and Costs for International Students
2012 Tuition Fees
Information on international tuition fees for 2012 is available for the following groups of students:
The schedule below is primarily for international students who are studying at Otago for the first time in 2012 or who commenced study in 2010 or 2011.
University of Otago’s 2012 tuition fees for international students (PDF format, 569K, 10 pages)
The schedule below is for international students who were enrolled at Otago in degree or diploma programmes in 2009 and who are continuing enrolment for the same qualification or a linked qualification at undergraduate level in 2012.
The University of Otago Council permitted students in this category to pay tuition fees using the 2009 tuition fee rate as a base rate (but subject to annual increases up to 5% each year) for the minimum duration of their courses of study (we refer to this as ‘grandparenting’ the fees of students.)
University of Otago’s 2012 tuition fees for ‘grandparented’ international students (PDF format, 84K, 3 pages)
Note that these schedules provide a general estimate of the tuition fees only. Each amount listed in the schedule represents the tuition fee for a normal full-time course comprised entirely of papers from the specified subject area. Generally, your total tuition is made up of the collective fees for each paper for which you are enrolled. In practice, a year's course may comprise papers from more than one subject category, such as a mixture of Commerce and Science papers.
If you want to convert the University's tuition fees to your local currency, have a look at the following website, www.oanda.com/currency/converter
Tuition Fees for PhD Students
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students enrolling for the first time at a New Zealand university from 2006 are eligible to pay tuition fees at the New Zealand domestic level.
International PhD students must be resident in New Zealand, apart from approved temporary absences overseas for the purposes of doctoral research, during their study to be classified as domestic students.
Further information about New Zealand fees can be found elsewhere on this website.
From 2006 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.
Pro Rata Tuition Fees for Thesis Students
If you are a thesis-only student and enrolling on a part-year basis, you will be charged pro rata tuition fees.
Further information on pro rata fees for masters’ thesis students and PhD students.
Student Services Fee
The University of Otago is required by Government regulation to ensure a range of services are available to students and these are funded through the charging of the Student Services Fee.
Visit the 2012 Student Services Fee section for more information.
Administration Fees
For further information see Administration Fees for 2012.
Tuition Fee Payment Deadlines
The following deadlines apply for payment of tuition and sundry fees:
- Summer School (January): 13 January 2012
- First Semester (February): 10 February 2012
- Second Semester (July): 10 July 2012
A late payment fee will be charged if accounts are not paid by the due date. Tuition fee receipts are not automatically generated. To request a tuition fee receipt please email student.finance@otago.ac.nz . In practice, most new students should make payment well before these deadlines to allow the Revenue Management Office time to supply a receipt. The receipt can be used as a proof of payment of fees for student visa application.
If students increase their course load during the year by adding one or more papers, the additional tuition fee for those papers is payable as soon as the change of course is registered.
Note: Students enrolling in February for a total programme of study of 1 year or longer are required to pay tuition for the whole academic year.
How to Pay Tuition Fees
1. Paying your fees on-line
You can prepay your tuition, accommodation and insurance fees at your local bank by transferring payment to our University of Otago Custom House account.
Sending your money to a University of Otago Custom House account allows you the option to either pay in local currency or in a variety of major currencies, whilst providing a safe and fast payment method permitting you to track the payment progress on the web.
Utilising this payment option also allows the University to identify payments quickly, enabling receipts to be sent to the student in a timely manner for student visa purposes.
Transferring money to our custom House account is simple and easy.
Website: Custom House International Payments
Instructions on Completing Custom House Payments (152KB in PDF format)
2. Cash, cheque or eftpos (subject to individual bank limits) paid directly to The Cashiers in the basement of the Clocktower Building, University of Otago.
3. Personal or bank cheque made out to the "University of Otago" and post to:
Revenue Management
University of Otago
PO Box 56
DUNEDIN 9054
4. Internet banking or Telegraphic Transfer to University of Otago bank account:
ANZ National Bank Limited
Dunedin Commercial Branch
71 George St
PO Box 883
DUNEDIN
NEW ZEALAND
Account Name: Student Tuition – University of Otago
Account Number: 06-0901-0001203-01
SWIFT Code: ANZBNZ22
With reference details of students full name and student ID if known (otherwise quote date of birth).
It is important that the remitting bank quote the full name of the student so that the incoming fee payment can be identified. A copy of the telegraphic transfer provided by the remitting bank should be retained and brought to Dunedin.
Note: Please only make arrangements for payment of tuition if you have received an Offer of Place to study at the University.
Refund Policy
Note that policies and deadlines stated below are subject to change. Up-to-date policies are printed in the International Tuition Fees Booklet, printed in October of each year.
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 5:30pm (NZ time) on:
- 16 January 2012 – Summer School papers
- 31 March 2012 - for full-year and first-semester papers
- 31 July 2012 - for second-semester papers
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 $93.00.
Exceptional Circumstances - partial refund of fees
A student may withdraw after these dates, and may receive up to a 50% refund of tuition fees in exceptional circumstances only (sundry, any agency or commission fees and administration fees are non-refundable). In these cases, withdrawal must be completed by:
- 7 February - Summer School papers
- 10 May - for first-semester papers
- 10 September - for second-semester and full-year papers
"Exceptional circumstances" are defined as circumstances that are beyond the control of the student, and include illness supported by a medical certificate.
Any additional costs incurred by the University for external clinical placements will be deducted from any refund.
No refunds are given for students who discontinue study after the official withdrawl dates.
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 with residence permit stamp.
To be considered for a refund of fees to the equivalent domestic fee level, the date of award of the residence permit (as printed on the permit) must be prior to:
- 16 January 2012 for Summer School papers
- 31 March 2012 for First Semester and Full Year papers
- 31 July 2012 for Second Semester papers
Award of the residence permit 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.
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.
