University of Otago

351–400th
World University Rankings 2025
94th
Impact Rankings 2024
362 Leith Street, North Dunedi, Dunedin, Otago, 9054, New Zealand

About University of Otago

Located in Dunedin, the University of Otago was first established in 1869, making it the oldest university in New Zealand. As well as its main campus, there is a nearby campus in Invercargill and two further campuses in Christchurch and Wellington, which both focus on health sciences.

There are around 20,000 students at the university, representing more than 100 nations around the world.

The university is organised into four divisions: health sciences, sciences, humanities and the Otago Business School, also known as the division of commerce. Within these divisions students can choose from around 140 different courses, from economics to anthropology, zoology to neuroscience. There is a flexible structure to undergraduate degrees and students can follow a major and minor style course which allows them to study across a number of different subjects.

There are also a huge range of options for postgraduate study at the University of Otago, which has the highest proportion of PhD students at any New Zealand university.

Most students will study at the main Dunedin campus and live in one of the 15 well-appointed and friendly residential colleges or nearby flats. Dunedin itself is well known for its vibrant student community.

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Explore rankings data for University of Otago

All ranked institutions have an overall score and 4 pillar scores. However for each pillar, only institutions ranked in the top 500 overall or the top 500 in this pillar have a publicly visible score

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Key statistics

  • 61 : 39
    Student Ratio of Females to Males
    (1)
  • 15%
    Percentage of International Students
    (1)
  • 20.1
    No. of students per staff
    (1)
  • 18,927
    Number of FTE Students
    (1)
  • 28%
    Proportion of ISR Publications
    (1)
Based on data collected for the (1) 2025 World University Rankings

Subjects taught at University of Otago

  • Physical sciences

    • Chemistry
    • Mathematics & Statistics
    • Physics & Astronomy
    • Geology, Environmental, Earth & Marine Sciences
  • Social sciences

    • Politics & International Studies (incl Development Studies)
    • Communication & Media Studies
    • Geography
    • Sociology
  • Computer science

    • Computer Science
  • Clinical, pre-clinical & health

    • Other Health
    • Medicine & Dentistry
  • Business & economics

    • Business & Management
    • Accounting & Finance
    • Economics & Econometrics
  • Life sciences

    • Biological Sciences
    • Agriculture & Forestry
    • Sport Science
  • Arts & humanities

    • Art, Performing Arts & Design
    • Languages, Literature & Linguistics
    • History, Philosophy & Theology
    • Archaeology
  • Education

    • Education
  • Law

    • Law
  • Psychology

    • Psychology