Founded in 1869, the University of Otago is New Zealand’s first university. Otago has been recognised as
- one of the 16 most beautiful campuses in the world
- Ranked in the Top 1% of higher education institutions in the world
- Highest possible rating of 5 stars plus in QS Global University performance ratings
- New Zealand’s top university for education performance.
The university offers 200 undergraduate and postgraduate Degree, Diploma, and Certificate courses across its campuses. University of Otago Reviews suggest that it can be one of the top countries for job opportunities. The acceptance rate stats for the University of Otago reflect that-
- Indian Students' Admission Chances- Around 3-4 applicants in every 10 students get rejected. This means that the rejection rate for the University of Otago is low, and Indian students can have higher admission chances.
- Acceptance Rate- With an acceptance rate of 58-70%, around 5-7 students in every 10 applicants get accepted at the University of Otago.
| Criteria |
Statistics |
| Estimated Acceptance Rate |
Around 58-70% |
| Admission Chance |
About 6-7 in 10 applicants |
| Rejection Rate |
30-42% |
| Selectivity |
Moderately Selective |
|
|
University of Otago Acceptance Rate 2026
The University of Otago acceptance rate is around 60% – 70%. The admission stats for 2025 mentioned below reflect that-
- Freshers- Around 19-20% of total students at the University of Otago campus are freshers.
- Female majority- The University of Otago campus has a larger female population than male population. This can make it a comfortable space for all the female aspirants planning to apply to the University of Otago.
- Indian Students Admissions-The total number of Indian students enrolled in 2023 is 99. In 2022, Indian student enrollment was 68.
Some of the international student statistics at Otago University are given as follows:
| Category |
2025 |
| Total Students |
21,295 |
| First-Year Students |
4,170 |
| International Students |
2,737 (1,787 UG+950 PG) |
| Female Students |
13,005 |
| Male Students |
8,100 |
| Gender Diverse Students |
190 |
Source: Annual Report for 2025
University of Otago Acceptance Rate for International Students
Here is the University of Otago student enrollment data by location:
|
Particulars
|
Student Enrollment for 2026
|
|
European / Pākehā
|
72.8%
|
|
Māori
|
12%
|
|
Asian
|
20%
|
|
Pacific
|
6.6%
|
|
Middle Eastern / Latin American / African
|
4.2%
|
|
Other / Unknown
|
3%
|
University of Otago Requirements for International Students
The University of Otago admission requirements for international students for UG and PG courses are given below:
UG
- Students should have completed 12 years of schooling. An overall average of 75% is required and a minimum of 60% is required in English if students have All-India Senior School Certificate, Indian School Certificate (ISC), Karnataka, Maharashtra, or West Bengal State Board examinations
- Students must have passed Class 12 via all other Higher Secondary State Board examinations. They need an overall of 80% and a minimum of 65% in English
PG
- A minimum of bachelor’s level qualification in the same field is required
- Additional requirements such as relevant work experience and / or professional registration in New Zealand may also be required
- For admission to PhD courses, the completion of a master’s degree or a first-class or upper-second-class honors degree in the same area of study, or a related discipline as the intended area of research is required
Tips to get selected at University of Otago
Having an acceptance rate of 60%-70%, the University of Otago is a moderately selective university to get into; hence, students should have an exceptional academic record. Some of the tips to get into this university:
- Research properly about the requirements: Applicants should check the entry requirements thoroughly. Make sure to check the general as well as course-wise Uni of Otago entry requirements
- Ensure that the application is complete: Make sure to submit the Otago University application before the mentioned application deadline. Craft the application in such a way that it is complete in every sense. Enter all the correct details entered in the application form and submit the required documents
- Build a strong applicant profile: Apart from achieving good scores, applicants must participate in activities, volunteering, competitions, etc.
- Know the University Reputation- Know about University of Otago Rankings from here
University of Otago Acceptance Rate vs University of Waikato Acceptance Rate
As per unofficial sources, the University of Otago acceptance rate is around 60% - 70%. The University of Waikato acceptance rate is around 71%. This means that both universities are moderately selective while granting admission. Comparing the University of Otago and the University of Waikato acceptace rate-
| Criteria |
University of Otago |
University of Waikato |
| Estimated Acceptance Rate |
60% - 70% |
Around 71% |
| Admission Chance |
About 6-7 in 10 applicants |
About 7 in 10 applicants |
| Rejection Rate |
30% - 40% |
29% |
| Selectivity |
Moderately Selective |
Moderately Selective |
| Admissions Difficulty |
Competitive |
Competitive |
| Academic Requirements |
Strong academic record required |
Strong academic record required |
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