University of Otago students start the process of applying for a residential college through eVision, once they have selected a programme. Other students begin the process by going directly to Te Puna:
How to apply for a place at a residential college or the University Flats
Important dates for residential colleges
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 April | Applications open for semester 2 accommodation |
| 1 August | Applications open for full-year and semester 1 accommodation for the following year |
| 15 September | Confidential school reference is forwarded from school to Student Accommodation Centre |
| 27 September | Recommended submission date for accommodation applications for the residential colleges |
| 30 September | Full academic year accommodation applications for the residential colleges should be made before this date for selection on 1 October. Late applications continue to be accepted but will not be considered for the first round of offers |
| 6-9 October | Applicants will be advised if they have an offer of accommodation or are on the general waiting list from 8:30am on this date |
| 25 October | Acceptances need to have been received by the residential colleges |
| 1 December | Applications need to have been received by international students eligible for semester 1 accommodation |
Note that incomplete applications will not be considered. You should follow up with the Student Accommodation Centre on your application if you do not receive a response (contact details below).
Students who are applying for a residential college and are currently studying at another university will be unable to have their application processed until they have been sent an unconditional offer.
Common Confidential Reference Form (CCRF)
- If you attended a New Zealand secondary school in 2023 or 2024, you will require a Common Confidential Reference completed by your school on your behalf:
Make an online request for a Common Confidential Reference from your school - If you did not attend a New Zealand secondary school, but attended school in another country in 2023 or 2024, you need to print the CCRF form below, complete section A, then forward it to your school for completion:
Common Confidential Reference Form (PDF 85KB) - If you are applying for an undergraduate residential college and did not attend secondary school in the past two years, you are required to provide the contact details for two character references (options for character referees include employers and health professionals). These should be emailed to: accommodation@otago.ac.nz and will be attached to your accommodation application. These must be provided to be considered for a place in a residential college.
Student Accommodation Centre:
Tel +64 3 479 5100
Email accommodation@otago.ac.nz
Examples of enquiries that can be escalated to the residential colleges directly:
- Enquiries related to the residential college facilities such as payments, catering, room facilities, staff working there, etc. can be directed to the specific college reception (contact information can be found on each college's Contact Us page)
- Once a student accepts an offer, most enquiries will need to be directed to the college in question, unless there is a problem with the Te Puna portal
Examples of enquiries that can be escalated to the Student Accommodation Centre:
- All technical and IT enquiries regarding Te Puna need to be referred directly to the Student Accommodation Centre
- Enquiries related to the Te Puna portal, accepting an offer, questions about the college offers etc. can be directed to the Accommodation team via phone
- If staff are unable to get through to the Accommodation team, send an email through to accommodation@otago.ac.nz within the CRSM ticket created for the interaction, outlining the issue and student's contact information with a preferred contact time during business hours
For students wanting confirmation of receipt of their CCRF, follow the following steps:
- Check that the student has entered their NSN in eVision — if they do not have their NSN listed in eVision, this will need to be raised via CRSM to the SA Identity/Admissions team. If the student has their NSN listed in eVision, confirm with the student that the NSN on their eVision account matches the NSN entered in the online CCRF request form.
- Double-check with the student that the CCRF request form resubmitted is for a 2024 residential college application.
- Advise them to allow up to 48 hours from the time they have resubmitted their online request for the CCRF form. This time is to allow the respective schools to fill the CCRF form and send it to the Accommodation team — the Accommodation team will then upload it to the student's residential college application.
- If the student has followed the above steps and it is after the 48-hour timeframe, we can contact the Accommodation team to confirm the receipt of the student's CCRF form.