Students at the University of Otago apply for accommodation in residential colleges using the Te Puna system as part of the University admission application process.
Who is this available to
Students who have applied for accommodation in a residential college, including:
- Prospective students in their first year of study
- Current students
- Pathway Te Huarahi programme students
- Otago Polytechnic students
- Tū Kahika students
- Pacific Foundation Scholarship students
How do I accept or decline an offer of place in a residential college
The first round of offers of place is sent in the first week of October. Further offers continue to be made until mid-February, as spaces become available.
You will receive one of the following outcomes:
- An offer of place from one of your three preferred colleges
- An offer of place from a college not listed as one of your preferences
- Advice that you have been placed on the general waitlist
University-owned colleges
The University-owned colleges are:
- 192 Castle
- Aquinas
- Arana
- Caroline Freeman
- Carrington
- Cumberland
- Hayward
- Studholme
- Te Rangihīroa
- UniCol
If you receive an offer from a University-owned college, your offer letter, contract, and college handbook are available in Te Puna.
To accept or decline this offer:
- Go to the Te Puna student accommodation portal.
- Select Login with personal email to log in.
- To accept the offer:
- Pay the Entry and Activities fee before the deadline
- Register a guarantor for your stay
- Te Puna sends an email to your nominated guarantor requesting their acceptance.
Affiliated colleges
The affiliated colleges are:
- Knox
- Salmond
- St Margarets
- Selwyn
If you receive an offer from an affiliated college, your offer letter, contract, and college handbook are sent to the email address used in your application.
To accept or decline this offer:
- Follow the instructions in the offer letter email.
- Accept or decline the offer before the stated deadline.
The deadline is provided in the offer letter. The date changes each year but is usually around the end of October.
Accepting the offer
Accepting an offer creates an agreement between you and the college.
If you receive an offer from a college that was not one of your top three preferences, consider this carefully. Each of your preferred colleges reviews your application first, but colleges aim to create a diverse student community.
Once an offer is made:
- You cannot decline the offer and be on a waitlist for a preferred college
- You cannot accept the offer and also be placed on the general waitlist
Contact the college directly if you have concerns about your offer.
Declining the offer
If you receive an offer from a residential college that is not your first preference, you can decline the offer and request placement on the general waitlist. There is no guarantee of receiving another offer.
If you wish to do this, or if you plan not to study at Otago or no longer require college accommodation, decline your offer as early as possible. This allows places to be offered to other students on the waitlist.
General waitlist
If you decline your offer, you can request to go on to the general waitlist. This waitlist also contains students who:
- Did not receive an offer during the first round
- Misssed the deadline for application
This is a general waitlist, not a waitlist for a specific college.
Places are offered when spaces become available, often as other students change their plans. Offers can be made up to the start of classes.
There is no priority order on the waitlist. It is divided into three gender categories that colleges can select from.
FAQs about the General Waitlist
How much does this cost
When you accept a residential college offer, you pay the Entry and Activities fee. This fee is also known as the Student Placement and Activities fee, Entry fee, or Acceptance fee.
The fee amount is listed on each individual college website:
Official University of Otago residential colleges
- The fee is usually due within 14 days of receiving your offer of place
- The exact deadline is stated in the offer email
- The fee is paid as a lump sum
- Student loans, allowances, and scholarships cannot be used to pay this fee
Contact the college directly with any questions about the fee.
For general fee information, refer to the related article: Residential college fees