Welcome to Otago Booklet
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2021 WELCOME to Otago Your guide to frst year Nau mai, haere mai, tauti mai! We’re excited you’re joining us at Otago You’re about to join a community of more than 20,000 students experiencing the combination of world-class teaching and unique student lifestyle that makes Otago special. This booklet contains information you’ll need to prepare for a great frst year. otago.ac.nz/frst-year 1 Contents Life at Otago 4 What to do now 6 Fees-free 7 How it all works 8 What to expect 10 Student charter 12 Student support: Just ask 14 Well-being at Otago 16 Things to do in your first year at Otago 18 Academic Orientation 20 OUSA Orientation 25 Dunedin events 26 This booklet is intended as a general guide for new students. The content was up-to-date and accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. The University reserves the right to add, amend or withdraw programmes and facilities, to restrict student numbers and make any other alterations as may be necessary. Published January 2021 by the Division of External Engagement, University of Otago. 2 Welcome to the University of Otago Nau mai, haere mai, tauti mai. It is my pleasure to warmly welcome you to the University of Otago and the beginning of a new and exciting academic year. Throughout your studies here at Otago, you will have access to New Zealand’s best teaching and mentoring services, and you will experience our outstanding student culture, which is second to none. Orientation Week (22–26 February 2021) is a time for you to get acquainted with Otago. Our Academic Orientation programme will provide you with information and tips on how to succeed in your studies, and introduce you to the services and opportunities on offer at Otago. I encourage you to attend as many activities as you can during the week. I also request the pleasure of your company at the University of Otago Convocation Ceremony on Monday 22 February, 3:30pm at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin. This ceremony formally welcomes all first-year students to the University of Otago. There are some letters included with this booklet for your family and whānau. Please share this information with them, especially if you are from outside of Dunedin and they are travelling with you as you settle into your new accommodation. On behalf of us all here at Otago, we look forward to welcoming you on Monday 22 February 2021. PROFESSOR HARLENE HAYNE ONZM PhD HonDSc FRSNZ Vice-Chancellor 3 “Everyone’s in the same boat – we’re all here to study and Life at Otago: have a good time.” Dunedin is a student city and our World-class teaching campus is right in its centre. All of our world-class lecture theatres, research and the best labs, libraries, recreational facilities and residential colleges are situated student lifestyle together within a two-kilometre radius – so, you’re going to be in a safe and welcoming student community. 4 “There are so many places that you can just go and explore on the weekends.” From campus, it’s a 10-minute walk to town and Dunedin’s best places for shopping, music, food and entertainment. And make sure you explore the fantastic beaches, mountains and outdoors that offer opportunities for an awesome range of activities, from surfing and kayaking to mountain- biking and hiking. “I was worried that it would be hard to settle in and find people that I like being around. But it’s been way easier than I expected.” Most first-year students live in one of our 14 undergraduate residential colleges, which offer support and guidance, and amazing facilities and great food. If you are one of our first- years that has chosen to live at home, flat or board, you won’t miss out: our Locals Collegiate Community provides academic support, volunteering opportunities and fun social events. Wherever you live, you’ll meet like- minded people and form lifelong friendships. 5 What to do now Here’s what you need to do to be prepared for success at university. Before you arrive Get your study sorted: Life admin: • If you haven’t submitted your paper • If you cannot pay all your fees yourself, selection for course approval yet, now’s StudyLink can help arrange a student the time to do it. loan. Make sure you get your application in early so that it’s processed before the • Once you have had your course start of your course. approved, a course enrolment studylink.govt.nz declaration will be available in your eVision account for you to submit. • If you chose to live at home, flat or board then check your student email for • Log in to Blackboard and look at UNIO messages from Locals. If you haven’t 101: Getting Started At Otago, to get received any, contact us at ready for university (see page 9). [email protected] • Plan your week of Academic • Apply for a Community Services Card Orientation events. to reduce the cost of GP consultations otago.ac.nz/aow (for domestic students) at Student Health from $25 to $10. • Download the student app. otago.ac.nz/app • Sign up for our social media: • The last step of enrolment is paying /otagouniversity your fees – if you’re starting study at the E beginning of the year you have to pay all D @otago fees by 10 February. otago.ac.nz/tuition-fees Q @universityofotago 0 otagouniversity 6 Fees-free in 2021 – are you eligible? Most domestic students who are new to When you get here tertiary education will be eligible for one • Attend Academic Orientation. year of fees-free study at Otago. • UNIO 101 is your first lecture to learn If you meet the eligibility criteria, the New key info to help you succeed (see p.23). Zealand Government will pay up to $12,000 to cover tuition fees and student services fees • Get your student ID: you will need for one year of full-time study. If you are it to use the library, Unipol gym, to studying part-time, your fees-free entitlement access buildings after hours, and much can be spread out over more than one year. more. otago.ac.nz/student-ID To find out if you are eligible, use the • Check your study timetable: it will be Government’s online tool at available in eVision just before the feesfree.govt.nz beginning of the semester. If you are new to tertiary study and your • Look up the key information about eligibility is confirmed by the online tool, the each of your papers on Blackboard Government will let us know, and you won’t before classes begin. be charged fees for 2021. blackboard.otago.ac.nz If the online tool indicates that your eligibility • Set up your student email: this is how is unconfirmed, you will need to complete a the University will contact you. statutory declaration before the University otago.ac.nz/studentIT/online-services can treat you as a fees-free student. This will involve getting papers witnessed, so you may • See student IT for free Office365 and need the assistance of your family or whānau. antivirus software downloads. otago.ac.nz/studentIT New students are encouraged to check their eligibility as soon as possible, and to complete • Register with Student Health. their declarations (if required) before the end otago.ac.nz/student-health of January 2021 to avoid being charged fees. • If you need information, advice and Please note that fees-free does not cover help with disability-related study residential college accommodation fees or support, register with Disability other associated accommodation costs. Information and Support. otago.ac.nz/fees-free otago.ac.nz/disabilities 7 How it all works Studying at university is different to secondary school in many ways. Teaching periods Terms Workload The academic year is divided For some papers, students You need to treat being a into two main teaching must gain “Terms” before student as a full-time job. If periods called semesters. being able to sit the final your programme allows, study Each consists of 13 weeks examination. This can vary three papers in semester 1 to of teaching followed by an from paper to paper but may help you get used to university. exam period. Most papers include attending a number A full-time workload at are completed in a single of tutorials or laboratories, Otago is six 18-point papers. semester, while others run for taking part in seminars However, if you are doing well the whole year. and practical sessions, or you can take four papers in submitting an amount semester 2. You are expected Teaching of written work. Terms to do a large amount of requirements are made clear independent study (reading, Lectures are the main at the start of each paper in writing up notes, doing teaching method. They your course documents. assignments and studying normally last 50 minutes and for tests). Independent study in many first-year subjects Assessment plus lectures, practicals and there can be up to 500 students tutorials will work out to at a lecture. It is important Examinations are an about 12 hours per week that you go to your lectures – important form of for each paper. lecturers will tell you what you assessment and will generally need to know and cover core make up most of your final information for your paper. mark. Most papers end with Changing course Laboratory sessions (labs) a three-hour examination. We understand that not involve experimental or These finals are held at the all students know exactly practical work for hands-on end of each semester.