Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka (Māori) | |
 | |
| Latin:Universitas Otagensis[1] | |
Other name | Otago University |
|---|---|
| Motto | Sapere aude (Latin) |
Motto in English | Dare to be wise |
| Type | Publicresearchcollegiate university |
| Established | 1869; 156 years ago (1869) |
| Endowment | NZD $279.9 million (31 December 2021)[2] |
| Budget | NZD $756.8 million (31 December 2020)[3] |
| Chancellor | Trish Oakley |
| Vice-Chancellor | Grant Robertson[4] |
Academic staff | 1,744 (2019)[5] |
Administrative staff | 2,246 (2019)[5] |
| Students | 21,240 (2019)[5] |
| Undergraduates | 15,635 (2014)[5] |
| Postgraduates | 4,378 (2014)[5] |
| 1,579 (2019)[5] | |
| Location | ,, New Zealand 45°51′56″S170°30′50″E / 45.86556°S 170.51389°E /-45.86556; 170.51389 |
| Campus | Urban/University town 45 hectares (110 acres) |
| Student Magazine | Critic |
| Colours | Dunedin Blue and Gold |
| Affiliations | MNU |
| Website | otago |
 | |
 | |
TheUniversity of Otago (Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka) is a public research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. It was established by ordinance of the Otago Provincial Council in 1869 and opened for teaching in 1871, making it New Zealand's oldest university.[6][7] Between 1874 and 1961 Otago was part of the federalUniversity of New Zealand and conferred degrees in its name.[8] In July 2023 the university adopted the Māori identityŌtākou Whakaihu Waka as part of a major rebrand, with the changes taking effect from May 2024.[9]
As of 2024, Universities New Zealand reported a student headcount of 21,315 (18,564 equivalent full-time students).[10] The university is centred on its Dunedin City campus and teaches across additional campuses inChristchurch andWellington for health sciences.[11]
Otago is known for student culture associated with "Scarfies", a nickname derived from wearing scarves in Dunedin's cold winters, and for a long-running tradition of naming student flats.[12][13][14] In recent years, local media have noted the slang term "breather" among students.[15][16] The graduation ceremonies traditionally include the singing ofGaudeamus igitur (Let us rejoice while we are young).[17][18]
TheOtago Association's plan for the European settlement of southern New Zealand, conceived under the principles ofEdward Gibbon Wakefield in the 1840s, envisaged a university.
Dunedin leadersThomas Burns andJames Macandrew urged theOtago Provincial Council during the 1860s to set aside a land endowment for an institute ofhigher education.[19] An ordinance of the council established the university in 1869, giving it 100,000 acres (400 km2) of land and the power to grant degrees in Arts, Medicine, Law and Music.[20] Burns was named Chancellor but he did not live to see the university open on 5 July 1871.[21][19]
The university conferred just one degree, toAlexander Watt Williamson, before becoming an affiliated college of the federalUniversity of New Zealand in 1874. With the dissolution of the University of New Zealand in 1961 and the passage of the University of Otago Amendment Act 1961, the university resumed its power to confer degrees.[20]
Originally operating fromWilliam Mason's Post Office building onPrinces Street, it relocated toMaxwell Bury'sClocktower and Geology buildings in 1878 and 1879.[20] This evolved into theClocktower complex, a striking group ofGothic revival buildings at the heart of the campus. These buildings were inspired by the then-new main building at theUniversity of Glasgow in Scotland.
Otago was the first university in Australasia to permit women to take a law degree.[22]Ethel Benjamin graduated LLB in 1897. Later that year she became the first woman in theBritish Empire to appear as counsel in court.[23]
The University of Otago helped train medical personnel as part of the Otago University Medical Corps. They supplied or trained most of theNew Zealand Army's doctors and dentists during theFirst World War.[24]
ProfessorRobert Jack made the first radio broadcast in New Zealand from theDepartment of Physics on 17 November 1921.[25]
Queen Elizabeth II visited the university library with theDuke of Edinburgh on 18 March 1970. This was the first time the royals completed informal "walkabouts" to meet the public, and it was the first visit ofPrince Charles (then 21 years old) andPrincess Anne (19 years) to this country.[26]
In May 2010 the university joined theMatariki Network of Universities (MNU) together withDartmouth College (US),Durham University (UK),Queen's University (Canada),University of Tübingen (Germany),University of Western Australia (Australia) andUppsala University (Sweden).[27]
Beginning in 2015 university Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne and Pro-Vice-ChancellorTony Ballantyne implemented cuts in academic and support staff which generated enduring controversy. In this contextThe New Zealand Herald characterised the university's 'climate' as one of top-down 'suppression and fear' for its employees. TheOtago Daily Times reported on 'demoralised teachers and researchers' who were 'locked in pain and anger at what their institution had become' and later opined that 'the university desperately needs a reset'.[28][29][30][31][32][33] In 2020 the University of Otago announced that Hayne would be leaving the university and that Ballantyne would be given a new role, namely, leading the Division of External Engagement to attend to alumni relations and liaising with secondary schools, among other matters.[34][35]
In December 2020, eight graduation ceremonies scheduled for that month were disrupted following threats to carry out a firearms and explosives attack on students attending graduation ceremonies scheduled for 7 and 8 December. On 18 December, a 22-year-old woman appeared in the Auckland District Court on charges of threatening harm to people or property. Court documents have described the threat as being of a "magnitude surpassing the15 March Christchurch mosque massacres."[36][37] On 14 July 2021, the woman, who has interim name suppression, admitted to threatening to carry out a firearms and explosives attack against Otago students. Her lawyer applied for a discharge without conviction.[38] On 12 May 2022, the woman was sentenced to five months community detention and nine months intensive supervision. According to the University Chancellor, the bomb threat and subsequent cancellation of eight graduation ceremonies caused the University NZ$1.3 million.[39]
In mid-April 2023, Otago University reported that it was facing a NZ$60 million deficit due to declining student enrolments and a shortfall in government funding. In response, Acting Vice-Chancellor ProfessorHelen Nicholson stated that the university was considering laying off several hundred staff members including academics.[40][41] This marked the first time since its founding in 1878 that the university has faced a major debt crisis. According to theOtago Daily Times, the university had only started borrowing in mid-December 2022, incurring a year-end debt of NZ$30 million. While the university was able to come out of debt in January 2023 following a regular injection of government funding, the university subsequently incurred more debt in 2023 due to its capital programme of refurbishing existing buildings and building new buildings.[42] In response, students staged a protest against the proposed cuts.Otago University Students Association president Quintin Jane also called onEducation MinisterJan Tinetti to increase funding for universities.[43] In late May 2023, theOtago Daily Times reported that the university had declined to inform staff of its NZ$60 million budget shortfall in November 2022.[44] In late June 2023, the Government announced a NZ$128 million funding injection for degree-level and postgraduate programmes for New Zealand universities and other tertiary institutions. In response, acting Vice-Chancellor Nicholson stated that the university would still proceed with job cuts since the funding would only come into effect from 2024 onwards.[45]
In March 2024,Grant Robertson was designated as the next Vice-Chancellor, commencing July 2024.[46] This announcement was accompanied by a 'major' 'almost wholesale' replacement of the university leadership.[46] While University Chancellor Stephen Higgs and the university council supported Robertson's appointment, there was mixed reception from donors. While some were supportive, several objected to appointing a former politician due to his non-academic background and record as Finance Minister. Several alumni also withheld donations and funding to Otago University following Robertson's appointment.[47] In mid May 2024, theOtago Daily Times reported that donations to the University's Foundation Trust had declined from NZ$12.25 million in 2022 to NZ$7.09m in 2023. University development and alumni relations office director Shelagh Murray attributed the decline in donor funding to the ongoing impact ofCOVID-19, the economic recession and the cost-of-living crisis on individuals and businesses.[48]
The University of Otago's main campus is in Dunedin, which hosts the Central Administration as well as its Health Sciences, Humanities, Business School, and Sciences divisions.[49] The architectural grandeur and accompanying gardens of the main campus in Dunedin led to its being ranked as one of the world's most beautiful university campuses by the British newspaperThe Daily Telegraph and American online news websiteThe Huffington Post.[50][51] In addition, the university has four satellite campuses inAuckland,Wellington,Christchurch, andInvercargill.[49]
.jpg)
The University of Otago has nine libraries: six based in Dunedin on the main university campus, the education library in Southland, plus two medical libraries in Wellington and Christchurch.[57] All libraries have wireless access.[58]
The Central Library is part of the Information Services Building and has over 2000 study spaces, 130 computer terminals, and laptop connections at 500 desks. It has Te Aka a Tāwhaki, a collection of Māori resources,[59] and the Special Collections consisting of about 9,000 books printed before 1801. In total, the Central Library has over 800,000 print and electronic materials relating to the arts and humanities, commerce, education, physical education, social sciences, and technology.[60] It was designed by the American architecture firmHardy Holzman Pfeiffer and opened in 2001, replacing what was previously a 1960s-era modernist building.
TheRobert Stout Law Library is the university's law library and is based in the Richardson Building.[61]
The Health Sciences Library[57] is in the Sayers Building, opposite the main entrance toDunedin Hospital. The Health Sciences Library book collection only includes the last 10 years of content, but does have over 150,000 volumes, the vast majority of which are in storage. There is seating for over 400.[citation needed]
The Science Library[57] is at the north end of the campus in the Science III building, with seating for approximately 500.[citation needed]
TheHocken Collections is a research library, archive, and art gallery of national significance which is administered by the University of Otago. The library's specialist areas include items relating to the history of New Zealand and the Pacific, with specific emphasis on theOtago andSouthland regions. The Hocken Collections was established in 1910 when Dunedin philanthropistThomas Hocken donated his entire private collection to the University of Otago. It currently houses over 8,000 linear metres of archives and manuscripts. It is currently situated at the site of the former Otago Co-operative Dairy Company factory on Anzac Avenue, east of the main campus.[60][62]
TheRobertson Library is the university's education library and is jointly run by the University of Otago'sCollege of Education andOtago Polytechnic, which is also located near the university's Dunedin campus.[63]
The Wellington Medical and Health Sciences Library and the Canterbury Medical Library provide services to University of Otago students and staff, and the staff of the local District Health Boards.[64][65] The university's Southland Campus also has a library.[57]
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The university is divided into four academic divisions:[66]
For external and marketing purposes, the Division of Commerce is known as the Otago Business School, as that is the term commonly used for its equivalent in North America.[citation needed] Historically, there were a number of schools and faculties, which have now been grouped with stand alone departments to form these divisions.
In addition to the usual university disciplines, theUniversity of Otago Medical School (founded 1875) is one of only two medical schools in New Zealand (with component schools inDunedin,Christchurch andWellington); and Otago is the only university in the country to offer training in Dentistry. Other professional schools and faculties not found in all New Zealand universities include Pharmacy, Physical Education, Physiotherapy, Medical Laboratory Science, and Surveying. It was also home to the School of Mines, until this was transferred to theUniversity of Auckland in 1987. Theology is also offered, traditionally in conjunction with theSchool of Ministry, Knox College, andHoly Cross College, Mosgiel.
There are also a number of service divisions including:[67]
The University of Otago and theDunedin College of Education (a specialist teacher training institution) merged on 1 January 2007. TheUniversity of Otago College of Education is now based on the college site, and includes the college's campuses inInvercargill andAlexandra. Staff of the university's Faculty of Education relocated to the college site. A merger had been considered before, however the present talks progressed further, and more amicably, than previously.
The University of Otago owns, or is in affiliation with, fourteenresidential colleges, which provide food, accommodation, social and welfare services. Most of these cater primarily for first year students, though some have a sizeable number of second and higher year undergraduates, as well as occasionally a significant postgraduate population. While some teaching is normally undertaken at a college, this generally represents a small percentage of a resident's formal tuition.
Most colleges actively seek to foster a sense of community and academic achievement amongst their members through, variously,intercollegiate competitions, communal dining, apartment groups, traditionalism, independent students' clubs, college events and internal sporting and cultural societies.
The colleges are geographically spread over the Dunedin urban area:
In mid October 2019, the University of Otago announced that it would be building a new 450-room residential college called Te Rangi Hiroa, which will replace the current Te Rangi Hiroa College along Cumberland Street. The new college is estimated to cost NZ$90 million and is located on the corner of Albany and Forth Streets near the Dunedin campus.[68][69]
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In mid-March 2023, the university unveiled a new proposed logo replacing the traditional coat of arms with a symbol and a newMāori name for the institution as part of its Vision 2040 strategy.[71] The process was spearheaded byTony Ballantyne and the university's Division of External Engagement. The proposed symbol is intended to symbolise the Otakou channel in Otago harbour while the coat of arms will be retained for ceremonial settings such as graduation events. The proposal also involves changing the current Māori name fromTe Whare Wānanga o Otāgo toŌtākou Whakaihu Waka ("A Place of Many Firsts"). Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Nicholson stated that the proposed logo and name change was intended to create a visual identity that reflected modern Aotearoa New Zealand. The university also launched a consultation process for staff, students and alumni that will conclude on 16 April 2023.[72][73] On 17 March 2023, anOtago Daily Times survey found that 77% (1,908) of 2,479 respondents opposed the proposed logo change.[74] The process was also criticised for costing about $700,000 whilst large numbers of academic staff were made redundant on the grounds of budgetary shortfalls.[75][76]
On 11 July 2023, the University council voted to proceed with the logo and alternate Māori name change following a consultation process with staff, students, and alumni. Three quarters of respondents voted to replace the coat of arms with the O-shaped symbol while two thirds voted to change the Māori name fromTe Whare Wānanga o Otāgo toŌtākou Whakaihu Waka ("A Place of Many Firsts"). The new logo will be rolled out from March 2024 over a 12-month period at a cost of NZ$1.3 million.[77][78]
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Many Fellowships add to the diversity of the people associated with "Otago". They include:
In 1998, theDepartment of Physics gained some fame for making the firstBose–Einstein condensate in theSouthern Hemisphere.
The 2006 Government investigation into research quality (to serve as a basis for future funding) ranked Otago the top University in New Zealand overall, taking into account the quality of its staff and research produced. It was also ranked first in the categories of Clinical Medicine, Biomedical Science, Law, English Literature and Language, History and Earth Science. The Department of Philosophy received the highest score for any nominated academic unit. Otago had been ranked fourth in the 2004 assessment.
In 2006, a report released by the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology found that Otago was the most research intensive university in New Zealand, with 40% of staff time devoted to research and development.[79]
Journal "Science" has recommended worldwide study of Otago's Biochemistry database "Transterm", which hasgenomic data on 40,000 species.[80]
| University rankings | |
|---|---|
| Global – Overall | |
| ARWU World[81] | 401-500 (2025) |
| CWTS World[82] | 390[a] (2024) |
| QS World[83] | =197 (2026) |
| THE World[84] | 351–400 (2026) |
| USNWR Global[85] | =296 (25/26) |
| National – Overall | |
| ARWU National[86] | 2-4 (2025) |
| CWTS National[87] | 2[a] (2024) |
| QS National[88] | 2 (2026) |
| THE National[89] | 2 (2026) |
| USNWR National[90] | 2 (25/26) |
In the 2024Aggregate Ranking of Top Universities, which measures aggregate performance across the QS, THE and ARWU rankings, the university attained a position of #279 (2nd nationally).[91]
In the 2026Quacquarelli SymondsWorld University Rankings (published 2025), the university attained a tied position of #197 (2nd nationally).[92]
In theTimes Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 (published 2025), the university attained a position of #351-400 (2nd nationally).[93]
In the 2025Academic Ranking of World Universities, the university attained a position of #401-500 (tied 2-4th nationally).[94]
In the 2025–2026U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities, the university attained a tied position of #296 (2nd nationally).[95]
In theCWTS Leiden Ranking 2024,[a] the university attained a position of #390 (2nd nationally).[96]
'O-Week' orOrientation Week is the Otago equivalent ofFreshers' Week. New students are most commonly known by their seniors as 'freshers' or simply as 'first-years'. O-week is organised by theOtago University Students' Association and involves competitions such as 'Fresher of the Year' whereby several students volunteer to carry out a series of tasks throughout the week before being voted to win. Other competitions include that of different faculties facing off with each other. The OUSA also organises events each night including various concerts, a comedy night, hypnotist plus bigger events atForsyth Barr Stadium. Typically there is a Highlanders rugby game scheduled during the week. Local bars organise events also with a range of live music and promotional deals. Historically events have included the Cookathon and a Miss O-Week competition hosted by The Outback.[97] The Cookathon was held by a local pub (the Cook) with the premise that your first drink costs you about $20 which gives you a t-shirt, three meal vouchers and reduced price on drinks then you spend the rest of the day binge drinking and 'telephoning' the occasional jug with mates.[98]
Each year the first years are encouraged to attend thetoga parade and party dressed in white sheets wrapped as togas. Retailers called for an end of the parade after property damage and disorder during the 2009 event.[99][100] However, the OUSA took it upon themselves to reintroduce this tradition, with a festival like event taking place at the stadium. 2012 Toga Party saw an unofficial world record. A clocktower race also occurs, in the style ofChariots of Fire. Students must race round the tower and attached building, beginning on the first chime of the clock at noon and completing before the chimes cease. UnlikeChariots of Fire, the task is possible with a couple of students completing each year.
Student behaviour is a major concern for both the university administration and Dunedin residents in general. Concerns over student behaviour prompted the university to introduce a Code of Conduct (CoC) which its students must abide by in 2007. The introduction of the CoC was accompanied by the establishment of the dedicated 'Campus Watch' security force to keep tabs on crime and anti-social behaviour on campus and in the student neighbourhoods nearby. Campus Watch reports directly to the university's Proctor.
Riots took place in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 related to events surrounding theUndie 500 car rally organised by students from Canterbury University. Other student social events during the year such as the Toga Parade and the Hyde Street Keg Race are also notable for attracting police attention, but not to the scale of the Undie riots. In 2012 there were 80 people treated by emergency services and 15 arrests by police after theHyde Street party went out of control.[101][102]
Otago students are notable for protesting over contentious political issues in nearly every decade. In the 1960s students at Otago who were involved with the Progressive Youth Movement led protests against theVietnam War. In the 1960s mixed flatting (males and females were prohibited from sharing housing up to that time) was contested in various creative ways by Otago students.[103] On 28 September 1993 Otago students protested against a fee increase at the University Registry (Clocktower Building), which ended in a violent clash with police.[104][self-published source] In the lead up to the1996 general election students trying to stop a 25% fee increase occupied the University Registry (Clocktower Building) for over a week (which was followed by similar occupations at campuses around the country), fee increases were limited to 17%.[105] Since 2004, theOtago University NORML club, led byAbe Gray,[106] met weekly on the Otago campus to protest by smoking cannabis in defiance of New Zealand's cannabis laws. In 2008, several members were arrested and issued with trespass notices banning them from the Union Lawn.[107][108][109]
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| Enrolment By Qualification Type[110] | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctoral | 1,579 | 1,541 | 1,501 | 1,411 | 1,387 | 1,389 | 1,361 | 1,377 | 1,259 | 1,258 | 1,206 | 1,104 | 1,048 | 935 | 829 | 755 | 723 |
| Masters' | 1,469 | 1,360 | 1,261 | 1,287 | 1,224 | 1,214 | 1,216 | 1,281 | 969 | 979 | 921 | 874 | 838 | 1,052 | 1,108 | 1,060 | 994 |
| Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates | 1,591 | 1,691 | 1,762 | 1,654 | 1,542 | 1,388 | 1,383 | 1,477 | 1,541 | 1,660 | 1,620 | 1,566 | 1,435 | 1,507 | 1,378 | 1,353 | 1,345 |
| Graduate Diplomas | 192 | 215 | 243 | 294 | 314 | 388 | 416 | 426 | 475 | 487 | 405 | 317 | 494 | 204 | 392 | 314 | 298 |
| Bachelor's with Honours | 396 | 404 | 366 | 385 | 451 | 434 | 460 | 524 | 873 | 854 | 843 | 723 | 750 | 736 | 769 | 771 | 763 |
| Bachelor's Ordinary | 14,728 | 14,677 | 14,448 | 14,598 | 14,559 | 15,136 | 15,489 | 15,762 | 15,593 | 15,780 | 15,359 | 13,347 | 13,136 | 12,868 | 12,939 | 12,711 | 12,186 |
| Undergraduate Diplomas and Certificates | 14 | 17 | 20 | 29 | 39 | 65 | 73 | 92 | 116 | 152 | 169 | 133 | 265 | 216 | 239 | 318 | 344 |
| Certificate of Proficiency | 1,576 | 1,455 | 1,492 | 1,493 | 1,442 | 1,284 | 1,228 | 1,171 | 1,326 | 1,450 | 1,419 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Interest Only | 13 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | ? | 223 | 150 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Foundation Studies | 263 | 298 | 305 | 292 | 316 | 300 | 303 | 266 | 254 | 273 | 282 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Total | 21,240 | 21,108 | 20,838 | 20,814 | 20,601 | 20,942 | 21,113 | 21,416 | 21,728 | 22,139 | 21,507 | 20,752 | 20,665 | 19,853 | 20,057 | 19,674 | 18,844 |
| Gender of Students[111] | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | 12,711 | 12,588 | 12,272 | 12,147 | 11,879 |
| Male | 8,510 | 8,519 | 8,565 | 8,665 | 8,720 |
| Gender diverse | 19 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 21,240 | 21,108 | 20,838 | 20,814 | 20,601 |
| Ethnicity of Students[112] | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European/Pākehā | 71.5% | 71.4% | 72.4% | 73.1% | 73.4% | 74.3% | 74.3% | 74.8% | 75.0% | 75.6% | 75.7% | 76.8% | 68.4% | 68.3% | 69.1% | 69.5% |
| Māori | 10.3% | 9.9% | 9.3% | 8.9% | 8.5% | 8.5% | 8.0% | 7.8% | 7.6% | 7.6% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 6.9% | 6.4% | 6.2% | 6.1% |
| Asian | 20.3% | 20.5% | 19.8% | 19.2% | 18.8% | 18.3% | 18.6% | 18.3% | 17.9% | 17.2% | 16.9% | 16.0% | 15.6% | 16.5% | 16.1% | 15.2% |
| Pacific Islanders | 5.0% | 4.7% | 4.5% | 4.2% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.0% | 2.8% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Middle Eastern / Latin American / African | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.6% | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Other / unknown | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.5% | 5.3% | 4.4% | 6.5% | 6.2% | 6.1% | 6.6% |
The following is a list ofchancellors of the University of Otago.[113]
| Name | Portrait | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thomas Burns |  | 1869–1871 |
| 2 | John Richardson |  | 1871–1876 |
| 3 | Henry Samuel Chapman |  | 1876–1879 |
| 4 | Donald Stuart |  | 1879–1894 |
| 5 | Joshua Williams |  | 1894–1909 |
| 6 | James Allen |  | 1909–1912 |
| 7 | Andrew Cameron | .jpg) | 1912–1925 |
| 8 | Thomas Sidey |  | 1925–1933 |
| 9 | William John Morrell | .jpg) | 1933–1945 |
| 10 | David Herron | .jpg) | 1946–1955 |
| 11 | Hubert Ryburn | .jpg) | 1955–1970 |
| 12 | Stuart Sidey |  | 1970–1976 |
| 13 | Jack Somerville | .jpg) | 1976–1982 |
| 14 | Jim Valentine | 1982–1992 | |
| 15 | Judith Medlicott | 1993–1998 | |
| 16 | Eion Edgar | .jpg) | 1999–2003 |
| 17 | Lindsay Brown | .jpg) | 2004–2008 |
| 18 | John Ward | .jpg) | 2009–2017 |
| 19 | Royden Somerville | .jpg) | 2018–2022 |
| 20 | Stephen Higgs | .jpg) | 2022–2024 |
| 21 | Trish Oakley | 2024–present |
The following is a list of vice-chancellors of the university.[114]
| Name | Portrait | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Aitken | 1948–1953 | |
| 2 | Frederick Soper | 1953–1963 | |
| 3 | Arthur Beacham | 1964–1966 | |
| 4 | Robin Williams | 1967–1973 | |
| 5 | Robin Irvine | 1973–1993 | |
| 6 | Graeme Fogelberg | 1994–2004 | |
| 7 | David Skegg |  | 2004–2011 |
| 8 | Harlene Hayne | .jpg) | 2011–2021 |
| 9 | David Murdoch | 2022–2023[115] | |
| − | Helen Nicholson (acting)[115] | 2023–2024 | |
| 10 | Grant Robertson[4] | .jpg) | 2024–present |
(with residential college, if any, in parentheses where known)
list ofRhodes Scholars:
(College at Oxford in brackets)(Source:List of NZ Rhodes Scholars)
Academic departments and schools at the University of Otago are divided into four academic divisions.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
