Exchange Report

The semester at the University of Otago starts around mid-February. Before the actual lectures begin, there is a Welcome Week starting around February 15th, which I would highly recommend attending. Especially as an exchange student, it is a great opportunity to meet new people and make friends right from the beginning. During the week, the university organizes many different activities and events, and there are also plenty of parties and social events around Dunedin. The preparation and registration process before departure is generally straightforward. After receiving the acceptance from the University of Otago, most of the necessary information and next steps are communicated via email. The university provides clear instructions regarding setting up your student account, course registration and other important organizational matters. Course registration is done online through the university's eVision platform and is relatively flexible. Courses can still be changed after arriving in Dunedin during the first weeks of the semester. However, if you change any courses after arrival, you should keep in mind that your Learning Agreement at WU may also need to be updated accordingly. A student visa is required for the exchange semester (ca. 400 Euro) and can be applied for online through Immigration New Zealand. Since the application requires several documents and processing times can vary, I would recommend applying early enough before departure. Health and travel insurance is also mandatory for international students. The university offers a recommended insurance option, Studentsafe, which is an easy choice as it already meets the university's requirements. Overall, the preparation process is well organized and the University of Otago provides plenty of information before arrival. I would especially recommend arriving in time for Welcome Week, as it makes settling into Dunedin much easier and is one of the best opportunities to meet other students at the beginning of the semester.

I stayed in UniFlats, which is the student accommodation offered by the University of Otago and, in my opinion, a very convenient option for exchange students. The application process is quite simple, although the final information about your flat and the people you will be living with can arrive relatively late. The price is around €500–625 per month, including utilities such as electricity, water and internet. The houses are also fully furnished, so there is not much you need to organize yourself before arriving. The UniFlats are spread across the student area around the university, with most of them located within walking distance of campus. Usually, you live together with several other international students and a Kiwi Host, who is a local student and can help you settle in and answer questions about everyday life in Dunedin. Everyone has their own bedroom, while spaces such as the kitchen, bathrooms and living room are shared. One of the biggest advantages of UniFlats is the social aspect. You are surrounded by many other exchange students, which makes it very easy to meet people, especially during the first few weeks. UniFlats also organizes different activities and events throughout the semester. I personally felt very safe in and around my accommodation. Dunedin in general, and especially the university area, gave me a very high sense of safety. However, the exact experience can depend on where your UniFlat is located. I heard from other students that some houses in busier parts of the student area could be quite loud, especially at night and on weekends due to parties and the large number of students living nearby. Overall, I would definitely recommend UniFlats. It is an easy and convenient option when coming to Dunedin from abroad, the location is good, and most importantly, it provides a great environment for meeting other international students and quickly becoming part of the student community.

The University of Otago has a very student-oriented campus with almost everything you need within walking distance. There are several libraries and study areas, cafés, sports facilities and a free university gym. What I especially noticed compared to WU is that university life is not only focused on academics. There is much more emphasis on activities outside of studying, with a large number of student clubs, societies, sports groups and events taking place throughout the semester. This creates a strong campus community and makes it easy to get involved and meet other students. Academically, I found the overall atmosphere more relaxed than at WU. The courses I took felt more similar to PIs at WU rather than traditional LVPs. Classes tend to be more personal and interactive, with a stronger focus on continuous work throughout the semester. Depending on the course, this can include presentations, assignments, group projects and other smaller assessments. The relationship between students and lecturers also felt more informal and approachable. In terms of difficulty, I found the academic level to be slightly easier and less competitive than at WU. However, I would still recommend taking only three courses. While the workload during the semester is quite manageable, the final examination period can become surprisingly intense. I had exams on three consecutive days, each lasting between 2.5 and 4 hours, even though some of them only accounted for around 40% of the final grade. None of my exams were multiple choice; instead, they consisted entirely of essay questions. Because of this format and the exams being concentrated within a short period, the examination week felt more like a final high-school examination week than a typical exam period at WU. Overall, I really enjoyed the academic environment at Otago. The combination of a more relaxed approach to studying, interactive classes and the strong focus on student life outside the classroom made the university experience quite different from WU. Nevertheless, I would not underestimate the final exam period when choosing the number of courses. For me, three courses offered a good balance between academics, university life and having enough time to experience New Zealand. ps: i highly recomend the course MANT 334 Supplychain Managment (BLP) - one of the best courses in my personal university academia

Dunedin is a relatively small city, which makes everyday life very convenient as a student. Most places around the university and the city centre can easily be reached on foot, so I did not depend much on public transport. For longer distances, you can use the local buses with a Bee Card, which you can top up and use by tapping on and off. Having access to a car is particularly useful if you want to explore New Zealand and go on weekend trips, which I would definitely recommend during an exchange semester. I generally felt very safe in Dunedin, including when walking around the university area. The university also has its own Campus Watch team, which is present around campus during the day and at night and can assist students if needed. This contributes to the overall feeling of safety around the university. There are plenty of opportunities for sports and outdoor activities. Otago students have access to a free university gym, and there are numerous sports clubs and student societies you can join. I can especially recommend going surfing at St Clair and St Kilda Beach. Both beaches are easily accessible from Dunedin and are great places to surf during the semester. Another very useful option is the university's sports equipment rental. It is basically like having an Intersport directly at the university, where students can rent a wide range of outdoor and sports equipment for very affordable prices. This includes everything from surfing equipment and wetsuits to skiing and other outdoor gear. It is especially convenient for exchange students, as there is no need to buy or bring all of this equipment with you. I would also highly recommend getting a season ticket for the Highlanders, Dunedin's rugby team. It costs around €50 and gives you access to all of their home games during the rugby season. The games are a big part of student life, with a large number of Otago students attending, which creates a great atmosphere. Even if you are not particularly interested in rugby beforehand, it is definitely worth going and is a fun way to experience the local and student culture. For groceries, New World is one of the most convenient options close to the university area, while Pak'nSave is another option further away and can be useful for larger grocery runs, especially if you have a car. Most shops, cafés, restaurants and bars are located around George Street and the city centre, while there are also several fast-food options close to the student area. Socially, there is usually something happening during the week or on weekends. Between university events, student clubs, parties, rugby games and outdoor activities, it is easy to find things to do and meet other students. At the same time, Dunedin itself is not a particularly large city, so I would definitely recommend using weekends and free time to travel and explore other parts of New Zealand.

Choosing the University of Otago for my exchange semester was honestly one of the best decisions of my life. Looking back, I would choose Otago again without hesitation, even over some of the more internationally renowned universities in Australia. The combination of student life, the atmosphere in Dunedin, the university itself and, above all, the opportunities to travel made the experience incredibly special for me. In my opinion, New Zealand is almost perfect for an exchange semester if you want to combine studying with travelling. The country is small enough to explore a large part of it within half a year, which I found much more convenient than Australia due to the huge distances there. At the same time, Dunedin is a great starting point for exploring the South Island. I would also highly recommend discovering the area directly around Dunedin. Beaches such as Sandfly Bay and Allans Beach were some of my favourite places in New Zealand. You can see seals and penguins in their natural environment, and the landscapes there were among the most beautiful I have ever seen. Personally, I even preferred New Zealand's scenery to places such as Norway or Scotland. Another huge advantage of spending a semester in New Zealand is the opportunity to explore other destinations in the South Pacific. Fiji and the Cook Islands are relatively accessible and are perfect destinations if you have some additional time during or after the semester. If your budget and time allow it, I would especially recommend visiting Aitutaki in the Cook Islands. Australia is also easy to include in your travels, with direct flights from Dunedin to the Gold Coast sometimes available for around €100 one way. For the journey from Europe, another tip is to look at flights with Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong. Depending on the connection, you can include a stopover in Hong Kong and explore another destination on your way to or from New Zealand. There are honestly so many experiences, recommendations and small tips that I could not include everything in this report. If you are considering Otago and have any personal questions, feel free to contact me at mueller-elias1@gmx.de. I am also happy to have a quick call if you have questions that are easier to discuss personally. Overall, I cannot recommend the University of Otago and New Zealand enough. The exchange is about so much more than just the academic experience: it is the people you meet, the student culture, the travelling, the nature and the opportunity to experience a part of the world that is incredibly far away from Europe. If you decide to go to Otago, I genuinely do not think you will regret it. Chances are very high that it will become one of the best times of your life. If I had to make the decision again, I would choose Otago every single time.