2O12
Undergraduate
Prospectus
ONLINE VERSION: SECTION 2 of 3
ACCOMMODATION
SECTION FIVE
Accomm
47
odation
Leaving home is a big step, but when you come to
the University of Otago, there are plenty of choices
to make that transition easy and fun! Where to live is
a major consideration, and the options available are
wide enough to suit everyone.
www.otago.ac.nz/about/accommodation
Making Your
Choice
We recognise that choosing somewhere to live is one
of the most important decisions you make when
starting university. A good place to look at your
options is on our website www.otago.ac.nz/about/
accommodation Take the time to read about each
college and what it can offer.
On-campus the Accommodation Office has
accommodation advisers available to talk to you
Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5pm, or you can talk to
the schools’ liaison officers.
Hospitality
Programme
During February the Accommodation Office runs a
hospitality programme. As part of this programme,
students looking for flats can participate in daily
tours of the main student areas. If you intend to
find your own accommodation, plan to arrive in
Dunedin up to 10 days before classes begin to take
advantage of this service. It is recommended that
you book temporary accommodation before you
arrive. Visit the Accommodation Office for more
information and personal service.
Residential
Colleges
For out-of-town first-year students, the popular choices are the 13 undergraduate
residential colleges. All are located within walking distance of the campus, and each has
its own unique culture. They share the core value of providing fully-supervised, quality,
safe accommodation for Otago’s students.
Otago is proud of the first-class undergraduate
accommodation it offers through the
residential colleges, and with over 3000
beds available, it is an important part of the
experience for students leaving home for the
first time.
Graduates who have experienced the life in our
residential colleges talk about the friends they
have made, the wonderful support in that first
year away from home, and the high standards
of care offered.
Colleges function as unique communities, each
in a top location, providing safe and supportive
environments. The staff, including senior
students, provide support and guidance to
help first-year students adapt to university life.
Colleges run regular free tutorials to help you
keep on-track with your studies. They all have
computer facilities and broadband access with
most offering wireless internet.
Twelve of the colleges are fully catered – that’s
three meals a day – and the standard of meals
is extremely high. Toroa College provides
residents a choice of enjoying regular lunch
and evening meals on-campus or for those
more confident, the option of self-catering.
Colleges all have their own Students’ Clubs,
which organises a calendar of cultural and
sporting events throughout the year. Many of
these events are intercollegial. Colleges also
have a variety of recreational facilities and
those without their own gym or workout room
have access to the Unipol gymnasium.
There is slight variation in the cost of
residential colleges, but most are approximately
$315 a week, or $11,970 for the 38-week
academic year (based on 2011 figures,
subject to change). That charge covers all
accommodation, as well as food, power, bed
linen, laundry facilities, cleaning, organised
social activities, tutorials, computer suites,
internet and Sky television.
Applying for Residential
Colleges
Please make an online application from 1
August 2011 by visiting the University of
Otago
website
www.otago.ac.nz/about/
accommodation/application
For more information please contact the
friendly staff at the Accommodation Office or
schools’ liaison officers.
When completing this application, take the
time to complete each section fully.
Any inaccuracies in the application may cause
delays in sending it on to your first choice of
college.
You will receive an instant confirmation from
the Accommodation Office of receipt of your
application.
To be considered in the first round of offers
for a place next year, your application and
confidential reference form must be received
at the Accommodation Office no later than 30
September.
During October, you should receive a letter
and you will either be offered a place in one of
the colleges, or advised that your application is
on a waiting list. This list is reviewed regularly
between October and when University starts in
February.
This application is not your registration for
study, which you must also complete to enrol at
the University of Otago (see page 22).
49
Other
Accommodation
There are many alternatives to living in one of the colleges. There are flats within
walking distance, private boarding and homestay. The Dunedin community
welcomes students and many families enjoy sharing their homes with students from
other parts of New Zealand and around the world.
Flatting
After the first year of study, many students
move into flats. Dunedin has a wide range of
rental accommodation – from studio rooms
to multi-unit purpose-built complexes. The
Accommodation Office provides an up-to-date
flat list which covers one-bedroom to eightbedroom flats. Other services that are provided
are handouts of sample budgets, a list of
students looking for flatmates, flat agreements
between flatmates and helpful hints for flatting
life. The Accommodation Office also offers
a service where flatmates can advertise to fill
vacancies in their flat.
Student Tenancy Accommodation
Rating Scheme (STARS)
As a student you should insist on asking the
landlord about the STARS rating for any
property you’re interested in. The STARS
website is a tool for rating and recognising good
quality student properties. STARS is a voluntary
scheme for landlords to sign up to that gives you
access to information about student properties
and allows you to make informed decisions
about what sort of home you rent. The STARS
ratings are based on information provided by
landlords on fire-safety, security, insulation,
heating and ventilation, and general amenities.
Landlords provide accurate information about
their rental properties in good faith and are
allocated a STARS rating for each property.
STARS ratings also offer landlords who provide
quality housing a market advantage as high
ratings impact on the choices you make.
Homestay
Homestay is an option that allows students to
concentrate on their studies while also offering
them the opportunity to join in a family
lifestyle if they wish. Students are provided with
breakfast and dinner Monday to Friday and
three meals a day at the weekend. The student’s
bedroom is private and is furnished with a study
desk, heater and bedroom furniture. Students
are given a key to the host’s home so they can be
as independent as they wish.
You can arrange homestay accommodation by
contacting:
University of Otago Foundation Studies
Tel 03 479 5710
Fax 03 479 5251
Email [email protected]
Temporary
Accommodation
We recommend that you book temporary
accommodation before you arrive in Dunedin.
A list of temporary accommodation can be
found on our website www.otago.ac.nz/about/
accommodation/temp_accommodation
Postgraduate
Several of the residential colleges provide
accommodation for a number of postgraduate
students. The University of Otago has New
Zealand’s only residential college specifically
for postgraduate students, called Abbey
College. This accommodation is located within
a few minutes’ walk of all University facilities.
For more information visit www.otago.ac.nz/
about/accommodation/residentialcolleges
Many senior students, especially those with
partners or families, prefer to rent houses or flats
near shops or schools. Although there is some
accommodation suitable for couples or families
close to the campus, affordable accommodation
is available in the suburbs, often only a short
10-minute drive or bus trip from the main
campus. The Accommodation Office, the Otago
Daily Times and rental agencies provide lists of
suitable houses and flats.
Accommodation for
People with Disabilities
The University of Otago is committed to
assisting people with disabilities with many
of our colleges particularly suitable for people
who use wheelchairs.
A number of University flats have been
modified to meet the needs of students with
physical disabilities and some secure properties
are available for students who use guide dogs.
The Accommodation Office can help you with
further details.
International Students
International students already studying in New
Zealand schools can apply for colleges using
the same application process as New Zealand
students.
International students who are wanting to
study in New Zealand, and have applied
for an academic offer to study at the
University of Otago, will receive information
and international application forms for
accommodation.
Non-resident international students can also
apply online at www.otago.ac.nz
The University of Otago welcomes all
international students to Dunedin. International
students accepted for a college can look forward
to being active in the social, cultural and
recreational programmes provided.
For further information contact:
Accommodation Office
109 St David Street
Dunedin 9016
Tel 03 479 5100
Fax 03 479 8249
Email [email protected]
Colleges at
a Glance
Otago offers a unique range of residential options.
Here’s what you’ll find, at a glance:
Aquinas Arana
Carrington
City Cumberland
Hayward Knox
Walk to Uni (Mins)
15
3
6
5
3
3
15
Number of Beds
165
398
248
211
428
162
221
Single Rooms
149
398
244
211
428
162
221
Shared Rooms (2 Beds)
8
0
2
0
0
0
0
Tutorials
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Music Facilities 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Fully Catered 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Special Meals 3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Halal Meals 3
7
7
7
3
3
7
Gym (*Or close to Unipol)
3
3
3
3
7*
3
3
Computer Connections
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Laundry (Included in Fees)
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Parking (*Costs Apply)
3*
7
25 Parks
3*
2 Parks 3*
28 Parks
3* 16 Parks
3* 8 Parks
3
70 Free Parks
Linen
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
7
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Bicycle Storage
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Disabled Facilities (Wheelchair)
7
3
7
3
3
3
3
Recreational Facilities
(e.g., Sky, DVD, Pool Table)
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Student Activities (Sporting)
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Student Activities (Cultural)
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Inter-College Activities
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Summer Accommodation
3
3
7
7
3
7
7
Minimum Weekly Residential Period
38
38
38
38
38
38
38
Single Sex Areas 3
7
7
3
3
3
7
Undergraduate/Postgraduate
U
U/P
U
U/P
U
U
U/P
Study Rooms
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
51
St Margaret’s Salmond Selwyn
Studholme Toroa Unicol
0
15
0
3
5
0
Number of Beds
224
211
157
184
136
518
Single Rooms
224
211
157
184
136
518
Shared Rooms (2 Beds)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Tutorials 3
3
3
3
3
3
Music Facilities 3
3
3
3
3
3
Fully Catered 3
3
3
3
7
3
Special Meals Some
3
3
3
3
3
Halal Meals 7
7
3
7
7
3
Gym (*Or close to Unipol)
7*
3
3
3
7
3
Computer Connections
3
3
3
3
3
3
Laundry (Included in Fees)
3
3
3
3
3
3
Parking (*Costs Apply)
3*
5 Parks
3
30 Free Parks
3*
7
5 Parks
3*
18 Parks
3*
45 Parks
Linen
Weekly
3
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Walk to Uni (Mins)
Bicycle Storage
3
3
3
3
3
3
Disabled Facilities (Wheelchair)
3
3
3
7
7
3
Recreational Facilities (e.g., Sky DVD, Pool Table)
3
3
3
3
3
3
Student Activities (Sporting)
3
3
3
3
3
3
Student Activities (Cultural)
3
3
3
3
3
3
Inter-College Activities
3
3
3
3
3
3
Summer Accommodation
3
7
3
7
3
7
Minimum Weekly Residential Period
38
38
38
38
40
38
Single Sex Areas
7
3
7
3
3
3
U/P
U/P
U/P
U
U/P
U
3
3
3
3
3
3
Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Study Rooms
Aquinas
College
THE COLLEGE WITH
THE BIG VIEW AND BIG
FRIENDLY HEART
www.otago.ac.nz/aquinas
CONTACT:
Scott Walker
Aquinas College
74 Gladstone Road
PO Box 6196
Dunedin 9059
Tel 03 479 5562
Email [email protected]
There is no other college
quite like Aquinas. Its
unique location offers the
most stunning panoramic
views of the city and inner
harbour and night-time
views from the dining
room are magical. The
outdoor landscape has
a country feel with a big
open sky: forget urban
claustrophobia and
breathe in Dunedin’s
physical beauty. Inside
there’s a big friendly heart
to match the view.
Aquinas is a five-minute ride to campus in the
regular college shuttle. No other college delivers
you to lectures and brings you home again in
all weathers. The frequent shuttle service is so
convenient it’s almost like having your own car
at uni without the hassles of parking. In good
weather you can enjoy the 15-minute walk that
takes you past the Botanic Garden.
The tutorials are often run by ex-residents who
have achieved exceptional results in the papers
they tutor. There’s also a valuable peer support
programme where individual assistance is
given to help you in your transition to tertiary
study. The College fosters and promotes
an academic community through these
programmes and other initiatives.
One of the smaller colleges, its supportive
family environment develops quite effortlessly
each year as residents quickly get to know
each other and become friends. Aquinas is a
multi-ethnic community where diversity is
celebrated; word gets round and it attracts
those with a good sense of self.
At Aquinas you can choose to live on a singlesex floor, on an alcohol-free floor, in a twinshare room or single room. For recreation
you have the luxury of the college gym with
its indoor basketball court – the only college
to have one – and there’s a pool table, a tabletennis table plus a workout area. In winter
the Common Room, with its comfy leather
couches becomes the place to be, curled up in
front of the fire with a book and a hot drink.
Scott Walker, Head of Aquinas, respects
people’s individuality and understands
different learning styles and ambitions. He says,
“we enjoy the diversity of skills and strengths
of our residents and we tailor our community
support to provide the best academic support
possible”.
You can take advantage of academic tutorials
that are specifically catered to your needs.
It’s a close-knit community where residents
are often more comfortable spending a higher
proportion of their spare time “at home” rather
than in the city. Living on the edge of campus
develops strong bonds between residents and
provides Aquinas with its distinct identity of a
friendly and secure family environment.
53
Arana
College
If you’re coming to
University to work hard
and to do your best,
then as they say at Arana,
“Step into the zone”.
Arana places high
expectations on residents
to succeed and pulls
out all the stops with its
powerful learning support
programme. Life here is all
about getting “match fit”.
It’s a college driven by passion and commitment
to traditional college life delivered in a modern
co-educational college. Established in 1943, only
the best of tradition survives. You don’t have
to dress for dinner, we have a more informal
culture, but your academic progress will be
tracked, you will have the best tutors and you
will live in a non-threatening environment with
great facilities and great food.
Arana House, the focal point of the college, is a
gracious 1880s’ home, which has been converted
into modern communal facilities. Residents live
in apartments, villas or college bedrooms. It’s a
compact complex with attractive outdoor-living
spaces and just three-minutes’ walk to campus.
The majority of residents are first-year students
who enjoy the company of a small group of
mature and postgraduate students.
Staff at Arana function as a high-performance
team full of enthusiasm and energy; nothing’s
a problem. Jamie Gilbertson, Warden of Arana,
is very clear about the culture at Arana. “Our
approach is based on very straight talking
with young people about their needs and their
issues. We have great organised events – many
are legendary, but they don’t happen every five
minutes: this is not Disneyland.”
STEP INTO THE ZONE
www.otago.ac.nz/arana
Healthy lifestyles are encouraged. There are no
soft-drink vending machines, the stairs are used
not the lifts, there’s a gym and table-tennis room
and there’s a huge emphasis on healthy food and
on managing alcohol in moderation.
There’s a WW II poster in Jamie Gilbertson’s
office, which reads, “Keep Calm and Carry On”.
There are also two teddy bears on the arm of a
chair, and just outside the door a clothing rack
full of fur coats. Delve a little deeper and you
find out the fur coats are very popular and can’t
quite fit into the dress-up room as it’s bursting
at the seams. The teddy bears? They have a
calming effect on most people. The poster? Just
a reminder that even the worst outlooks can
be overcome. At Arana, in this community of
scholars, everything is designed to make your
stay the best it can be.
CONTACT:
Jamie Gilbertson
Arana College
110 Clyde Street
Dunedin 9016
Tel 03 479 5508 or 479 5509
Email [email protected]
Carrington
College
THE HIGHER THE
STANDARDS WE SET FOR
STUDENTS THE MORE
THEY APPRECIATE IT
www.otago.ac.nz/carrington
From the street, there’s no hint of the idyllic woodland setting that Carrington
College enjoys inside its urban boundaries. This quiet refuge for tuis, bellbirds and
kereru is home to a 65-year-old tradition of scholarship that attracts high achievers.
CONTACT:
Ashley Day
Carrington College
57 Heriot Row
Dunedin 9016
Tel 03 479 5533
Email [email protected]
From the central courtyard, tree- and fernflanked pathways lead off to various Edwardian
villas and more contemporary accommodation
buildings that are all north facing. A striking
Mäori carving, Te Korowai O Tane (Cloak
of Tane) dominates the serenity. This artistic
expression of the cloak of knowledge is a
steadfast symbol of the pursuit of learning that
Carrington residents have always embraced.
The culture at Carrington College is shaped by
a desire for balance and restraint. Respect for
each other’s rights is acknowledged and well
practised.
In his fourth year as Carrington’s Warden,
Ashley Day is a firm believer in setting high
standards. “This is their home. I believe the
higher the standards we set for students the
more they appreciate it and they do.”
Carringtonians find that those who have
come before them have left their mark with
traditions that continue to enhance their own
quality of living. Leisure and social activities
are well structured. This was the first college to
have its Students’ Association registered as an
Incorporated Society.
There’s a sun-bathed astro-turf court in the
middle of the gardens and a small gym on-site.
Modern study stations and computer facilities
are being added to all the time and some of the
best harbour views are from the newest study
area.
The dining room is the central meeting point
and while all colleges pride themselves on the
standard of their food, Carringtonians are
prepared to break their own sound barrier and
shout about how great their food is!
55
City
College
21ST CENTURY VALUES
www.citycollege.co.nz
As Otago’s only residential
college to be built and
opened in the new
millennium, City College
has a 21st century history
– here residents are
creating traditions rather
than following them.
The most striking tradition to take hold is the
residents’ annual Art Show, which has become
the source of the college’s stunning permanent
art collection, which lends vibrant colour to
almost every room you enter.
That vibrancy extends to the diverse
community of residents; it’s a multiinstitutional mix with students studying at
both the University and at Otago Polytechnic.
Formerly the college also took many students
from the College of Education. Since the latter
merged with the University, teacher trainees
continue to be welcomed here.
Many Polytech students are from Otago and
Southland and it’s common to find their
“northern” counterparts receiving extended
southern hospitality during break times.
City College is big on friendship.
Joy Crawford has been Head of City College
since it opened and has always fostered an
inclusive community. “This is a modern college
with normal everyday kids. Our culture is
based on 21st century values where everyone
is encouraged to show consideration and
compassion for others. There’s an emphasis
on individual freedom without limiting the
freedom of others.”
Close to campus, City College’s modern
architectural design creates a distinctive and
irregular skyline, reminiscent of Dunedin’s
terraced houses. There’s a bright and sunny feel
to the complex and the internal courtyard, with
its attractive garden, is popular for outdoor
dining and studying in the sun.
Internally, rooms are grouped together in
apartment-style accommodation with fourto-six residents sharing a lounge and snackmaking facilities – a great introduction
to flatting. Inter-stairwell groups form
to challenge each other in college events.
Community spirit thrives at City College where
there is a very proactive promotion of healthy
lifestyles and safe fun.
It’s a college that mirrors others with its full
calendar of sporting and cultural events,
plus great studying and recreational facilities
including a gym. The library is a welcome
addition in recent years.
In this supportive and non-threatening
environment, personal safety and security are
always at the forefront. At night-time it is a
gated complex with after hours electronic entry
for residents.
In its first 11 years, City College has created
a tradition of embracing the best of the 21st
century.
CONTACT:
Joy Crawford
City College
911 Cumberland Street
PO Box 6065
Dunedin 9059
Tel 03 479 5590
Email [email protected]
Cumberland
College
“The culture at Cumberland reflects the present generation’s determination to
succeed but without missing out on all the fun. They demand balance in their life.
At Cumberland we offer our residents that opportunity and they grab it.”
AT CUMBY YOU CAN
SUCCEED WITHOUT
MISSING OUT ON ALL
THE FUN
www.cumberland.ac.nz
CONTACT:
Peter Walker
Cumberland College
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
Tel 03 479 5570
Email [email protected]
Smack bang between the city and Uni,
Cumbrians affectionately call their college
“Cumby” just like an old mate they feel relaxed
and at home with, a friend who can always be
counted upon for support, good times and the
best advice when you need it.
There’s a real homely feeling when you walk
through the main doors. It’s warm, bright
and has a real solid feeling that comes from its
1916 architecture. Physically it’s a labyrinth of
surprises; TV rooms, study spaces and computer
suites are tucked in at irregular intervals; doors
that could open into a beautifully restored
formal common room, or lead to the art-deco
wing with its emphatic ’40s feel. The community
hub, the dining room, opens onto a sun-bathed
and well-used astro-turf tennis court and the
Unipol gym is just down the road.
The former Dunedin Nurses’ Home has some
stories to tell within its walls, and the education
tradition keeps on keeping on. Historic photos
are juxtaposed with the contemporary colour of
students’ lives that proudly decorate bedroom
doors like pages on Facebook.
There are little touches at Cumby that make a
difference. Residents are grouped in clusters that
reflect their studies, one floor might have Health
Sci students, and the next Commerce students.
There’s still plenty of mixing with everyone
else but it really works at exam time and when
assignments are due, everyone’s got their head
down and focused.
Cumberland’s
schedule
of
community
activities is hard to rival. There’s a communal
commitment here for Cumberland to be the
best it can be and it seems to grow with each
year’s intake. Cumby attracts personalities who
are actively engaged with the world.
Head of College, Peter Walker has a love of
Cumby that stems from his own time there as a
resident in the early ’90s. He says he’s still young
enough to remember but old enough to know
better! Three years into putting his own stamp
on the Cumby culture, he believes it merges the
best of tradition with the needs of a modern-day
college.
57
Cumberland
Court
the best of both worlds
www.cumberland.ac.nz
Cumberland Court is a 100-strong residential
community affiliated to Cumberland College.
Essentially, it operates as a College with
the same level of quality staff support and
supervision but its different structure offers its
residents a greater degree of independence as
they settle into university life.
Court residents participate in the full range of
social, sporting and academic activities that
are on offer at Cumberland College, or “Big
Brother” as it is affectionately dubbed – just a
few minutes’ walk away. Of major importance
is access to tutorials, both at the College and at
the Court.
Physically, Cumberland Court is a cluster of
26 houses; these range in size from two-to-six
single bedrooms. Tree-lined paths meander
through the maze of houses, with a central
outdoor courtyard acting as a magnet in warm
weather. In addition, the HUB (HQ) draws
residents to its Sky TV room, communal
lounge and Tutorial Room. Residential
Manager of Cumberland Court, Sandy
McNicol, lives on-site, as do four Residential
Assistants whose accommodation is connected
to the HUB.
All meals are provided. Breakfast is delivered
to the houses weekly from the College kitchen,
lunch is served in the College dining room
and evening meals served at the University
Union dining room in the heart of the campus
adjoining the library.
Sandy says the living arrangements often
attract those who have been in boarding
schools and want a change from dormitory life,
or others who have chosen not to go directly to
university following high school. Consequently,
residents have a wider variety of backgrounds
and life experiences. “Every year’s intake is
different but every year a great community
develops. Fast! I see my job as simply guiding
them on their journey towards independence
and responsibility. The key values the staff and
I insist upon are ‘honesty’ and ‘fairness’.”
Cumberland Court offers the best of both
worlds; all the advantages of a residential
college but with the independence that comes
from a shared living environment. Sandy
says, “Three quarters of our residents end up
flatting together the next year, they get to know
each other so well at the Court. They have a
wonderful year.”
CONTACT:
Sandy McNicol
Cumberland Court
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
Tel 03 479 5570
Email [email protected]
GROWING UP IN THE CITY
www.otago.ac.nz/hayward
Hayward
College
In the heart of the city, when you step off Frederick Street into the lobby of Hayward
College, something immediately tells you young people live here.
There’s a vibrancy that reflects from the walls.
Two Otis Frizzell prints wink at you, both with
their loud statement BEHAVE. The artistic
irony is that while there are rules at Hayward it
never feels that way. Life in this small residential
college is about learning to make your own
choices, about growing your independence in a
supportive family environment.
Many who choose Hayward do so because it is
small, you can’t slip between the cracks here, not
with Pauline Donovan’s strong focus on pastoral
care. The Head of Hayward says that the college
motto “Community and Integrity” isn’t just for
show, it’s at the heart of the Hayward culture.
“There’s a great balance here of serious study
and good fun. We don’t go overboard but
there is huge enthusiasm for doing fun things
together. Great friendships develop and
everyone’s really respectful of each other.”
Students love the convenience of Hayward.
They have everything literally on their doorstep
from city shopping, entertainment, fast food,
recreation and, of course, the University campus.
In its former life Hayward was a maternity
hospital, so most bedrooms are larger than
average size. It’s been refurbished with a modern
finish and students appreciate the quality feel
of their home. Cruising up and down in the
spacious lifts is a fast way to connect with mates
who are all in the one building. There’s a very
well equipped gym for workouts and TV rooms
for relaxation. The games room gets the most
popularity votes and enjoys a high traffic flow
en route to the dining room, which is open 24/7.
Each of the five accommodation floors is
home to two residential assistants who provide
another layer of support. They also team up
with the college’s Students’ Association to help
organise the varied social, sporting and cultural
programme which includes inter-floor “Shield”
competitions.
The building has been no stranger to new life
entering the world: at Hayward College you
enter a new world that offers a rewarding life for
your first-year experience.
CONTACT:
Pauline Donovan
Hayward College
110 Frederick Street
PO Box 56
Dunedin 9054
Tel 03 479 5520
Email [email protected]
59
A RICH ACADEMIC
TRADITION
www.knoxcollege.ac.nz
Knox
College
The interior walls are lined with rolls of honour
featuring famous alumni, the trophy cabinets
contain the spoils of Knox’s rich cultural and
sporting traditions, and the Master’s study
is the keeping place of the Beadle’s mace.
Tradition is a big word at Knox and embraces
both the formal and the less ceremonious.
Every year Knox becomes home for about
120 first years, who find the 15-minute walk
to campus an easy stroll through the Botanic
Garden. Returning residents, along with a
number of postgraduate scholars, make up the
other half of this tight-knit community.
Participation is central to the culture at Knox,
which is why it attracts residents who have
a great passion for life. Leadership qualities
and cultural and sporting talents are prized
as much as academic strengths. At Knox there
is everything here to grow your prowess in
whatever realm you are passionate about.
There’s a debating club, Dead Poets’ Society,
film club, drama company, two choirs, an
orchestra and jazz and rock bands. The “Knox
Farce” is an annual feature of the Capping
Show and the 13-code sporting competition
against Selwyn College is always vigorously
contested. In this quiet and tranquil setting
of trees, gardens and lawns, Knoxonians are
always on the go.
In the magnificent dining hall, the Great
Hall, residents dress for dinner six nights of
the week and on Sundays are entertained by
candlelight with classical and contemporary
music performances. Weekly worship, for those
who wish, is held in the stunning Ross Chapel,
also home to the college’s musical activities
including public recitals.
Knox balances ceremony with spirited fun.
In this rich traditional college environment
residents have historically enjoyed a high rate
of academic success.
Master of Knox, Bruce Aitken has been the
keeper of tradition at Knox for 18 years.
He knows every student by name and every
prank by nature. “Students are here to get the
best degree they can and to experience some of
the best years of their lives.
“The Knox spirit is unique and compelling,
which is why more than 90 per cent of our first
years return for a second or third year.”
When you glance up at
the towering grandeur
of Knox you can’t help
but sense the rich history
of academic tradition to
which these magnificent
buildings are home; more
than 100 years old, Knox
wears its glorious history
with pride.
CONTACT:
Mr Bruce Aitken (Master)
Knox College
Knox Street
Dunedin 9010
Tel 03 473 0107
Email [email protected]
St Margaret’s
College
WHERE SCHOLARS BECOME CITIZENS
www.stmargarets.ac.nz
St Margaret’s has an air of graciousness in keeping with its 100-year-old
history; everything about it feels solid. This is a traditional independent
college for independent-minded students.
Situated in the heart of campus, St Margaret’s
grounds are full of colour and perfume, with
native trees and beautiful flower gardens. Inside,
the rich interior furnishings are offset by a
growing collection of impressive New Zealand
art. There’s a real sense of warmth here from the
moment you open the front door.
Reverend Dr Peter Norris has been the popular
Master at St Margaret’s for more than 20 years.
An academic, Dr Norris’s identity has almost
become synonymous with that of St Margaret’s.
He has a genuine interest in students. At the
start of the year he meets with all students on a
one-to-one basis, and during the year organises
ongoing academic assistance when it’s needed.
Sometimes spoken of as “the quiet college”,
St Margaret’s attracts high achievers who
appreciate the supportive study environment.
Tutorials are held in many first- and second-year
papers including Law and all first-year Health
Science papers. A third of residents are returning
students who take up mentor roles, providing
another rich layer of academic support. Plus
there’s wireless internet.
Dr Norris fosters a culture that encourages
personal growth. “At St Margaret’s our scholars
become citizens. Formality has its place but it
doesn’t dominate. We have fun but it is always
based on courtesy and consideration for others.”
There’s a strong tradition of involvement in
Community Service projects, which have
included working with Habitat for Humanity,
Friendlink, Orokonui Bird Sanctuary and Te
Araiteuru Marae.
At St Margaret’s you can be stimulated by more
than just your own studies: at formal Sunday
dinners you mix and chat with academic guests;
academic breakfasts provide an opportunity
to debate issues in other disciplines; language
groups meet casually over organised suppers.
The traditional annual calendar of studentorganised and inter-college events includes
a ball, a skiing trip and the opportunity to
participate in social and competitive sports
teams.
St Margaret’s also boasts generous music
facilities with four pianos, an electronic
keyboard, a music room for private practice and
Sibelius music software for music composition.
Then there’s the choir – often 70 members
strong.
Plenty of food for the soul, and kitchen chefs
whose own offerings are praised at every sitting.
As Dr Norris states, “At St Margaret’s we have
everything to lift the spirits.”
CONTACT:
Dr Peter Norris
St Margaret’s College
333 Leith Street
Dunedin 9016
Tel 03 479 5540
Email [email protected]
61
Salmond
College
LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER
www.salmondcollege.ac.nz
The first thing that strikes you when you arrive at Salmond is the sun.
Ceiling to floor windows are bathed in sunlight, and at every turn the
magnificent grounds and gardens are beckoning you outside.
Here there’s no escaping the beauty and colour
of Dunedin’s four seasons – inside and out, life
at Salmond is an enriching first-year experience.
Salmond breeds strong attachments and family
loyalty sees brothers and sisters of former
residents waiting their turn to belong to this
supportive community where the Head of
College, Bruce Cowan, encourages everyone to
look out for each other.
“Salmond is full of normal everyday kids: many
arrive scared stiff but it is a joy to watch how
they develop confidence through the year and
grow as individuals. I push the family concept:
we are all adults here and we treat each other
with respect.”
Purpose-built as a university residential college
40 years ago, everything about Salmond’s
living-space works. This small-to medium-sized
community, 211 residents all under the one roof,
is spoilt with generous facilities and a huge sense
of space. The dining room caters for everyone in
one sitting, the common room is expansive plus
there are kitchenettes on every floor. Tutorial
rooms are modern and roomy.
“We place a strong emphasis on the academic
side. It’s a great supportive study environment
with respect for the rules about where and when
you can be noisy.”
However, you can count on Salmond making its
share of the noise when they pitch themselves
against other colleges in a wide range of intercollege sporting and cultural events. Plus the
Students’ Association is very active organising
many great social activities throughout the year.
The chefs even put fun on the menu with formal
dinners, theme nights and special occasions.
They have a legendary sense of adventure as well
as a reputation for serving up fantastic food.
Then there are the extras at Salmond: the chapel
with its stunning stained-glass windows is also
the music room, there’s a library stocked with
recreational reading, two tennis courts, and a
large free car-parking area that borders 10 acres
of bush with walking tracks and, yes, there’s a
well-equipped workout gym.
A new postgraduate wing now offers mature
students the chance to also enjoy this peaceful
and spacious environment with its informal and
relaxed family atmosphere.
CONTACT:
Bruce Cowan
Salmond College
19 Knox Street
Dunedin 9010
Tel 03 473 0750
Email [email protected]
Selwyn
College
A COMMUNITY OF LEADERS
www.selwyn.ac.nz
Once a Selwynite always a Selwynite; such is the fierce loyalty that
Selwyn breeds in its alumni. In the heart of the campus, the university’s
oldest college was opened in 1893 and is steeped in tradition.
There’s a feel of Cambridge here as you stand
in the quadrangle and look through English
gardens towards the imposing 19th century
building. Yet old and new come together at
Selwyn, which boasts comprehensive wi-fi
coverage and wired ethernet access.
Success is top of the agenda at Selwyn. Residents
are very competitive both academically and
in sporting and cultural endeavours. This is a
college of leaders; students who go on to excel in
all walks of life. They are outgoing individuals,
all-rounders, and the number of Rhodes
Scholars on Selwyn’s proud honours list suggests
they always have been.
As Otago’s smallest fully-catered college,
residents form a tight-knit community based
on a deep sense of mutual care. Everyone eats
together at one sitting in the impressive oakpanelled dining room. On Sundays it’s formal
dress and, every day, residents champion the
quality of the food.
The “Catacombs” and “The Shed” are two
generous-sized social spaces. There’s a
musicians’ room, a chapel that serves as a quiet
space and it’s the only college to have a squash
court. There’s also a tennis court and small gym.
Loyalty and a great community spirit develop
quickly as together Selwynites embrace the
full university experience. Most Selwynites
spend two years in the college and a third not
far away. There’s long standing rivalry between
Selwyn and Knox as each year they compete
in sporting and cultural competitions, plus
unique traditions, like the Leith Run and the
Selwyn Ballet, are enthusiastically promoted by
residents.
Selwyn is the only college to have its own
chaplaincy and one of the first to introduce
teaching in a college. It enjoys a loyal pool of
ex-residents from which to source its tutors. The
strong welfare focus is testament to the calibre
of the welfare team – all senior students and
postgraduates – they are exceptional individuals.
Head of Selwyn, Dr David Clark, says, “We are
training leaders here in a caring and supportive
community.” As a Selwyn alumnus himself
he says that the strong bond that residents
form with Selwyn never leaves them. “Every
graduation we host a morning tea for Selwynites
and you can feel their attachment to the place,
this is their ‘turangawaewae’.”
CONTACT:
Dr David Clark
Selwyn College
560 Castle Street
Dunedin 9016
Tel 03 477 3326
Email [email protected]
63
Studholme
College
WELCOME TO
THE FAMILY
www.otago.ac.nz/studholme
When you leave home
it’s hard to imagine that
you could be welcomed
into a new family who
would make you feel
completely accepted for
the person you are. That’s
the Studholme experience;
a medium-size residential
college, small enough for
everyone to know each
other’s names. No matter
what your background or
personality, there’s a place
at Studholme for you.
On the University’s doorstep and only fiveminutes’ walk to the city, Studholme is hidden
behind mature trees with grounds that open
onto a large outdoor garden. On warm days
it’s popular for alfresco dining or just for
soaking up the sun. In winter a blazing open
fire draws residents into the common room
with its sinking couches, wide-screen telly and
table-tennis and pool tables.
There’s a distinct relaxed and friendly feel
here akin to the big smile that always greets
you when you meet Ziggy Lesa, the Head
of Studholme. Ziggy’s genuine interest and
support for those at Studholme helps foster
the core family values of respect, tolerance
and responsibility that form the fabric of the
Studholme culture.
“Our strength at Studholme is our size; it’s
small and personal. My own children and my
deputy’s children get to know the students; we
really are a family environment.”
Established a century ago Studholme has
expanded with the growth of the University.
The original villa provides the cosy recreation
area, indoor training gym and has bedrooms
upstairs. Most residents live in the central
accommodation block but there is also a
number of five-bedroom houses, which have
their own lounge and kitchen facilities.
Academic support is here for the taking.
Tutorial rooms and a computer suite are
always in use and regular study groups are
encouraged.
At Studholme fun is never far away. Longstanding
traditions
of
inter-college
tournaments punctuate the year. Whether it’s
the annual Battle of the Bands with Arana,
a basketball championship at Aquinas or a
debating competition with St Margaret’s and
Salmond, the competitive spirit is alive and
well.
As with most families the kitchen is where
the heart is. Studholme’s dining room is
never empty and caters for you whether you
have a late lecture, an early lab or an all-night
cramming session.
And families never forget you. Ask Ziggy
about the best part of his job and he says,
“Graduation ceremonies – I love to be there to
see our alumni graduate; it’s very rewarding”.
CONTACT:
Sagato (Ziggy) Lesa
Studholme College
127 Clyde Street
Dunedin 9016
Tel 03 479 5504
Email [email protected]
Toroa
College
DEVELOPING
INDEPENDENCE IN
A SMALL FRIENDLY
STUDENT COMMUNITY
www.otago.ac.nz/toroa
Yes, Toroa is a residential
college but it is a little
different from most.
It’s a college that takes
you a step closer to
independence; and life
here certainly prepares
you for it. There’s a
sense of independent
living backed up by all
the quality support
you can expect from a
University college.
Groups of three to five students make their
home in one of the 24 houses or the five
apartment-style units all grouped together
under treetops and in a lush, bushy, garden
landscape. Residents have the choice of
enjoying regular lunch and evening meals on
campus or, for those more confident in the
kitchen, the option of self-catering.
This friendly student neighbourhood has
“Manawa” as its big communal heart. This
central meeting place brings residents together
and functions as a social hub that rivals any
other residential college. Toroa’s social calendar
reads like a year-long festival of arts, sports and
leisure activities and the Toroa College Ball is
legendary.
Toroa’s relaxed environment allows you the
space to be yourself. It’s a diverse community
with a mix of ages, although residents are
predominantly first-years.
Head of Toroa, Christina Watson-Mills, says
that being the University’s smallest college, the
Toroa culture has a family feel. “It’s a culture
that develops friendships, support and respect
for each other; it just seems to happen. Natural
camaraderie is the way of life at Toroa.”
Company is never far away at Toroa, but if you
want to spend time on your own you can, and
the staff who live on-site are always there when
you need them.
Toroa also has a common room (with wireless)
that’s never empty, a music room, computer
suite, pool table, communal bikes and lots
more to help you relax and feel at home.
Like any other residential college there’s a
strong emphasis on personal achievement
with a well-developed academic support
programme, and staff to give advice on how
best to access all that the University offers to
help you make the most of your study and
leisure time at Otago.
Toroa is a great supportive and friendly
community.
CONTACT:
Christina Watson-Mills
Toroa College
8 Regent Road
Dunedin 9016
Tel 03 479 5500
Email [email protected]
65
University
College
A DIVERSE AND LIVELY
LIVING ENVIRONMENT
www.otago.ac.nz/unicol
CONTACT:
Chris Addington
University College
315 Leith Street
Dunedin 9016
Tel 03 479 5580
Email [email protected]
UniCol is Otago’s largest residential college with more than 500 residents and it’s the
sheer size of this community that shapes its culture. At UniCol you will always find
a friend, you will always find others studying what you are studying and you will
always meet those who share the same interests as you.
Your first circle will be those on your floor.
“Floor Missions” have become something of
a tradition at UniCol and can be as simple as
enjoying a barbecue in the internal courtyard
or as challenging as taking part in the 48-hourfilm competition. Then, sports teams and
special interest clubs connect you with more
new friends. Plus you get to know fellow
classmates when you’re brought together in
structured tutorials, which cater for the broad
spectrum of residents’ chosen fields of study.
of cereal away, the Allen Hall Theatre is right
on your doorstep, and the library and union
are just a stroll from the main entrance. Even
though everything’s right outside the door
there’s always so much on offer inside that
residents can become very home-loving
creatures.
says, “Our staff are dedicated to those who call
University College home. We provide a balance
of academic support, social and recreational
activities while realising that we have a diverse
and cosmopolitan community. It is a privilege
working in a college which hums with such
positive energy.”
UniCol is the big college with a big reputation
for a rewarding first-year experience.
There’s no typical UniCol student because
there is simply every type of student here.
It’s a diverse, cosmopolitan and lively living
environment where academic success is
publicly recognised and celebrated.
The main common room has a country lodge
feel with its sunken conversation pit centred
around a log fire. A wide-screen TV and pool
tables keep this space vibrant, and there’s
the Detour Café that’s open in the evenings
for late night coffee and carbohydrate fixes.
Thirty-five other common rooms can be found
throughout the two tower blocks, the adjoining
Annexe and the Forth Street Mews.
UniCol is also defined as the college in the
heart of the campus. Lectures are just a bowl
UniCol staff take an active part in the life of the
community. College Master Chris Addington