In great news for Mako Mermaid fans-turned-students, MARI403 students have been refunded the $267.89 more they were paying for the exact same paper as ECOL411 students. This comes after Critic reported on the disparity last week, thanks to a tip-off from ECOL411 student and OUSA Academic Rep Stella Lynch.
Marine scientists are getting bank-transferred by the Uni like it’s your flattie after a Pak-n-Save run. “The University has decided to pay a rebate to this year’s MARI403 students, so they are paying the same as students taking the ECOL411 paper,” a University of Otago spokesperson told Critic a day after we broke the news. “We have communicated with the affected students and let them know that a rebate of $267.89 has been processed and is expected to be in their bank accounts.”
MARI403 students were first informed about the refund via an email sent out to the cohort last Monday. The University blamed the pricing blunder on “a combination of factors”, which revolves around the fact that MARI403 and ECOL411 were incorrectly multi-coded. The University explained that the papers did not start out as the same, multi-coded paper. ECOL411 dates back to 2011 and MARI403 was introduced in 2019. “While part of the papers have been taught together in previous years, 2025 is the first year the two papers have been wholly taught together,” they said.
But how did the price difference arise in the first place? It turns out this was due to the differences in the papers before multi-coding in 2025. “The fees are calculated on a slightly different basis as ECOL411 began as a paper for BSc(hons) which meant its fees were set off undergraduate science fee rates, whereas MARI403 was introduced as a paper for DipSci, which meant its fees were set off the postgraduate science fee rates,” the University explained.
Stella was understandably stoked at the news. “I’m really pleased to see that the University has been proactive in remedying this mistake. I’d like to see a review of Otago’s multi-coded papers to ensure that this issue is not widespread,” she told Critic. The University seemed to share her sentiments, who are reportedly working on the procurement of a “curriculum management system” to future-proof against any further blunders. “Looking ahead, the new policy around multi-coded papers should prevent these sorts of situations from arising in the future,” said the Uni.
With approximately 22 students taking MARI403, the University has had to spend just under $6000 on rebates to the affected students. The Uni’s accountants may be feeling a similar way to you after seeing your bank account after an unhinged night out. But for the students, it’s about one week’s rent and a couple well-earned cocktails to celebrate.