News

Stricter entry requirements to the University of Otago have seen a reduction in Semester One enrolments.
With penalties for exceeding their allocated domestic roll cap, the University raised entry requirements in Semester Two last year and introduced a two-tier domestic enrolment system this year.
 

Under the two-tier system, preferential treatment is given to secondary school students with strong academic records at Year 12 or above, and postgraduate students. Applicants over the age of 20 without a university entrance qualification must complete an entrance assessment before they are permitted to enrol. The new system also limits the number of entries into most first year courses.
 

Changes in the University roll numbers were released in last week's University Council meeting. Currently there are 18,347 fully funded domestic students, 325 less than in semester one last year, representing a 1.7% reduction in the domestic roll.
 

International enrolments, however, are up by almost 10% from Semester One last year, nearly twice the forecasted rate. First year international student enrolments in particular have increased dramatically, by a rate of 31% since this time last year.

 
Since international students pay full fees, there is no cap on the number a tertiary institution may enrol. Currently international student fees range from $19800pa for most Arts degrees to $73,000 a year for a Bachelor of Dental Surgery. This is around four times higher than domestic students.

 
Vice Chancellor Professor Skegg reported in the meeting that these changes in enrolment numbers are on par with the University's expectations for student roll numbers. However, Skegg noted that whilst the increase in international students is significantly higher than expected this year, the publicity effects of the Canterbury earthquake could change the enrolment numbers of international students across all New Zealand tertiary institutions.
 

The decline in Semester One enrolments this year will mean the University does not need to be as restrictive as last year with Semester Two enrolments.