If you are attending this please let me know with the days so I can explain your absence from school.
Dunedin Tertiary Open Days are creeping up fast, and we have two action packed days for you to experience all that is on offer, at both the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic Campus’s.
Head online to our Open Days webpage, here you will find out about all the presentations, lectures, campus and accommodation tours, information sessions and more that are happening on both campus’s on Sunday 23 and Monday 24 May.
You can also download the Open Days booklet here, two physical copies will be mailed out to your school in week 1, term 2.
It’s useful for students to plan their day before getting here, so the University of Otago are in the process of developing a helpful App. This will mean students are able to search for the sessions they want to attend and load them into a timetable, that can be printed off or saved to their phone. This will be available at the start of May, with the link being emailed out to schools when it’s ready.
If students are yet to book their trip down, go online to: otago.ac.nz/open-days and check out the accommodation deals on offer for Dunedin the weekend of Open Days. From here they will also be able to book airport shuttles, through SuperShuttle for only $15 one way (using the special code: OPENDAY).
In the meantime, if you have any further questions about the event, check out the FAQ’s below or please get in touch: events@otago.ac.nz. Or if you have specific questions regarding study at Otago – please reach out to one of our Schools’ Liaison team: otago.ac.nz/liaison
Look forward to seeing you soon!
FAQ’s:
What time do the Open Days start and finish? Do I need to attend all day on both days?
Sessions for the Open Day start at 9am each day and finish around 4pm. The academic expo on Monday runs from 9:30am to 3:30pm.
You can attend as much or as little as you like; have a look at the programme to decide what you most want to see.
What is the difference between Sunday and Monday?
On Sunday, you can look forward to guided tours of any/all of the colleges and campus, general overviews of the divisions, and a selection of hands-on activities from a few departments.
On Monday is the academic expo, where all university departments have a stand you can visit. The departments will have presentations throughout the day. The divisions will still have their overviews like Sunday, but you’ll have more time on Monday if you attend those on Sunday. There are also college and campus tours on Monday, but the recommendation is to do those on Sunday, leaving you plenty of time to focus on all the academic sessions on Monday.
If you can only attend one day, make it Monday, but to get the most out of the experience, we highly recommend attending both days.
Do I need to register to attend?
While you do not need to register to attend the Open Days, we do highly recommend registering with the app when it is available. As mentioned above, the app will let you create your personalised schedule and receive updates if any sessions change. Additionally, some sessions are limited in numbers, and the app can secure your place. Finally, having the app can assist us in COVID contact tracing, if that is required.
How long does it take to get to and from the airport?
The Dunedin Airport is further out than you may be used to. It can take between 45-60 minutes between campus and airport by shuttle ($15 per person with SuperShuttles and code ‘OPENDAY’), or 30-45 minutes by exclusive taxi (~$80). Please ensure you take this time into account not to miss any sessions you want to attend (or your flight)!
Is there University accommodation available for visitors or under-18s?
Unfortunately, as the Open Days occur during term time, the residential colleges do not have any available rooms for Open Day visitors or under-18s travelling without adults.
Are there other Open Days at Otago in the year?
This is our only on-campus Open Days event for 2021, but we will be running a virtual Open Day on 29 July. If you can’t make it down for Open Days, you are always welcome to contact the Schools’ Liaison team to arrange a visit: otago.ac.nz/liaison, or there are also general campus tours available throughout the year.
Can I visit the residential colleges before or after the Open Days?
Generally, yes, but you’ll need to call the college ahead to make sure they’re able to show you around. If you can, use the hop-on hop-off shuttles we have available on both Open Days.