Disclaimer: This information is provided in good faith and is correct at September 2021. Please confirm these details with Study Options before making a formal application.

For an overview of the PhD at Otago, including academic entry requirements, please click here.

In order to submit an application to undertake a PhD at Otago you must first make contact with a potential supervisor and get their provisional approval for your project.

If the department has a PhD or Postgraduate Coordinator you should contact that person first, otherwise it is acceptable to approach a potential supervisor directly. You can find a list of the departments at the university here. You can find a searchable expertise database here.

Before lodging a formal application, you should check with the procedure with the relevant department – each can be slightly different. For example, some departments will require quite developed research proposals, which may need to be assessed by a departmental committee before a formal application can be lodged, while others may grant acceptance on the basis of a broad research outline which can be further developed after admission is granted.

Once your department informally accepts your project, however, you can proceed to lodge a formal application for admission.

You can lodge your application here (please click the yellow Apply Now button at the top right of the page) You may be asked to enter agent or representative details in your application. Please enter Study Options contact details. This will enable Study Options to certify the documentation that is required for your application free of charge and also liaise with the admissions teams with regards to your application.

Our details are as follows:

Agent Name: Study Options

Agent Email: mail@studyoptions.com

Agent Address: 83 Alma Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2DP

Once you have submitted your application, you should contact Study Options and we will advise exactly what documents are required to support your application. Please send the originals of these to us – we will certify them and send them to your Admissions Case Officer directly. This is part of our free service.

Once your application is complete it will usually take between 8 and 12 weeks for the assessment to be completed. If your application is successful, Study Options will assist you with the acceptance and visa process. We can also provide advice and guidance on accommodation, bank accounts and more!