Did you know that you can spend one or two semesters at an academic institution abroad while earning credit toward your programme at Otago Polytechnic?  

Study Abroad is your chance to travel overseas and add global experience to your programme before you graduate. Exchanges are set up between Otago Polytechnic and an academic institution we are partnered with.

To be nominated by Otago Polytechnic for Study Abroad at a partner institute, you must be:

• Enrolled full-time at Otago Polytechnic at degree-level
• Be in your second year of studies, or higher
• Have achieved and maintained a minimum grade average of a B.

Learners from the following programmes are able to receive credit from Study Abroad:

• Bachelor of Visual Arts
• Bachelor of Engineering
• Bachelor of Information Technology
• Bachelor of Architectural Studies
• Bachelor of Applied Management
• Bachelor of Applied Science
• Bachelor of Design, including:
  • Product
  • Communication
  • Fashion

This depends on what you're studying. We've listed the places you can go by subject area below - Applied Science; Architecture; Art; Business (Applied Management); Communication Design; Engineering; Fashion Design; Product Design.

Applied Science

Architecture 

Art 

Business (Applied Management)

Communication Design 

Engineering

Fashion Design 

Information Technology

Product Design

You pay your regular tuition and fees to Otago Polytechnic. You don’t have to pay international student fees at the partner school!

You are responsible for paying for your own airfare, accommodation costs, living expenses and insurance and visa costs.

Check out info about student insurance here >

Since you remain an Otago Polytechnic student while you are abroad, you will be able to receive student loan/student allowance payments while you are studying overseas.

All our partner institutions have international office staff who will support you. You’ll have a contact person who will keep in touch with you during the application process, through to your arrival at your chosen institution.

You’ll still have access to Otago Polytechnic’s student support services while you’re overseas too. And our Study Abroad coordinator will also give you support before you leave and then when you’re overseas.

All our partner institutions offer good advice and help with accommodation options. For more specific information, check your chosen institutions website.

Step 1. Have a look at the international opportunities available to you

Exchanges are open to degree-level students, but the overseas academic institutions available to you and the courses you can take will depend on your programme of study. You will need to meet with the staff member in your school who is responsible for international coordination to explore the study options available specifically for your programme. Just ask your School Administrator who this is if you’re unsure.

Step 2. Complete the application form

You can fill out the online application form here.

This link will give you instructions on the application process, and the application form. You will be asked to upload a copy of your passport, your unofficial record of OP results, and a Letter of Intent.

Step 3. Complete an interview with the Otago Polytechnic Study Abroad Team

The Study Abroad coordinators will review your application and invite you to attend an interview. The purpose of this interview is for our team to get to know you and to understand your reasons for wanting to study abroad.

Step 4. 

All successful learners nominated for Study Abroad will receive confirmation of nomination within three weeks of your application. This confirmation will let you know the host institution you have been nominated to and information regarding the next steps in the process, which includes:

• completing your official application to the host institution.
• completion of digital portfolio (if relevant)

Step 5.

On acceptance of your application to the host institution, the next steps will be:

• finalising subjects to be studied with OP staff and staff at your host institution
• signing the Student Group Exchange and Study Abroad Terms and Conditions
• arranging your visa, flights, insurance and accommodation.

There is a deadline for each semester: 

New Zealand Semester 1, 2024 (Northern Hemisphere Spring Semester) - 15 September, 2023

New Zealand Semester 2, 2024 (Northern Hemisphere Autumn Semester) - 31 March, 2024

If you’re not studying in a programme that offers Study Abroad exchanges, or if spending a whole semester abroad is not an option for you, there may be other options for you to spend two – four weeks studying abroad. 

Contact the Study Abroad team at studyabroad@op.ac.nz for more information.