Life at St Margaret's
Your home away from home is waiting for you
St Margaret's College, located right in the heart of the famous University of Otago campus, is a residential college that will become your home away from home.
We're dedicated to ensuring that when you are a resident at St Margaret's, your time as a student will be immensely enjoyable and safe. Our aim is that you will find here all the comforts and care that you need to thrive as a student.
Experience St Margaret's for yourself
Visit us to see what St Margaret's College has to offer. We'd love to show you around.
Experience St Margaret's for yourself
Visit us to see what St Margaret's College has to offer. We'd love to show you around.
Head of College welcome
I am delighted to welcome you to St Margaret's College.
Centrally located on the University of Otago campus, St Margaret's offers more than just accommodation – we provide a true 'home away from home' where students become members of a special community that supports and encourages them to be their best selves.
Our College motto, Altiora in votis ('Set your heart on higher things'), guides our community to seek new learning, friendships, opportunities, and ways to serve others. Here, you'll find a place where you can develop a strong sense of belonging while growing into a confident, connected individual.
I am immensely proud to lead a College committed to helping our members thrive both academically and personally. Our dedicated staff work to ensure your time here will be enjoyable, successful, and transformative.
As you consider your options, I hope you'll discover what makes St Margaret's College such a special place and choose to become part of our community.
Ms Elizabeth Koni
Head of College
FAQs
If you love what St Margaret's has to offer and want to become a member of our college, we recommend making it your first preference. While this does not guarantee a spot, it significantly increases your chances of being offered a position at St Margaret's. Find out how to apply.
No, St Margaret's College is open to anyone who is an eligible first-year student. Each year, we actively look for University of Otago students who can join us and enhance our membership.
University education is about a mixing of ideas and cultures. To foster this, St Margaret’s chooses students who collectively create a mix of various backgrounds, interests, abilities, and academic aspirations.
St Margaret's hosts and participates in many different sports, social, arts, and cultural events throughout the year. Find out more about our busy social calendar.
Otago Entrance Scholarships and the Centenary Scholarship Fund are the two main scholarships available that can sometimes be used to cover residential college fees. Learn more about these scholarships and how to apply.
The application process
1
Submit an official University accommodation application
All applications for St Margaret's must be made online via eVision when enrolling for study at the University of Otago.
As part of this application process, you will need to arrange for your school to submit a confidential reference.
To access the eVision application process, visit the University of Otago's Student Accommodation page.
2
Complete an additional information form
As an independent college, St Margaret's requires some additional information during the application process. After you have submitted your official eVision application, we ask that you also complete our additional information form to assist us in the selection process.
* Please note: you must have submitted an official University accommodation application before completing the additional information form.
3
Receiving an offer
Applications should be submitted before the deadline stated by the University (usually around the end of September) and offers are usually emailed in the first week of October.
College places will continue to be offered between October and when University starts in February; however, applications made after the deadline will likely be placed on a waitlist.
* Please note: If your first preference is unable to make an offer, your application will be forwarded to other colleges with vacancies.
Life at the college