Head of College welcome

Kia ora koutou, Mālo e lelei, Talofa lava, Kia orana, 你好, 안녕하세요

Welcome to St Margaret’s College and thank you for visiting our website.

Centrally located on campus, St Margaret’s College provides an exceptional level of care and a family-like atmosphere for students studying at the University of Otago. Students who choose St Margaret’s are provided with everything they need to thrive, not only in their learning, but in life. Students are much more than residents; they are members of a special community, a ‘home away from home’ that will support and encourage them to be their best selves.

I am immensely proud to be leading a College that commits to ensuring that our student Members have the best opportunity to succeed academically, make life-long friends, have healthy fun, and develop as individuals and as contributing members of society.

This begins with meeting the physical needs of our residents and we are proud to provide comfortable and warm rooms, modern bathrooms, a range of well-equipped study and common spaces, and a fine dining room with great food. But more importantly, we provide a community where our Members can develop a strong sense of belonging and have every opportunity to develop as confident, connected and content individuals.

We offer comprehensive tutorial and mentor programmes to support Members in their academic studies, many opportunities for participation in, and enjoyment of, a wide variety of sport, cultural and social activities, and an outstanding level of pastoral care to support our Members as they navigate University life and growing independence.

Our St Margaret’s College motto, Altiora in votis ‘Set your heart on higher things’ guides and motivates our community to seek out new learning, new friendships, new opportunities and experiences, and new ways to serve others and our world. To strive to be the best that we can be.  This extends beyond our Members to the staff of St Margaret’s College, who are dedicated to ensuring that our Members’ times as students will be immensely enjoyable, successful, and safe.

As you consider accommodation options for the tertiary years, I can assure you that the natural uncertainty that comes with moving away from home - to a new city and educational environment - will quickly diminish as you come to understand what a special place St Margaret’s College is. I hope that exploring the various pages of our website will help develop an appealing understanding of what life is like here at St Margaret’s and I invite you to select us as your first choice for accommodation.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries. You are also welcome at any time, if you are visiting Dunedin, to make an appointment to meet with me and to have a tour of the College.

Ms Elizabeth Koni
Head of College