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Fees and scholarships
Everything you need to know about fees and scholarships
We work hard to balance the level of care and comfort we provide with the financial requirements of the College. Our fees are carefully considered to match those of similar residential colleges in the area. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate parents at the College should they wish to accompany you at the start of the academic year.
Below, you'll find everything you need to know about this year's fees, payment options, due dates, and scholarships.
Please note that the fees outlined below are valid for the 2025 year only. This page will be updated with the fees for the 2026 academic year in September 2025.
Fees
Acceptance fees
This is a non-refundable fee due upon acceptance of a place at St Margaret’s College.
| Member type | Acceptance fee |
|---|---|
| New members | $1,100 NZD |
| Returning members | $550 NZD |
Please note that the acceptance fee is not a deposit against accommodation fees and is not usually by an entrance scholarship.
Fees
Accommodation Fees
We offer full or instalment payment options and will request your preferred payment option when confirming acceptance of a place for the year. Invoices for either the full or first instalment amounts will be emailed in early to mid-December for payment by the January due date listed above.
St Margaret's College does not charge a bond.
Full payment option
When paid in full on or before Friday, 24 January 2025:
| Member type | Total accommodation fee |
|---|---|
| New members | $20,974.10 NZD |
| Returning members | $19,963.30 NZD |
Instalment payment options
Accommodation fees can also be paid in either four or eight equal instalments throughout the year.
Total accommodation fees when paying by instalment:
| Member type | Total accommodation fee |
|---|---|
| New members | $22,078.00 NZD |
| Returning members | $21,014.00 NZD |
If you've chosen to pay in 4 instalments, your payments will be due as per this schedule:
| Payment due on | New member payment amount | Returning member payment amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 24 January 2025 | $5,519.50 NZD | $5,253.50 NZD |
| Friday 21 March 2025 | $5,519.50 NZD | $5,253.50 NZD |
| Friday 23 May 2025 | $5,519.50 NZD | $5,253.50 NZD |
| Friday 25 July 2025 | $5,519.50 NZD | $5,253.50 NZD |
If you've chosen to pay in 8 instalments, your payments will be due as per this schedule:
| Payment due on | New member payment amount | Returning member payment amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 24 January 2025 | $2,759.75 NZD | $2,626.75 NZD |
| Friday 21 February 2025 | $2,759.75 NZD | $2,626.75 NZD |
| Friday 21 March 2025 | $2,759.75 NZD | $2,626.75 NZD |
| Friday 25 April 2025 | $2,759.75 NZD | $2,626.75 NZD |
| Friday 23 May 2025 | $2,759.75 NZD | $2,626.75 NZD |
| Friday 20 June 2025 | $2,759.75 NZD | $2,626.75 NZD |
| Friday 25 July 2025 | $2,759.75 NZD | $2,626.75 NZD |
| Friday 29 August 2025 | $2,759.75 NZD | $2,626.75 NZD |
Note: You will be sent an invoice at least 21 days prior to each instalment due date. A late payment surcharge may apply if fees remain unpaid after the relevant due dates.
We are unable to offer any other payment options.
Fees
Payment options
Fees can be paid by direct credit, Eftpos (in person), credit card (in-person or online - subject to a surcharge to cover bank fees), or international (telegraphic) transfer.
Bank account and telegraphic transfer details are provided on invoices. Cash or cheque payments are not accepted.
The College is not responsible for any bank and/or currency conversion charges associated with making international transfers. These charges can vary from bank to bank, so Members should make these payments with field 71A option OUR selected, i.e., the sender pays all fees.
Entrance Scholarships
Entrance Scholarships are applied to accommodation fees in the first instance, and we will take care of the arrangements to obtain scholarship funds from the University.
The scholarship amount will appear as a credit on your accommodation fee invoice. If you elect to pay in full, the credit will be applied to the discounted amount shown above. If paying by instalment, the credit will be spread equally across the instalment amounts.
Student Loans
StudyLink does not directly pay for residential college accommodation fees. However, depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for the student allowance, which can be accumulated and applied towards instalment payments.
Refunds
Refunds are not given when students have extra holidays during the year or are absent from the College.
Scholarships
Otago Entrance Scholarships
Members who have received an Otago Entrance scholarship, which provides an accommodation fee waiver, can use these funds to pay for St Margaret's College accommodation fees in their first year of study only.
The College will liaise with the University to arrange to transfer the scholarship funds to the member's fees account. If the accommodation fee waiver is for less than the member's total fees for the year, they will still be responsible for payment of the remaining amount.
Please note: not all scholarships provide an accommodation fee waiver. The recipient's scholarship offer letter will explain the terms of their specific scholarship.
Centenary Scholarship Fund
The St Margaret's College Centenary Scholarship fund is available to prospective and current members who are experiencing financial difficulty to support the affordability of accommodation fees for those wishing to reside in or return to St Margaret’s College.
Applications for the following year close on the 3rd Friday in September—please apply early to ensure there is plenty of time for your application to be considered.
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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.