Garry
Site Admin
Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 290
Location: New Zealander in Scotland
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 Posted: Tue May 10, 2005 5:10 am Post subject: |
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Hi chrisw, and welcome. I dug up these messages from the old messageboard system. Some of it may be irrelevant now as it was posted in reply to someone with a similar question to yours.
From Amelia
Otago is the party hard university in the country, lots of parties, wonderful friends, and indeed lots of travelling through the south island. In saying that, Otago is suposidly the "most prestigious" university in the country. The research and academic performance of the university is of world class standard, and they have high expectations of their students. So while you're out partying, bear in mind that you're be expected to work as well.
Join the university tramping club if you get a chance, it's a nice way to get to out of the way places around New Zealand, and meet lots of friendly students while you're tramping.
Auckland and Otago are both top Universities in New Zealand - Each year they're always beyond the other universities in world research and teaching.
I guess the University you go to will depend on the lifestyle you want to live. Auckland is the biggest city in New Zealand, a big huge spanze of houses,appartments, skyrises, houses, shops, more houses. It's a big city with huge motorways, lots of crime, good shopping, and lots of grey concrete everywhere. But then Auckland's got more attractions if you're a tourist, more museums, amusement parks, casinos etc.
You'll be stretching the budget if you're a student in Auckland. Because it's a big city, rent is also more expensive - you're looking at about NZ$120-$200 rent per week (each, and that's in a student 'flat' where you share a house with other students. If you want to live on your own, be prepared to pay double that for your own appartment, and remember you need to add bills and weekly food onto your budget. Because it's a big place, you might need a car, or you might find that you're commuting heaps on the bus to get places.
Dunedin is a lot smaller and more beautiful (I think) with the river, and lots of trees, falling leaves in the autumn, and sometimes snow in the winter. Don't get me wrong, it's still quite a big city, but it's not as spread out or as skyrisey as Auckalnd. Dunedin has quite good cafe's and bars which are quite popular with the students.
In Dunedin, the campus is very close to the centre of the city, and it's only a 3 minute walk around the corner to the many cafe's in town. Everywhere in Dunedin is within walking distance. If you live more than 15 minutes walk away from Campus, that's considered 'far away'. Dunedin is the full on 'university city' of New Zealand, with an oxidus of students comming into the city at the start of the academic year from all over the country. It's well known for it's party hard reputation, lots things to do at night, cafes, plays, local gigs, beer drinking. Definitely go to a rugby game if you get the chance.
Rent's cheaper in Dunedin too. It's about NZ$75-100 a week for a room in a flat. Double that if you want to live in your own apartment, but I recomend living in a student flat, it's a good way to meet lots of people, have parties, late night pizza etc. It's not propper student life unles you're living in student flat.
I'm not sure about the job hunting in Auckland, but I'd assume that because it's a bigger place, there are more jobs being advertised. Getting a job in Dunedin is about the same as any other city, there's heaps advertised in the papers, and the unviersity offers a free 'student job search' service. The university's the biggest employer in Dunedin. Have a look at the vacancies page on the Otago University Website.
Otago students have this weird phenomon (they're the only students who do this in the country), but every year, they shift to a new flat, and move in with new people. They live there for a year, and then they move to another flat again! At the other unviersities in New Zealand, Students find a flat, and they live there for their entire university career - but not at otago. So there's always heaps of "flatmate wanted posters" all over university, and it's dead easy to find a flat, with people you like, and slip in. |
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