Courses

A full-time course load at the University of Otago is defined by Arcadia University as 13.5-18 U.S. credits per semester, typically divided over three to four courses.

• Please review your courses with your academic or study abroad advisor to ensure they will transfer back to your home school and that you are following your home school’s policies.
• We unfortunately can’t guarantee specific courses. If your participation in the program depends on a particular course, be sure to make a note on your online course form.
• On your academic preferences form please indicate 8-10 courses, including alternates, that you are pre-approved for and can take while abroad. In the event of scheduling changes, time conflicts, prerequisites or cancellations, this ensures that you will be prepared to finalize your courses once overseas.

University-Specific Terms

Please be aware that the University of Otago uses different terms than many U.S. universities. 

Academic Structure with the University of Otago

A full-time course load is equivalent to three to four courses at the University of Otago.

Prerequisites and Restrictions

• Some courses have limited availability due to resource limitations at the University of Otago. You can see which courses have these limitations here.
• There may be additional fees for courses that include laboratory work, field excursions or theater trips. Many fine art or production courses will include a supplemental fee for the materials used in the class.

Selecting Your Courses

You can view the Otago course catalog here.

• Click on the subject(s) of your interest.
• Scroll down to “Papers.”
• Click on the link for a full list of courses, referred to as “papers” at the University of Otago, with details.

The University of Otago offers a wide range of courses with a fieldwork component. You can see a list of those courses here. There are a number of geology (GEOL) courses that include fieldwork before the semester begins. If you are looking to take geology courses, pay close attention to the information provided in the course description and be in touch with your program manager if you are interested in pursuing these options.

Enrollment Process

You will receive access to your eVision portal between two and four months prior to departure for the term, at which point you will have to complete your paper selection in the student portal. Any courses with a prerequisite will require you to submit a Special Permissions Request to be reviewed by Otago staff. For these purposes please reach out to your Program Advisor if you need a copy of your transcript. 

Course enrollments will not be finalized until students are on campus. The academic preferences form students submit to Arcadia prior to departure does not guarantee approval or enrollment in those courses. There is an add/drop period at the beginning of each semester that allows students to make changes to course enrollments. If you make any changes it is your responsibility to inform your home institution.

Grade Scale

The following information is vetted and provided by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) on the Electronic Database for Global Education (EDGE).

Intellectual property copyright AACRAO EDGE.