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Process

Apply for a hall of residence

08 April 2026

The online application form takes 30-40 minutes to complete.  View our 4 minute video below for information on the application process for first year students, key dates and how to apply.

HOW TO APPLY
1

Complete an online application

Which halls can I apply to?  View the which hall flow chart  for 2026 to guide you to appropriate options depending on your age and level of study.

The first part of your application is a registration, in which you will select a username and password.  This will enable you to exit and come back to your application if you need to.  Please note that once you click "Save & Continue" at the end of a page, you are able to go back and edit that page but once you have accepted the "Declaration and Consent" page at the end of your application, any changes will need to be emailed to Accommodation Services.

You will be asked to select two halls, however if there is similar demand to the last two years, most halls will not be in a position to view your alternative/second preference and your application will be placed on the General Waitlist that all halls can access.

Under 18 international students

Under 18 international students must stay in a catered hall of residence to comply with the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.  Homestay or with a designated caregiver is preferred.   

UC International College

Students studying a UCIC taught programme are recommended to apply for homestay, or if applying for June 2026, Kirkwood Avenue Hall.

First year students over 20

If you will be 20 or over on arrival, we recommended that you apply for Ilam Student Accommodation.

2

Provide a reference


References for Semester 2 2026 are not required following the retirement of the process at the end of March 2026.

Following further discussions, the Universities of Otago, Canterbury, and Lincoln, along with Otago Polytechnic and Ara Institute of Canterbury, have agreed to continue using the Common Confidential Reference Form (CCRF) to support the placement of students into our residential accommodation for 2027.

The hosting of the CCRF online platform will transfer from Victoria University of Wellington to the University of Otago for this period. The platform is currently not available for applications, but we expect this to be online again by the end of May, and we will advise you when this is available. 

First Year Student Application Process

Applying for a hall of residence 2027

The application process for a hall of residence starts before the enrolment process, so most students will apply for a hall of residence even before being accepted into the University. 

Applications for returning students to halls ie currently in room, open on 1 July.  Offers will be made from early September.

Applications for new students for the Academic Year or Semester 1 (February) open on 1 August in the year prior to study.

Applications for Semester 2 (July) are due 1 May in the year of study. Late applications will be accepted if places are available. 

Next steps

Submitting an application does not guarantee you a place in a hall of residence. All halls run a selection process. Halls aim to select students from various backgrounds and abilities to establish a well-rounded student community within the hall. 

The selection process will run between 25 September and 2 October 2026. No changes can be made to applications after 25 September.  Students who are not able to be offered a room in their preferred hall may be offered an alternative option, however, in most cases will automatically be placed on a General Waitlist for all halls.  The General Waitlist is part of the process and as time passes and students decide on which university they will attend, rooms do become available for waitlisted students.

PLEASE NOTE:  READ YOUR OFFER AND CONTRACT CAREFULLY.  Your contract is a legally binding document, make sure you read and understand it before signing.

Accept your offer

Once you have an offer you want to accept you need to confirm your place. You must:

  • Complete and return your contract.  If you require a car park, or have room allocation requirements, make this known to the hall on accepting your offer.
  • Pay the required deposit as specified in the offer (this amount varies from hall to hall).

If you do not return your contract by the due date, your contract will expire and your place will be offered to another student.  To return to the General Waitlist, email Accommodation Services with your request.

If you are paying for accommodation through a scholarship, please contact your hall to discuss a payment plan.

More information

If you need help with your application or have general questions, contact Accommodation Services.

Halls of Residence set their own fees, manage the selection process and send the offers.  If you have a question related to either of these, please contact your hall directly.

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