The University of Otago has formalised the new process that will govern those applying to the University for the first time next year. The new system will divide domestic applicants into those who gain Preferential Entry and those who will have to compete for places in the Competitive Entry pool. The changes are a response to growing pressure on domestic enrolment caps, which has led to the University having to carry increasing numbers of unfunded students. Students who achieve NCEA Level 2 with Merit or Excellence will gain Preferential Entry, along with people who secure places
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in Residential Colleges affiliated with the University, and winners of University Scholarships. Under Preferential entry students will be guaranteed a place as long as the meet the minimum university entrance standard of 42 credits at NCEA Level 3. Students in the Competitive entry stream will be ranked on their academic results, and courses that are oversubscribed will take the best-performing students until the cap for that course is reached. Students who initially are placed in the Competitive Entry stream will be automatically transferred to the Preferential stream if their status changes. For example by being offered, and accepting, a place in a College, a student would automatically transfer into the Preferential stream. The new standards have led to concerns that some students who gain Preferential Entry will become academically de-motivated in Year 13. However, Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) Professor Vernon Squire believes this is highly unlikely. “Students who are of such a calibre that they reach the Preferential Entry threshold in Year 12 are likely to be personally motivated to achieve to a high level for a many reasons other
than meeting a minimum standard to get to University … working hard in Year 13 they will also be positioning themselves to have a shot at winning scholarships, gaining a place in the Residential College of their choice.” Critic also questioned the University on the merits of allowing Preferential entry to those who gain a Residential College place. Since Colleges take non-academic factors into consideration it is technically possible that a person could gain a College place, and thus secure entry to the University, despite having worse academic qualifications than a person who misses out in the Competitive Entry stream. Professor Squire was again dismissive of such a possibility. “Residential Colleges are required to have academic merit as the primary consideration when accepting applicants … [but] while keeping academic merit as the central consideration – [Colleges can] take a somewhat broader view of what constitutes a high-calibre student.” Anyone wanting further information on the system is advised to contact the University. Contact details are at otago.ac.nz/services/liaison_office.html.