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Home / Colleges / Otago Polytechnic Otago PolytechnicStudent Guide Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Otago Polytechnic. Core organization is free for students.
Institution in Dunedin, Otago. Operating on a semester system.
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Institution
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On this page Student guide City life Housing Campus details Academic calendar Semester 2 (Term 4) 2026 runs Oct 12, 2026 – Nov 20, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.
12 entries Jul 20 → Sep 25, 2026
Semester 2 (Term 3) 2026
Sep 26 → Oct 11, 2026
Holiday 3 2026
Oct 12 → Nov 20, 2026
Semester 2 (Term 4) 2026 Relevant now
Dec 24 → Jan 4, 2027
Year-end Holiday Break 2026-2027
Feb 22 → Apr 9, 2027
Semester 1 (Term 1) 2027
Apr 10 → Apr 26, 2027
Holiday 1 2027
Apr 27 → Jul 2, 2027
Semester 1 (Term 2) 2027
Jul 3 → Jul 18, 2027
Holiday 2 2027
Jul 19 → Sep 24, 2027
Semester 2 (Term 3) 2027
Sep 25 → Oct 10, 2027
Holiday 3 2027
Oct 11 → Nov 19, 2027
Semester 2 (Term 4) 2027
Dec 24 → Jan 4, 2028
Year-end Holiday Break 2027-2028
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Campus language Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.
11 terms Search the campus glossary Showing 11 of 11 terms
E I M O P S T E
Eden The Eden Café, a central spot for coffee and food located on the Dunedin campus. I
ISS International Student Support, the office dedicated to assisting overseas students. M
Manaaki The training restaurant run by hospitality students in M Block. O
OPSA Otago Polytechnic Students' Association, the student-led representative body. P
Poly The most common shorthand name used by students for Otago Polytechnic. S
Scarfie A traditional Dunedin term for students, reflecting the city's unique student culture.
SLC Student Learning Centre, which provides academic support and study advice. T
Te Pā Common shortened name for the Te Pā Tauira student village.
The Hub The central social and dining area where various food outlets are located.
The Octagon The city's central plaza and a primary social hub for students after hours.
The Village The Te Pā Tauira on-campus student accommodation complex. Places and practicalities Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.
12 details
ako_espresso_caf AKO Espresso Café
Bee Card The smart card used for discounted student bus travel on the Orbus Dunedin network.
eden_cafe Eden Cafe
G Block The building primarily dedicated to Design, Arts, and Architecture programs.
H Block The main campus building housing The Hub, student services, and administration.
h_naki Hīnaki
L Block The building housing the School of Nursing and Health programs.
M Block The building containing the Manaaki training restaurant and hospitality facilities.
manaaki_restaurant Manaaki Restaurant
Moodle The primary online learning management system where students access course materials and submit assignments.
Student ID The multipurpose card provided by OPSA used for building access and local discounts.
The Hub The physical location students visit for ID cards, course enrollment help, and general inquiries. Quick answers Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.
What academic term is relevant now? Semester 2 (Term 4) 2026 runs Oct 12, 2026 – Nov 20, 2026.
How much campus context is included? 11 approved campus terms and 12 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included? Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from? Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library. Using DormWay at Otago Polytechnic What the product handles for students.
Syllabus to schedule Upload your Otago Polytechnic syllabus to organize dates and course details
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Campus News Latest updates from Otago Polytechnic
Design and Architecture students claim strong Best awards haul Nine students and graduates won gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2026 Best Design Awards in Auckland.
Oct 19, 2026
Read More Ski Patrol graduates in hot demand after challenging season Otago Polytechnic celebrates the first graduates from its Ski Patrol programme at the Wānaka campus.
Oct 19, 2026
Read More Access Restriction – Riego Street, N Block Driveway access behind the Wildlife Hospital is restricted due to maintenance work.
Oct 21, 2026
Read More Access Restriction – Riego Street, N Block behind the Wildlife Hospital on Friday 23 October. Access Restriction – Riego Street, N Block behind the Wildlife Hospital on Friday 23 October.
Read More Upcoming Events What's happening at Otago Polytechnic
Giant Plant Sale October 24, 2026
Annual Giant Plant Sale over Labour weekend featuring plants grown by Horticulture students.
He Toki Whānau & Industry Challenge Evening October 29, 2026
A fun, whānau-friendly evening bringing together Māori and Pasifika ākonga, whānau, and local industry.
Hākari i Otago Student Showcase November 5, 2026
Feast upon Otago event hosted by Bachelor of Culinary Arts and Diploma of Culinary Practice students.
Engineering Technologies Student Showcase November 6, 2026
Showcase of posters and prototypes from Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical engineering students.
Information Technology Student Showcase November 20, 2026
Group presentations from IT studio courses followed by networking and refreshments.
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