What will my room be like?
The rooms at 192 Castle College are quite spacious. 111 of our rooms rooms have double beds, and there is a female-only wing with nine rooms which are smaller and have king-single sized beds. All rooms have their own en-suite bathroom, complete with handbasin, toilet and separate shower. There is currently an alcohol-free area (this policy extends to the female-only wing). Apart from the female-only wing which has a large communal fridge in its private living area, all rooms have a sink, bench and under bench fridge. The building is centrally heated and provides a warm and welcoming environment to return home to each day.
Please note: Due to the sensitive nature of the fire-protection system, cooking items including toasters, jugs and microwaves cannot be housed in the rooms. We do however provide these facilities for student use, in the dining room.What is the female-only option?
We have a female-only area available on our College's first floor. Some females, for personal or cultural reasons, prefer to be in such an area. This particular zone is home to nine students, and whilst their rooms are slightly smaller in size, these students have shared use of their own communal living and study area. Although the area is separated by an extra set of doors, these students are very much a part of the rest of the floor and still of course have access to all other facilities and resources.
View an example of one of these rooms on our gallery page
What do I need to bring with me?
Your basic bedding will be provided upon arrival, i.e. mattress, mattress protector, sheets, pillows, pillow protectors and pillow cases. You will,however, need to bring your own duvet inner and cover, towels, washing powder and washing basket. A brief list of items to think about bringing, will be available to confirmed students prior to College opening.
How far is 192 Castle College from the University?
192 Castle College is situated at the south end of the campus, approximately five minutes' walk from the University Library and about three minutes from the heart of the city's main shopping area. We are conveniently located across from a supermarket and in close proximity to Dunedin Hospital, Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Octagon, Dunedin Train Station, Toitū Otago Settlers Museum and other central attractions.
What will there be to eat?
The College is fully catered and serves 21 meals per week. All food is prepared under the auspices of the University College catering division, and is varied, nutritious and wholesome. There is an eight week cycle, so you get plenty of variety. Hot drinks are available at all times in the dining room, and in the evenings you will have access to toast and fruit as well. We are able to cater for a wide range of dietary needs and our Head Chef is happy to discuss these with you upon your arrival at the College.
Will there be academic support?
We provide robust academic support for a range of subjects - including First Year Health Science core papers. It's important to note that "Learning Lab" support isn't designed to replace the content taught in class, but instead provides a chance for our students to cement what they have learnt, to ask more about particular concepts and to answer practice questions supplied by our Lab Mentors. These Lab Mentors are usually University students who have previously excelled in a particular area and who have undertaken a University tutoring course.
The range of papers does vary each year based on demand (and whether or not the paper actually requires ongoing support) – but where it is not possible to facilitate a particular paper due to low numbers, we attempt to pair up with our neighbouring Colleges to offer a combined service. In the past, we have been able to offer support in Health Science papers, Māori, Statistics, Business, Surveying, Psychology and more.
It is important to know that College staff are always available to point you in the right direction, and to put you in touch with the correct academic staff, as needed.
Am I allowed visitors?
Yes, of course. This is your home for the year and we want to help you to make it so. There is a small charge for overnight visitors who can stay for up to three nights in the college. We do have some restrictions at certain times of the year, during which overnight visitors are not allowed and these are designated on the College wall-planner you will receive at the beginning of the year.
Are there recreational facilities in the College?
Yes – we have a large indoor recreation area with pool table, snooker table, table tennis, foosball and air-hockey, as well as a small gym area with treadmills, cross-trainers, rowing-machine etc. In addition, we are situated only ten minutes' walk from Unipol, the University's magnificent new gymnasium complex, which is free for your use. You are welcome to join in the various exercise programmes here, too.
What kind of events and activities can I expect?
Your first year at University is not only very important academically, but also socially, as you look to meet new friends! As such, we have a robust programme of activities throughout the year to help facilitate this. Events hosted by our own Student Council have included quiz nights, wine & cheese evenings, formal dinners, college balls, inter-floor sporting and cultural events and many more.
In addition, 2016 welcomed the inaugural "Inter-College Sporting and Cultural Competition", in which Colleges regularly compete for championship titles in events ranging from chess, to poster-making, debating to football and everything in-between.
Is the College secure and will I be safe?
Yes, the College is a very secure place. Entrance to the building is through the front by an electronic access card, and this is also used to access your bedroom. We recommend that your bedroom remain locked when you're not there. The main doors are locked every night from 5pm until 8.30am the next morning. We also have duty staff or security available 24/7.
Are we able to change rooms?
In a word, no. Only under very exceptional circumstances would this be allowed. Room allocation is carefully carried out by management staff and takes into account a wide range of factors.
Is there on-site parking?
Yes, there are a small number of parking spaces on site which are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, and these are charged out at normal University rates. Most students don't need a car as everything you need is within walking distances from 192 Castle College, and for those destinations slightly further away, the public transport service is student friendly.
What happens when residents are sick?
We have very robust support systems in place to care for you if you are unwell. If you are not well, it is important that you advise staff as soon as possible.
Who can help me with questions concerning my accommodation fees?
If you have any questions regarding accommodation fees and payments, please contact our Office Administration during business hours:
Tel +64 3 479 4330
Email 192castle.college@otago.ac.nz
What do I do when I first arrive at the College?
You will be asked to let us know of your approximate time of arrival, and when you arrive you will be met by staff. You will receive your access card and other bits and pieces and be shown to your room and later around the College.
How will I find out about Orientation week and first lectures?
The College staff will be here to help you during the first days and our doors are always open. There will be plenty of information on the academic notice board outside the dining room and on the reception area notice board, as well as the electronic information screen inside the dining room itself.
When must I have my application in by?
You should get your application to us by the end of September so you can be considered on the first round. Applications are always accepted into the new year as well.
What happens if I can't get back for dinner or lunch?
If you have late labs or sports practices, you can order a late dinner which will be ready for you in a special fridge upon your return and only needs to be heated in the microwave. If you want a packed lunch, you can prepare this when you come to breakfast.
What does alcohol-free rooming mean?
This option is available if you would like to be in an area where no alcohol is to be stored or consumed. You can still drink elsewhere, eg in town at bars, but you must return in a quiet manner.
Is there a curfew?
No, you can come and go from the College at any time. If you are planning to be away overnight, we ask you to sign the absence book in case we need to contact you in an emergency.
Is 192 Castle College a new residential college?
Until 2022 the College was called Te Rangi Hiroa College. 2023 marks a new beginning as the University passes the mana of Te Rangi Hiroa to a new building and our 2023 residents start the tradition of 192 Castle College.
Find out more about the construction of the new Te Rangihīroa College building