Welcome to St Margaret's College

Congratulations on your selection for membership of St Margaret’s College in 2025.

St Margaret’s College is owned by St Margaret’s Residential College Council Incorporated, an incorporated society and registered charity. The College maintains formal affiliation with the University of Otago.

Since it was established in 1911, St Margaret’s has developed an enviable reputation of excellence in all aspects of collegiate residential living. In keeping with the College’s motto of 'Altiora in votis' or 'Set your heart on higher things', we endeavour to provide outstanding facilities, a comfortable, safe atmosphere, and a caring and respectful community so that you can thrive in your studies, make wonderful friends, and develop as both an individual and contributing member of society.

Given our ethos and underlying values of care, courtesy, consideration for others, and common sense (our four Cs), it is unsurprising that the College offers a sought-after environment where Members can excel in all aspects of their lives.

A key area of focus is to provide and facilitate pastoral care for Members. We have staff available for Members to discuss their course and career choices, assist with study skills, and support individuals personally as they navigate living away from home and transitioning to the tertiary environment. The College also has good links with University departments and can assist in liaising with them if Members experience difficulties. Where necessary, we work with various support services offered by the University, for example, Student Health.

As a College, we place great emphasis on community living and developing the whole person. Certainly, the physical needs of our Members receive ample attention (for example, comfortable and warm rooms, good bathrooms, study and common spaces, and great food – including cooked breakfasts every day) but we also offer many opportunities for Members to participate in a large variety of cultural, social and sporting activities. And very importantly, we provide tutorials and mentors to support Members’ academic studies and their personal development.

We expect all College Members to take responsibility for their own behaviour and cooperate with the guidelines so that the College will be a happy, inclusive, and supportive community for all. St Margaret's College is a place where discrimination against students on the grounds of gender, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation is unacceptable; as is any form of bullying, either physically, electronically, or verbally.

This Members’ Handbook provides important information about the College and I encourage you to read it thoroughly before you take up residence at the College. Please do not hesitate to contact the College should you have any queries.

We look forward to your contribution as a valuable Member of the College in 2025. You will be part of a wonderful community comprising first-year and some returning students, the latter acting as mentors for first-year Members.

Along with all the College Staff, I warmly welcome you to St Margaret’s College.

Yours sincerely

Liz Koni
Head of College

Education and Training Act Code of Practice

St Margaret's College provides services consistent with the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice. For more information, please see https://www.education.govt.nz/further-education/information-for-tertiary-students/code-of-practice-pastoral-care-domestic-tertiary/