2027 Application form - part 1

Hands-On at Otago

Welcome to the Hands-On at Otago 2027 application page.

Applications are open from Monday 29 June until 11:59pm Thursday 6 August 2026.

Information you enter won't be saved until you click 'Submit' at the end of the form.

You can submit an incomplete application and return to update it at any time before the closing date of 11:59pm Thursday 6 August 2026.

Be sure to save your application before leaving the page, as unsaved information may be lost if the window refreshes or times out.

To complete your application, you will need:

to select your top five project preferences
to provide supporting information:
- qualifications (NCEA, Cambridge, IB, etc.), current subjects and preferences
- extracurricular achievements/involvement, both school-related and outside of school
- a personal statement outlining why you should be chosen to attend Hands-On at Otago
to upload the Parent/Caregiver Consent Form - signed by your parent/guardian
to upload the School Endorsement Form - signed by your principal/teacher

You can download the necessary forms by clicking the links below.

All forms need to be signed (electronically or by printing and signing) and uploaded to your application before the closing date.

Hands-On at Otago – Parental Consent Form

Hands-On at Otago – School Endorsement Form

Hands-On at Otago – Scholarship Endorsement Form
For scholarship applications only.

Hands-On at Otago application

Contact details

First name

Last name

Preferred name (for name tags)

Preferred pronoun

Email address

Verify email address

Mobile number

Alternative phone number

Street number, name and suburb (e.g. 660 Castle Street, Dunedin North)

Town/City

Country

Postcode

Tell us about yourself

Date of birth

Gender

Secondary school

Teacher/School email address

National student number (NSN)

Required

What school year level will you be in 2027?

I will be Year 12 next year

I will be Year 13 next year

Are you an international student currently enrolled in a New Zealand secondary school?

Yes

What is your international status?

I have an international fee-paying high school student visa.

I am a New Zealand resident (temporary or permanent).

I have refugee or protected person status.

I have a Dependent Child Student Visa (my parent/s are here with a work visa).

Has your family applied for residency in New Zealand within the past six months?

Yes

To which ethnic group(s) do you belong?

NZ European/Pakeha

Māori

Pacific Nations

Other

Please specify your ethnicity.

Do you have a connection with Hands-On?

Are you considering tertiary study?

Information you enter will not be saved until you click "Submit" at the end of the form

Hands-On at Otago application

Project preferences

For more details on the projects offered this year, refer to the Hands-On at Otago website.

Please select your top five projects in order of preference. You must select a different project for each preference.

First choice

Second choice

Third choice

Fourth choice

Fifth choice

Please indicate if you would prefer NOT to participate in any particular project (please state project).

Are there any subjects that interest you that are currently not on offer at Hands-On?

Have you applied for Hands-On before?

Yes

Have you attended Hands-On at Otago before?

Yes

Have you also applied for Science Academy 2027?

Yes

Information you enter will not be saved until you click "Submit" at the end of the form.

Hands-on at Otago application

Parent/caregiver details

Parent/caregiver name

Required

Parent/caregiver email

Required

Parent/caregiver contact number

Required

Parental Consent

Please upload a signed copy of your Hands-On at Otago Parental Consent Form (attachment in link below).

Hands-On at Otago – Parental Consent Form

Document upload (Word document or PDF)

School Endorsement

Please upload a signed copy of your Hands-On at Otago School Endorsement Form (attachment in link below).

Hands-On at Otago – School Endorsement Form

Document upload (Word document or PDF)

If you have difficulty uploading either form, they can be emailed to hands-on@otago.ac.nz. Please include your name in the subject line of the email.

Information you enter will not be saved until you click "Submit" at the end of the form.

Hands-On at Otago application

Supporting information

You need to include the following supporting information to strengthen your application for Hands-On at Otago. This information needs to include:

school qualifications, current subjects and extracurricular achievements (at school and outside of school)
a personal statement indicating why you should be chosen to attend Hands-On at Otago

Remember that there are always more applications than there are places available, so you need to provide as much information as you can.

Please do not send school reports or NCEA Records of Achievement as part of this section.

Which qualification will you complete this year?

Cambridge

NCEA Level 1

NCEA Level 2

Other

Please specify "other".

What subjects are you currently studying?

Required

Which subjects do you enjoy the most and why?

Required

Extracurricular school-related achievements/involvement

For example: Science Fair, Young Enterprise, MUNA, Rockquest, Duke of Edinburgh, school sports.

Required

Other achievements/involvement

This can include any personal interests and hobbies. For example: Scouts, music, drama, sports.

Personal statement

In approximately 500 words, tell us why you should be chosen to attend Hands-On at Otago.

Below are some examples of what you could write about.

If you could explore anything at university — no limits — what would you want to discover, and why?
Why is Hands-On at Otago the right opportunity for you right now?

You may find it easier to type your response in Word first and then copy and paste below.

You can save your application progress and enter your personal statement at a later date but you must click "Submit" at the end of the form.

Required

Hands-On at Otago scholarships

Hands-On at Otago scholarships offer the opportunity to have your registration ($725), plus travel to and from Dunedin, paid for.

All scholarship applications require the following information to be considered:

scholarship essay
the latest copy of your school report
scholarship endorsement form - signed by your principal/teacher

Some scholarships will require additional information specific to the scholarship provider.

To be considered for a Hands-On at Otago scholarship, complete each section of this application. You don't have to apply for a particular scholarship; we will use your responses to determine which scholarships you are eligible for.

Available scholarships and awards

Arts & Social Sciences Scholarships for students looking to pursue further studies in Arts & Social Sciences.
Imagine Beyond Scholarships who have a disability, impairment or medical condition.
International Student Scholarships for international students currently enrolled in a New Zealand secondary school.
Otago Business School Scholarships for students looking to pursue further studies in Business.
Pacific Islands Scholarships for students of Pacific Islands descent.
Poutama Scholarships for students of Māori descent.
Te Ara Hauora Scholarships for students of Māori descent, looking to pursue further studies in Health Sciences.

More information about available scholarships can be found on our Scholarships, sponsorship and awards page on the Hands-On at Otago website.

Scholarship applications must be received by 11:59pm Thursday 6 August to be considered.

Awards

In addition to Hands-On at Otago scholarships, there are further awards available.
Students do not apply for these awards.

Students are eligible based on their successful selection to the Hands-On at Otago programme and through meeting the required selection criteria (set by each provider).

These awards cover programme registration fees, as well as travel to and from Dunedin to attend Hands-On at Otago.

Canon Hands-On Awards for students that attend schools that have a high Equity Index number.
Mirrors on Society Hands-On Awards for students who have demonstrated academic promise, leadership, commitment, or contribution to their communities.
Va'a O Tautai Hands-On Awards for students of Pacific Islands descent, interested in Health Sciences.

Do you want to apply for a Hands-On at Otago scholarship?

Yes

Information you enter will not be saved until you click "Submit" at the end of the form.

Hands-On at Otago scholarship application

Scholarship written essay

Please complete an essay of approximately 500 words below on the following topic.

Explain who/what inspires you to undertake study at the University of Otago.

Scholarship Endorsement

Please upload a signed copy of your Hands-On at Otago Scholarship Endorsement form (attachment in link below).

Hands-On at Otago – Scholarship endorsement

Document upload (Word document or PDF)

Supporting evidence

Please attach the following evidence to strengthen your scholarship application.

Latest school report showing the credits you have gained so far.

Alternatively, these can be emailed directly to hands-on@otago.ac.nz, if this is easiest for your school. Make sure that they include your name in the email subject line.

Additional scholarships

Imagine Beyond scholarships

Some Hands-On at Otago scholarships support students who have a long-term disability, impairment or medical condition that may affect their access or ability to study.

Do you wish to be considered for such scholarships?

Yes

Imagine Beyond scholarship applicants

Tell us about your disability, impairment or medical condition

Please tell us about your disability, impairment or medical condition, and how it impacts (or does not impact) your daily life, studies or participation in activities.

Please describe any support, accommodations, or accessibility requirements you may have.

For example: a support person, note-taker, written materials in large print, or in an electronic format, a New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Interpreter, portable hearing loop, wheelchair or mobility access, dietary requirements or any other support that would assist you to participate fully.

Poutama scholarships

Some Hands-On at Otago scholarships are available only for Māori students.

Do you wish to be considered such scholarships?

Yes

Poutama scholarship applicants

Iwi affiliation

Pacific Islands scholarships

Some Hands-On at Otago scholarships are available only to students of Pacific heritage.

Do you wish to be considered for such scholarships?

Yes

Pacific Islands scholarship applicants

Pacific heritage

For example: Samoa, Niue, Fiji

What is your connection to the Pacific Islands?

This can be at your school, your church or in community groups (max 100 words).

Information you enter will not be saved until you click "Submit" at the end of the form.

Hands-On at Otago application

What town will you be leaving from to travel to Hands-On at Otago on Sunday 17 January?

What town will you be returning to on Friday 22 January?

Information you enter will not be saved until you click "Submit" at the end of the form.

Hands-On at Otago application

Confirmations

I confirm that the essay provided is original and written by me.

I confirm that all the information supplied and attached to this form is true and correct.

Applicants shall agree to co-operate with any publicity of Hands-On at Otago. Such publicity may include material provided with your application, photographs and interviews with Hands-On at Otago participants.

I acknowledge that my application outcome may be shared with my school and the University of Otago Schools’ Liaison team for programme administration and student support purposes. If I do not wish this information to be shared, I understand that I must notify the University of Otago by emailing hands-on@otago.ac.nz.

Tirohia te tauākī matatapu | View the privacy statement

Tauākī matatapu | Privacy statement

I have read and understood the privacy statement above and agree to its conditions.

Tauākī matatapu | Privacy statement option required

Information you enter will not be saved until you click "Submit" at the end of the form.

Summary

The following is a summary of your Hands-On at Otago application.

To submit your application, click the green Submit button at the bottom of the page.

You will receive an email confirming we have received your application.

You can still update your application at any time until the closing date of 11:59pm Thursday 6 August 2026 using the the link in your confirmation email.

Hands-On at Otago rules

I agree to the Hands-On at Otago rules

Application submission complete

Thank you for applying for Hands-On at Otago 2027.

Please check your email for an application confirmation from Hands-On at Otago. This may take a few minutes to come through. Check your junk email folder if this does not come through to your main inbox.

You can use the link in your confirmation email to make any changes or update your application until Thursday 6 August 2026.

If you have any further questions please contact hands-on@otago.ac.nz.

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