Businesses and organisations around Dunedin have been preparing for their return by organising events and ordering extra stock to cope with the annual influx.
Some students have already returned for the University of Otago's summer school programme but the majority are set to arrive in the city in the middle of February.
Among those already in Dunedin is Ben Hunt (22), who is in his fifth year of study at the university and enrolled in a summer school course.
He and flatmate Mark Bobeer (21) are waiting for their three other flatmates to move in later next month.
They were looking forward to more students arriving as north Dunedin would "liven up a bit", Mr Bobeer said.
Semester one at Otago Polytechnic begins on February 16 and the University of Otago will be approving courses from February 20.
University residential colleges were full, which was "usually the case at this time of year", director of accommodation services James Lindsay said.
The colleges held 3275 students, 2700 of the rooms were for first-year students.
The accommodation office, which helped students find flats, was "very busy", he said.
However, it was expected to get much busier in the next couple of weeks as more students arrived.
On February 9, a hospitality programme will begin which will involve extra staff helping students with accommodation options and offering advice.
The programme included the running of a regular free transport service helping students locate available flats, of which there were still plenty, Mr Lindsay said.
"This service has proved very popular in the past, particularly with out-of-town students."
The Captain Cook Tavern closed its doors before Christmas to undergo "major renovations" and was set to reopen about February 12, general manager Stu Munro said.
However, large crowds of students were not expected to return until about February 20.
Kmart Dunedin would "actively pursue" the student dollar through advertising and sponsorship, manager Jamie Coles said.
Extra stocks of student essentials, such as clothes airers, and white sheets for the toga parade, had been ordered.
The Salvation Army Family Store in Princes St had noticed students coming in since last week.
They often came to buy furniture and kitchen essentials, Alan Dore said.
The Butterflies Hospice Shop had also noticed an increase "in young things" coming in, Gerry Elliman said.
He expected it to get a lot busier closer to Orientation as students bought costumes for parties.
"They get down to the serious business of playing before the business of study."
Key dates
Otago Polytechnic
February 16: Semester one begins.
University of Otago
February 20, 23, 24: Semester one course approval.
February 23-March 7: Orientation.
March 2: Formal lectures begin.
