Preliminary enrolments at the 10th annual school were close to 2800 on the first day of the school.
Preliminary enrolments for the previous annual school peaked at 2610, with final enrolments, after some attrition, reaching a record 2364.
School director Dr Claire Matthewson was pleased the first day had generally run smoothly, despite record enrolments and about 1700 students being on campus.
Most students now enrolled online, and for the first time this year, most students could also have their courses confirmed by post.
These improved procedures were reducing queues and increasing efficiency, Dr Mathewson said.
Among international students attending the school was British music student Jamie O'Connor (20), who was still recovering from jet lag after making his first flights, from England to Dunedin, travelling almost non-stop, via Hong Kong.
A music student at University College Falmouth, in Cornwall, Mr O'Connor will study a paper on conducting at the Otago school.
Through an academic exchange programme, he will also study at Otago University for the rest of the Otago academic year before heading back to Falmouth to complete his BA in music.
Because the English academic year starts about September, he will be studying for about 17 months in a row, with few breaks in between.
Mr O'Connor, who plays the piano and the bassoon, said he had no regrets about such extensive studies.
The Otago school enables people to obtain academic credit for courses by undertaking intensive study for about six weeks.
Equivalent courses, run later in the university year, usually continue for about 13 weeks.
