Massey University

I liked Massey University. Given that New Zealand is small, it’s a big school. The actual management was not good. It was extremely difficult to sign up for classes because they did not help. I liked the community but the school was not great. Be prepared to be stressed for awhile if you’re going to attend. Aside from management, the community was great. They are all very welcoming and they have fun residence hall games. The program allowed me to join clubs and experience life in New Zealand. I recommend joining the alpine club as it’s a good way to explore the nature within this gorgeous country.

International students are welcomed by Massey University. The registry process is smoothful and the classes are interactive and interesting. Preparations for final exams are not stressful at all. Massey University has a very nice library because it is warm and clean at any time. I studied 4 courses from different fields in Massey University and all the professors and course coordinators are kind and friendly. Students feel free to express ideas and ask questions. After class, professors and students communicate by e-mails. The reply letter is within 24 hours for sure. Besides both distance and internal students can start and doscuss a topic in the forums of courses in StreamSite System of Massey University. Massey studetns also have a MasseyUniv App. Students can check the class timetable, campus map and incoming activities. That's convenient.

For me studying abroad was always a dream of mine and I was always tied to going to New Zealand. I didn’t put a lot of effort into finding a school here other than what my home university offered and what classes were offered here. I think I got very lucky with Massey University - Albany. I didn’t realize how small the school was, but I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was to have a small school while studying abroad. It allows you to meet new people and actually see them again throughout campus. I ended up taking third year courses here which offered up another unique experience for me given most people studying abroad take easy classes and that the people in my classes all knew each other from other classes they were in together. So I had a more challenging time academically adjusting to the new teaching styles as well as finding people to talk to, but all of the teachers were super helpful. The location offered up so many opportunities to get and and do things! The campus is only a 45 minute bus ride into Auckland which offers so many different things to do and there is also a mall right across from campus which made shopping easy. The accommodations are what is to be expected for college dorms, but they make sure you have all the support needed. The food was a little disappointing, but there are lots of other options around. All in all my experience here was one I’ll never forget and I made life long friends here. I made sure to get out and explore NZ as much as possible and I honestly wish I could’ve stayed longer.

Studying at this school was nothing like how I expected. I should have done more research before going to a school like this. It was very small, with few helpful support staff, and absolutely nothing to do in a 45 minute radius. It also had classes that were extremely underwhelming in respect to how challenging they were. I was only in class 6 hours a week, and became very bored very quickly with the great lack of things to do in Palmy. They also allowed 2 weeks for fall break, and 3 weeks for finals, which seemed like a waste of time to me personally. I wish I had chosen to study in Europe, or at least a university with more things to do than just to leave campus and travel elsewhere. There is also very little history and culture in Palmy, at least to someone coming from a hometown established in the 1630s. This university would appeal to people who enjoy a small-town scene, drinking and hiking; none of which I am fond of.

This program is so unique from your typical study abroad. It allowed us to see so much of New Zealand instead of just remaining at one university. We spent the entire first two weeks of the program traveling from the south island all the way up to the north island. During this time, we stayed in ten different places and visited farms, national parks, wineries, and wildlife centers. All the traveling, combined with assignments due every few days was very exhausting but it was also very rewarding as we saw so many beautiful landscapes in so little time. My main complaint here is that I wish we had more time at each location to explore on our own. Following our expedition, we settled down for our next four weeks to complete an internship in the Hawke's Bay area. Many of us were slightly disappointed with the internship placements and organization surrounding it. Although my internship did not directly apply to my major, I made the best of it and gained valuable skills just by working in a different country. I am glad I took part in this program as it allowed for countless unique experiences, however, looking back I would only recommend it to people who are very interested in agriculture as the assignments apply more to those students than the environmental science ones like myself.