Undergraduate students wishing to study abroad—look no further! The "Land of the Long White Cloud" provides plenty more than gorgeous blue skies (and I don't just mean sheep).
New Zealand may be the last country discovered and the youngest country on earth, but its culture certainly dates back hundreds of years. The first New Zealanders, the Maori, migrated there from Polynesian islands; about 800 years later, the first Europeans arrived and began extensive migration. Today, the population of New Zealand is an interesting combination of south-Pacific islanders, Europeans, and a growing population of Asians. New Zealand is situated on two neighboring islands, and is home to one of the most beautiful natural environments on the planet.
New Zealand may be a long way from home, but study abroaders all regale that the time spent on the airplane is well worth it!
Choosing a Program
New Zealand is an ideal location for students interested in a variety of fields of study—from ecology, to business, and everyone in between, you will have no problem finding a program that best suits your academic goals and interests. Outside of the classroom, there are literally hundreds of different activities to keep you busy! New Zealand has a few excellent universities that repeatedly appear on top world rankings. Find a program that balances your interest in learning about New Zealand and truly experiencing New Zealand.
Language:
English is the primary spoken language of the country, although some of the population does still speak the ancient Maori language (which would be very interesting to learn about; how many people can say they can speak a traditional, south-Pacific language?!). New Zealand is the perfect place for a students interested in a little bit of a wilder experience than English-speaking Europe or Australia, but still wanting to avoid many things getting "lost" in translation.
Housing:
Different study abroad programs will provide students with different housing options. Depending on the type of overseas program you wish to have, you can find a program who's living arrangements contribute positively to your overall experience. For instance, if you need space to study, we would not recommend living in shared apartments. There are many options available to you, so be sure to research a program that provides exactly what you are looking for.
AustraLearn's program in New Zealand gives students a variety of accommodation options. All housing options are the same cost, whether you choose to live in catered halls of residence, self-catered apartments, or shared apartments - ensuring you truly select the atmosphere that best suits you. Conversely, the Education Abroad Network's provides their students with furnished on-campus university housing at the University of Canterbury. Living with international students is a great way to enhance your experience overseas! If you're more interested in an outdoor adventure, study with the School for Field Studies, their students stay in 8-person cabins in the rainforest!
Activities and sight seeing:
The best part of study abroad is that not all of your learning is in the classroom. Many programs will include different sightseeing and activities to help ensure you see all of the best places that a country has to offer.
The Education Abroad Network plans a variety of sight seeing trips and activities for their students, including short trips to neighboring Fiji and the nearby South Island (where Lord of the Rings was filmed!). IFSA-Butler's program in New Zealand has so many amazing built in trips, I had a hard time choosing a couple to highlight in this guide!
To facilitate integration into the community, we schedule our excursions prior to the start of the semester and during mid-semester breaks. We encourage you not to travel every weekend, as during the week, Kiwis tend to work hard, but on the weekends, they come out to play. Hang around Christchurch and get to know the locals.
-- Education Abroad Network
Where to Study Abroad in New Zealand
So you like cities? Great. Or rather, you're more of the outdoorsy, nature-loving type? Not a problem. No matter where you study in New Zealand, you are bound to find exactly what you're looking for.
AUCKLAND: Home to about a third of the country's population (around 1.4 million!), Auckland is New Zealand's biggest city, and an exciting location for any study abroad experience. Chock full of excellent cafes, entertainment, shopping centers, a beautiful harbor, and art galleries, despite NOT being the nation's capital, it is certainly its most international city. Auckland is infamous for the high quality of life enjoyed by its residents, and for the fact its built on a volcano!
Students will find that many career opportunities are available within this city, and would be hard pressed to find a location more ideal for a study abroad experience in not only New Zealand, but around the world!
WELLINGTON: On the flip side, Wellington serves as the cultural and political capital of the country. Also built on a harbor and atop a hilly terrain, Wellington was the first area where the Maori settled so many years ago. With that in mind, the city offers visitors a wealth of interesting historical landmarks to admire, in addition to this ample supply of excellent museums, restaurants, cafes, and the like. In addition, no visit to New Zealand is complete without a visit to Te Papa, the country's national museum. Wellington is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making earthquakes a regular happening around the city. Despite its location on a faultline, most earthquakes barely make a rumble at surface level!
Scholarships to Study Abroad in New Zealand
Studying abroad does not have to make your wallet whimper—counteract the costs by applying for (and hopefully receiving!) a range of scholarships to finance your study abroad experience. Research local organizations and groups interested in sponsoring overseas studies, find out if the program you would like provide scholarships, see if your university-sponsored aid can carry over—there are plenty of options, you just need to find them!
Language and Customs
Affectionately referred to as Kiwis, a love for outdoor recreation is in just about every New Zealander's blood—whether you prefer winter weather activities such as skiing, or warm weather golfing or kayaking, you are bound to find a kiwi you can share a love for physical activity. Despite the options, Rugby time and again rises to the top as the locals most favored sport (go All Blacks!).
Over the past two decades, New Zealand has seen a large increase in the number of Asian immigrants seeking permanent residency there. A study abroad experience in New Zealand most certainly guarantees ample opportunities to interact with students and people from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, China, and Japan. Talk about a multicultural experience!
The people of New Zealand are famous for their kindness and willingness to accommodate all kinds of visitors—come study abroad in and explore this secluded nation and see what the rest of the world was missing out on for all of those years!
Contributed by Megan Lee
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