Program Reviews

Wellington was the perfect choice for study abroad. The city is quite walkable from the university and where my accommodations were at Everton Hall. It is also very accessible, the public transit system easy to use. The classes I took were interesting, the people were even cooler (both those I came here with and those I met along the way), and our IFSA on-site coordinator, Megan, was incredible. I learned a lot about myself, about the country and culture, and about the topics I was studying at Uni. After traveling around Europe, Australia, and both New Zealand islands, I can say with confidence that I made the right choice coming to Wellington.

I decided to come to New Zealand for a few reasons: I wanted to travel far from home, in a place where I’d be regularly engaging with the people and culture, and have many beautiful hiking opportunities. I chose Wellington in particular because my friend spent a semester here and absolutely loved it (shoutout Brisa!!). All of my expectations have been exceeded — the people are so kind and friendly, the culture is incredible, and the nature is otherworldly. Even as I’m wrapping up my time here, I continue to be shocked by how gorgeous the views are as I walk to class each day.

I’ve been lucky enough to travel around the North and South Islands and to Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, while abroad. Every place I’ve visited has been a wonderfully unique experience, but nothing has felt quite like home like Wellington. If you love nature, small cities, and kind people, Welly is the place for you!

Want to study abroad in New Zealand but don’t know where? Wellington is the way to go! Living here for the past few months has been nothing short of formative and a truly once in a lifetime experience. Wellington has the perfect balance of city that can provide for all your urban needs while still feeling accessible and homely. If you’re a nature enthusiast like me there’s plentiful opportunities to go out and explore. Near the city, Mt. Victoria and Zealandia offer great places to go on some short walks and explore some views and wildlife New Zealand has to offer. Additionally, there’s numerous hikes outside the city that are easily accessible by transport and definitely worth doing! Wellington is also conveniently situated at the bottom of the north island, making it easy to go on a north island adventure, or take a ferry or flight across Cook Strait to experience the wonders of the South Island! Also, a huge benefit of choosing IFSA Victoria University of Wellington means that you get to experience the joys of having Megan as your Kiwi mom, who offers so much support and consideration to everyone! Lastly, unlike most universities in New Zealand, we have a two week long mid-trimester break which gives you ample time to go on some incredible adventures!

My abroad experience at the University of Wellington has been a perfect fit. I have enjoyed the balance of being in a small city full of young adults like me, and leaving on weekends/mid trimester break to hike and explore NZ's natural world. I recommend NZ if you are interested in exploring nature, hiking, mountains, waterfalls, lakes, sheep, blue springs etc. I felt supported in my abroad experience through the FSA program as it provided a base of friendships and resources. I'm feeling very satisfied in my choice.

Wellington is incredibly full of life and is a vibrant, colorful, and exciting place to live. Without a doubt, one of the best aspects of getting to call New Zealand's capital home would be its incredible public transportation system that allows for quick, easy, and relatively inexpensive access to not just all parts of the city but the surrounding region, too. There is always something to do, whether to take the train into the country, go out to town with some friends, or go on a bush walk (hike). As someone with a few dietary restrictions, I must note that many restaurants are incredibly accommodating.

Wellington and New Zealand itself are gorgeous places that I recommend everyone visit. It’s filled with breathtaking scenery, Māori culture, and tons of fun activities for you to engage with! People are so kind and friendly. If you’re ever lost or confused, it’s alright to just politely ask anyone you see and they’ll point you in the right direction! The food is also an absolute highlight. The fresh fish and non-American native fruits have all been wonderful to taste and discover! My flatmates and I love to go out and discover new restaurants or find new foods and cook a giant dinner together

I had such an incredible experience in Wellington. I picked New Zealand because I was interested in going far from home, and being close to the outdoors. I am so glad that I picked Wellington specifically, because it was the perfect fit for access to nature, as well as having fun and artsy city life. I really appreciated the opportunities to go to concert, go out on town, and work at various local farms and gardens. The Saturday farmers markets were some of my most incredible memories in Wellington. The reason that this program was so incredible, in large part, was because of the support and joy that Megan, the program support person, brought to it. We love Megan :).

This program was perfect for my goals studying abroad. I love hiking, camping, snowboarding, meeting new friends, and trying outdoorsy things... but can struggle to motivate to go out of my way to engage with these things when I get comfortable. With that in mind, UC was a great place for me -- it offered awesome adventures and places, plus people who wanted to explore them together, every weekend, all within a 1-5 hour drive. Being in international housing with other folks who wanted to explore, it was really easy to make these trips happen and make wonderful memories.

The program offered great personal support, and the academics at UC were solid -- you can get as much out of it as you're willing to put in. For me, that meant going to lots of office hours and trying to engage with the professors... I always found that they were willing to engage when I put in the effort. Also, get ready for homework that isn't graded, followed by a test or essay worth 50% of your grade. Stressful, but everyone is in it together.

The social/going out scene was perfect for me, a chill night with dancing and drinks is always a bus away on the weekend. This might not be the right program for people that want a true club scene, or who are trying to stay out till 4am most weekend nights. UC is an outdoorsy place, on the whole... no outdoor experience is required, only a willingness to learn and try and have fun... but somebody who doesn't want to engage with the outdoors at all might find other programs more suited to their taste.

Finally, I'll note that the IFSA housing seemed to place most study abroad students in housing that was shared with other study abroad students. That meant that most every friend I met there was a fellow American. It takes more effort in this program to meet local friends than it might in some others. The school's clubs are fine places for that, classes too.

As someone who was nervous to study abroad at all, I’ve found everything about Wellington to be so welcoming, making me feel silly to have ever doubted it. This dynamic city has at any time been a host to parties at San Fran, peaceful strolls in the botanic gardens or zoo, people watching on Lambton Quay, or a friendly gathering with fellow students during one of IFSA’s scheduled activities. There is truly something for everyone. Of course, the education is worth the time and interest, the facilities are well equipped, and the support is all encompassing and never ending. New Zealand has endless adventure and beautiful natural landscape. Just when I get used to the scenery, another freaky looking bird caws at me and lands at my feet!

I had the most wonderful time in Wellington, NZ. The city has everything you could want: from my flat I could walk 10 minutes up into the mountains/nature, or 10 minutes down to the bay. I was there from February to June and even as winter came, the weather remained pleasant throughout. There’s so much to do in Welly itself but it’s also in the perfect central location of NZ to get anywhere quickly. Public transportation in the country is phenomenal. Megan, our lovely coordinator, took us to Paekakariki and many other places with the ease of a train that we could hop onto with our snapper cards. A few friends and I also took the train to go to what’s left of Rivendell (from Lord of the Rings set) in another park! Megan was so great at giving us recommendations, bringing the group together, and making sure we felt supported at all times. I knew she was always there to talk if I was feeling overwhelmed or having any issues (like with my eSIM card at the start!). Overall, my only wish is that I could’ve stayed in New Zealand longer. It’s a beautiful country with such kind people and so much to explore. I highly recommend going, doing things a little out of your comfort zone, and enjoying all that NZ has to offer.