Program Reviews

Studying abroad in Wellington at Vic has been an incredible journey! The international orientation made me feel at home right away, connecting me with like-minded people from all over the globe. Moving across the world was daunting, but the warm and friendly staff created a supportive environment, making the transition smooth. Wellington's vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and endless activities have enriched my experience. From exploring the captivating museums to hiking the picturesque hills, every moment here is an adventure. I've grown academically, personally, and culturally, and I can't help but cherish this amazing chapter of my life. Wellington is a truly remarkable city that embraces diversity and leaves an indelible mark on your heart!

Awesome home base for an exchange experience! Staff for university was typically easy to contact and resolved problems well. Staff for housing a little less accessible but were great and quick to resolve issues when they were available. Wellington is a very cool city and a great place to be around. Also good for jumping off to explore either island of NZ. Loved the many people I met there who came from many different backgrounds. Overall a great experience and I have absolutely no regret in choosing VUW!

I’m very grateful to have been a student living in Wellington from Feb-June. I had an incredible time meeting new people, making new friends and immersing myself in the culture of New Zealand. VUW had a lot of clubs that I was able to join, including meditation club and tramping club, in which I made some fun memories. These activities helped me be more mindful as well, and I’ll continue to pursue these hobbies in my home country. I still keep in touch with the people I met after moving back and I hope to keep those wonderful connections.

Wellington is definitely a city based on walking, so bring good walking shoes and be prepared for your legs to hurt. Figure out public transportation because it is a life saver! Other than that there are so many amazing small stores and restaurant/cafes to explore so try something new as much as possible. And going for walks everyday can help with finding your way around the city and getting the most out of Wellington in general. Definitely go up to the botanical gardens also, during the day and at night it's beautiful all of the time.

I was here for just one trimester, which definitely wasn't enough. The city is fantastic (my favorite in NZ), and you could definitely spend your entire time just staying nearby. We traveled a TON, which was really easy from Wellington as it's pretty central to everything. The academic standard is definitely way below the U.S., at least from my institution, but in my experience that just allows you to spend more time in the city and traveling. Don't study abroad to study -- you can do that every other semester :)
The housing is pretty good, though I know they changed locations for this semester. I will say that all the Americans noticed that the Kiwis typically have less experience flatting, so they often don't clean... hopefully, your flatmates will listen when you tell them this, but if now, trimesters are short enough to deal with it. There's a fantastic hiking and backpacking scene, and even as a solo woman I felt very safe and frequently freedom camped. I definitely recommend going in the northern summer (so the first trimester) -- best temperatures and climate. The attempts at indigenous reintegration are really interesting, and NZ in general is a great place to study indigenous land management and knowledge. NZ is NOT the place to come and spend all your time in the city -- I would recommend it most for those interested in the outdoors or at least willing to explore other cities! It's very difficult to get to the country since it's so far away from pretty much everything, so you really want to make the most of it.

I studied abroad for a semester at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington during my third year of undergrad. After graduating, I came back to New Zealand to pursue a Master's degree which turned into a PhD in Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience.

I have absolutely loved my experience doing postgrad studies at Te Herenga Waka. The staff are excellent in terms of student support and knowledge in their field. My research, laboratory, and writing skills grew immensely throughout my PhD experience. I had opportunities to present my research at various academic conferences throughout New Zealand and was supported by my supervisor to publish research as well.

I have just submitted my PhD for examination and will be working at the University conducting research in my PhD supervisor's lab. Would strongly recommend Te Herenga Waka for a well-rounded postgrad experience.

I have only been living here a couple of weeks, but could not be happier with my decision to move abroad to study in Aotearoa. The faculty during orientation week at VUW welcomed us with open arms and gave us ample opportunities to get to know other international students and explore the city. All the students I have met at VUW have been so friendly and welcoming, but you definitely have to take the first step to build a real friendship. My professors have all been very fun and passionate about what they teach. The school work so far has not proved to be too difficult and the due dates for assignments are few and far between which I feel like has assisted the learning process to be more about the learning and less about the grading. I love living in the city of Wellington and being able to walk to everything I need and explore the cafes and eateries on foot. There is a wonderful bus system as well that has definitely come in handy when you don't want to carry your groceries up huge flights of stairs. The efforts in sustainability here have also been one of my favorite parts of living here as everyone really cares and does their part to reduce their waste. Groceries can be expensive at some supermarkets, so go to the Harbor Farmers Markets every Sunday instead to get cheap produce and then travel to Pak'n'save for the best deals on whatever else you need. My biggest pieces of advice are probably: buy really comfortable shoes (you'll walk a lot), wear a short sleeve under your jacket (its cold but you can be sweaty and places are always warm inside), and bring your own grocery bags. Oh and they don't have drip coffee here- just lattes, americanos, flat whites ect.

I absolutely loved my study abroad experience at VUW. My program is at the graduate level in Canada and undergraduate level in New Zealand, so there was an adjustment going from a graduate to undergraduate program for a semester. But the professors were generally lovely and I learned so much.
Wellington is a great place to live, and a fantastic jumping off point to explore New Zealand further (in-country flights can be very inexpensive!) I completely fell in love with Wellington, and my experience in study abroad was completely fantastic. I would highly recommend studying abroad at VUW for anyone, but especially those who love nature, culture, food, and wine.

Going to Victoria University for my student exchange was truly one of the great things that could have happened to me. I learnt so much - how there are so many things out in the world beyond the shores of my small country; the challenges and efforts of people in bridging Maori and Pakeha relations; the reality that learning does not have to be stressful and only about grades. Staying at Helen Lowry Hall, I've made some awesome friends who showed me how living in a community is about caring, sharing and making connections. Wellington is a really accessible city with plenty of nature trails and walks. All you need is your two feet to get to see some plenty awesome views that'll blow you away. Something that I miss a lot about New Zealand are the natural landscapes and the kind people I've met during my journeys around Aotearoa.

I adored everything about my study abroad. I made most of my friends at my hall. The RAs are incredibly interactive and sweet. The food wasn't amazing but it was still better than most of the food back home. Because of the friends I made, I always had a place to stay when I traveled during the tri breaks. I never had to pay for a hotel, just a bus ride. I was able to see Hobbiton, Rainbow Springs, and the Redwood Treewalk. I was down in Christchurch for a week, where I visited their adventure park, Hanmer Springs and a beach in Sumner. I attempted surfing. The classes themselves were amazing too. If you're sick, they understand you can't come to class. My professors all excelled in the fields they taught and brought in constant real-world expertise and advice. One of my professors was working at Weta, which in general just provides a really cool opportunity to learn from someone active in a field I'm interested in. I took some intense courses so sometimes I was overwhelmed but overall it was a great experience. I love what I learned, the people I met and the stunning views I was able to witness.