Program Reviews

Disclaimer: my home university coordinated the majority of my study abroad trip, including the initial preparations and orientation. However, the University of Auckland (UoA) International Student Services did contact me a number of times with class-related information once the semester began.

Academics: UoA was a lot less challenging for me than my home university, but it does take some time to get used to the New Zealand grading system. None of my classes required mandatory homework, and thus the final exam was often worth more than most American students are used to. This also means staying up to date on class material is on you. There are plenty of classes offered at UoA with interesting and NZ-specific content, and I would definitely recommend exploring these as NZ culture can seem almost the same as familiar US culture at first pass. I took a wine science class that involved wine tastings in lab - definitely would recommend.

Safety: New Zealand is mostly a safe country, but Auckland on a weekend night can be an exception. I myself had a close call on the Grafton Bridge near campus. Always travel with a buddy, and pay attention to liquor laws. Internationals at bars in New Zealand must use a passport or NZ-issued ID rather than a driver's license from their home country. Don't lose your passport by getting one of these NZ IDs, forms available online.

Adventure: The main reason I enjoyed my study abroad semester was the constant traveling I was able to do in New Zealand. The North Island can feel lacking at times from deep in the heart of the big city, but cheap rental cars and flights to the South Island mean travel is easy. UoA offers a number of its classes via webcast in addition to physical lecture, which is a great resource if you're out for a long weekend. Backpacking spots abound, and I would say Abel Tasman and the Copland Track are a must.

Tips: The city of Kaikoura on the South Island has seen an earthquake since my visit, but Kaikoura Cheese on the town's main road is phenomenal. The colonies of seals nearby are a plus.
Auckland has a delicious vegan eatery/bakery, Little Bird Unbakery. All their foods are vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and delicious. Albert Park Cafe just a block from campus makes amazing polenta fries, and Scarecrow Cafe just a few shops down is a great brunch spot.

The screen tools program is a truly a one of a kind opportunity for people interested in media production which has been made by the tightly and meticulously crafted schedule by the university’s staff.
I can’t think of a better way to spend four weeks than polishing and learning practical screen production skills that range from the pre to the post production process.
The staff and tutors of the course are professionals and completely invested in transmitting their knowledge and experiences while also exerting the right pressure to ensure the students will understand and following quality standards and industry practices.
Personally this experience was enriched by the opportunity of working closely with incredible classmates from a variety of backgrounds and experiencing not only through the lessons but also through field trips the kiwi culture and the film industry.

It's all in the community and the great work you create along the way. Everyone involved was welcoming, open, honest, friendly, and generous, and that's why the course was a success, and why I can look back on the four weeks with such great memories. Administration, instructors, and educators were truly invested in teaching and supporting my classmates and me in and out of the classroom (or studio as it were). While the hours in the studio were long and rigorous, the personal growth (regarding character, career-building goals, and technical skills) I underwent was massive and made me realize the potential of my talents. The field trips were a highlight, taking us to locations like Hobbiton and WETA studios, and now I strive to work in similar places in the future. Being in New Zealand helped me experience the production industry outside of my home country, explore fantastic landscapes and cultures, and approach my future education and career prospects at an international scale. If you're prepared to tackle a massive amount of work, fueled by adventure and creativity, this course won't disappoint.

Auckland Uni is a place to grow and learn, and during my semester here, I had the opportunity to reflect on my future and focus on my long-term goals.
During my semester there, I made friends from around the world, joined some exciting clubs like the Auckland Uni Diving Club and the Aero RC Club, took courses taught my amazing, talented professors, and got to travel around New Zealand and explore its beauty.

To come here for nearly 3month ,I feel great beacuse lots of activities and firends here.

I have attended lots of activities and get help from so much people.When I first come to school,I did not no where to go because I have no booked a room and the staff gave me some wonderfull sugestion.After taking classes,I feel free t talk to my classmate as they have patient to tell you something I do not know.

I hope I can come here in the future！

I registered to the Screen Tools program as a way to improve my portfolio, but what I got out of this experience is much more than I had originally imagined. From the very moment I landed in New Zealand there was a driver awaiting to take me to City Lodge, the place where I and the rest of the students enrolled in the program would be staying. All the staff from both the Lodge and the University of Auckland was always attentive and readily available for contact if it was needed. The program began swiftly and we were taken on a tour throughout the city to learn more about the history of New Zealand and Maori Culture by visiting museums and important landmarks. When classes begun we were introduced to John Callen, who gave us a warm welcome and initiated the Screen Tools course. Swiftly, the project began and our team was given plenty of time to plan and device our approach, as well as lots of creative freedom of how we wanted to craft of work. While the experience was demanding and rigorous in the amount of work we had to submit, we were fortunate to use our time wisely and have a group of members that brought very important artistic elements to the production. During our time off we had many opportunities to explore Auckland, including the lively nightlife and the nearby islands reachable by ferry. Overall, the month long trip was an unforgettable experience that is very well worth every moment of it.

Actually, I quite enjoy the life in New Zealand. And I like University of Auckland very much. I am a student from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. I come to University of Auckland as an exchange student for one term in School of Law. Everything here is new and fresh to me.

Environment: the UoA is situated in the city centre of Auckland. So life is convenient here. One can go to Queen Street for nice meals. The university cafe is also good.

Accommodation: I live in Huia. Although it is a little bit far from School of Law, but it is not very far to the city campus. And people here are quite nice. I met a lot of good friends here.

Study: Teachers are quite nice. The courses are well organised. Most of them will send the videos after class to make sure the people who has not come to class won't miss the point. Students here are hard working and nice to get along with.

Wanted to head to Rangitoto for the day with other ISA members but we missed the ferry. Instead we went to Waiheke (highlight area) and found ourselves on a beach. We then started exploring the edges of the beach onto some rocks and went rock climbing, I mean scaling some pretty high walls. From there we found this cool wooden ledge to take pictures from and other scenic area that were awesome. We ended up in a field of 3 ft grass and watched the sunset on the top of a hill! Then had to take roads back in the dusk because the tide came in and it was impossible to get back.

I have had a great study abroad experience so far. I honestly didn't think I would be able to, nor wanted to study abroad while in college, but I'm so glad I did. I've done so many things that I would never have had the chance to do back home and I am so grateful for this opportunity. Two weeks ago, two friends and I enjoyed our mid-semester break road tripping around the south island. We started off in Queenstown, doing the bungy jump and the nevis swing, and made our way up the west coast and down to Dunedin. We had a great time hitting many of the major tourist spots, while also enjoying the scenery during the drives. We also got to explore Wellington at the end of our trip, though the weather was not great. I definitely suggest Fidel's restaurant to those going to Wellington...it is definitely the best spot to get breakfast/brunch. I went twice during my short stay, two mornings back to back, and had chicken and waffles which were amazing. They also have a variety of amazing milkshakes as well as really cool pastries. If anyone likes Tim Tams they had a Tim Tam cake that I regret not trying. I seriously suggest to any exchange students looking for somewhere to travel to take advantage of New Zealand. Don't just head right for other countries like Sydney, or Fiji and take advantage of the entirety of New Zealand, especially the South Island.

Studying in Auckland is one of the greatest decisions I've ever made! I've been to beaches, mountains, hot springs, wine tastings, and bungy jumps. Waiheke Island is definitely one of the highlights of this trip. It's one of the most beautiful places I've seen. South Island of New Zealand is also incredible. I would really suggest taking the opportunity to study abroad in NZ. The food is good, the people are nice, and the place is beautiful!