Program Reviews

I studied abroad at Massey University spring of 2017. I attended the university as an International Business major as well as a member in the Global Student Athletics program. As a full time soccer player, traveling and cultivating experiences off the field, and outside of the gym, is very difficult. However, my experience at Massey University was not lacking integration between athletics, academics and campus social life. While I was seeing great result in strength and endurance, thanks to my personal trainer James Amon, the flexibility of the training team allowed me to never miss a new adventure with several of the on-campus clubs that I joined. I joined the Equestrian club, Alpine club, and soccer team on campus. When James and I were not increasing weight, reps or doing super sets, I was able to travel and truly experience New Zealand. My mentors at Massey insisted that I travel and learn more about the culture as both of these things promote self growth. I am so happy that I listened to them as I saw so many incredible places and had countless eye opening experiences, whether it was learning about the Maori culture or climbing the dormant volcano Mount Ngauruhoe. Huge thank you to Craig Lyons, Gail Gilbert, James Amon and everyone else in their offices for creating this once in a life-time opportunity that I will never forget.

To study abroad in New Zealand was something I had never considered be it that it’s on the complete other side of the world from home. However, it turned out to be the best unplanned decision of my life. New Zealand is the country that I grew to fall in love with. It felt more like home than home itself. I felt so welcomed and accepted into the New Zealand community. To future participants my advice would be to just step out of your comfort zone and grab the invaluable experience of a lifetime. Enjoy the beautiful wonders New Zealand has to offer whilst gaining a top class educational experience at Massey. The teaching staff have a genuine desire to help students thrive and reach to the upmost limits of each individual student’s ability. I had never sought to travel and explore the world before this program, but I now certainly do have the travel bug bad... Infact, I am writing this review whilst on the plane to South East Asia. I'm humbled to have been fortunate enough to experience all that I did, and I encourage all future participants to take the opportunity, get on the plane and go!

New Zealand is an awesome place to be!
People may rag on Palmerston North alot, and I'll admit its not a place you'd have any reason to visit, but it's actually a wonderful place to live! There is far more programming available for international students here to get out and explore the country than there is at Massey's Auckland/Albany Campus as well. And because of its location, Palmy is within easy access of both Wellington and the mountains.
Speaking of which, exploring the country, especially the South Island, simply MUST be done while you are here. If you're not the outdoorsy type, though, this might not be the country for you. Outdoors activities whether its tramping/hiking, skiing, mountain biking, or more niche like jetboating, bungee jumping, skidiving, whitewater rafting, heli-hiking, etc. are HUGE here. Be forewarned though, New Zealand is EXPENSIVE, so SAVE UP before coming here, as in, several thousand dollars more than you think you'll need. Also, Auckland and Queenstown are both overrated - I'm just sayin.

As for Massey itself, its OK. I was here on a bilateral exchange program so I only pay my home university's tuition to be here which is nice, but some more programming for internationals, and especially exchange/study abroad students would be appreciated.
For accommodation though, I cannot recommend the homestay program here highly enough. You basically get all the comforts of home, including home cooked meals and included utilities, for a rate which is quite reasonable compared to the cost of dorms/halls.

I can't even believe this experience is ending. It has been among the most transformative times in my life. What started out as a trip to study for six months in another country has turned into lifelong relationships spanning the globe, unparalleled research experience, and educational opportunities impossible to find elsewhere. Massey allowed me to connect and work with professors. In my free time, I worked with a particular professor, and we're now working to write up or even publish our research on acoustics in freshwater streams. This relationship from a single study abroad has become a connection that will extend into my scientific career. Classes enabled me to learn about New Zealand's natural and human history from within, spotting birds along the coast with professors as I learned to recognize species by sight and call, visiting the National Museum to learn about New Zealand's role in World War II and ANZAC, and studying early European settlers in the enormous New Zealand section of Massey's library before visiting the Settler's Museum on the South Island to see the settler's artifacts in person (during semester break). Moving beyond academics, living in Palmerston North provided the opportunity to experience New Zealand as a local, making friends with families from town, shopping at the weekly farmers market, going to PAK'nSAVE with your international and local flatmates, and biking along the Manawatu River. My months in New Zealand were spent exploring, learning, and eating feijoas. I wouldn't have it any other way.

New Zealand is on the other side of the globe, compared to the Netherlands. Many differences exist between the countries. The things I like most about NZ is the beautiful nature and the people. While travelling, I saw stunning nature of which I didn't even think it existed. It's like on those pictures of which you think they are edited with Photoshop, but it does exist... the Netherlands is quite boring compared to New Zealand, it is totally flat (yeah it's true) and trees are half the size or less. Furthermore, people in the Netherlands are always in a hurry. During my exchange I met many kiwi's who were eager to show me nice places or give information about it. While travelling I enjoyed being outside, hitchhiking, camping and tramping. I've had a great half year on the other side of the globe!

I took up the opportunity to travel and study at Massey as part of my degree I am completing in the UK, and I am so glad I did. Massey provides its students with the best teaching staff and facilities to match, the education and learning I gained cannot be faulted. I chose to live on campus and this is a great opportunity to make friends, the accommodation is also basically brand new so was a real treat. Make sure you chose your floor and hall wisely though as it can get noisy! Living on campus did come with some downfalls though, as there is many rules that apply (with reason), this was a slight shock coming from a rowdy agricultural university, need I say more.
New Zealand is a beautiful country and I totally recommend this program to anyone looking to travel this country alongside study.

While at Massey, I met so many amazing people. I wasn’t sure at first whether I wanted to go, but going was the best decision I ever made! I got to explore this beautiful country, also with the University Alpine Club (MUAC). I really learnt to be independent, being in a country so far away from everything you know. After my exchange, I even traveled alone for some time. I am so much more confident now, and I have this program to thank for that.

I loved my experience abroad at Massey, the environment was fun and the classes were mostly insightful. My only advice to future study abroad students considering the same path, would be to study abroad early in your college career! I found that being an older student in the final year of my study didn't quite fit in to Massey (At Wellington)'s structure and social environment. The classes were good, but workload and learning topics were not as I expected. My living situation with Massey Accommodation was heaps of fun but I would've liked to live in a more stable place with older students.

I have come to the Massey Manawatu Campus to do a student exchange from the UK. My time in NZ so far has been incredible!
It's been great studying here as I get to see my degree from a different angle - something I wouldn't have been able to do if I hadn't studied abroad. This has opened up my mind to an even wider job market which I could delve into.
The staff are also really supportive and help you fit in full time study commitments around full time travel adventures! There's so much to see in New Zealand and Palmerston North is a great base to which to see it all from.

Studying abroad at Massey was a decision I will cherish for the rest of my life. Everybody on this campus and in the surrounding community is so kind and genuine. This is perhaps one of the most rewards parts to me. It is a safe, medium-sized town that is perfect for uni. The housing here is good, but the heating is different in every residence hall. And personally, I chose a self-catered hall so that I could cook for myself, and keep to the type of diet I wanted.

As a communications major my classes are based on discussion more than assignments. With small class sizes, this means we get to know each other very quickly--perfect for a newcomer. It is in these discussions I have made many new Kiwi friends, and had too many hilarious conversations erupting out of the differences between our cultures.

Personally, coming to Massey meant the opportunity to create new friendships, that I would meet people I would have otherwise never crossed paths with. I have not been disappointed. From my advisor, to my professors, peers, mentors, coworkers, clubs, and friends, I have been surrounded by phenomenal new individuals. I have created life long friendships in a matter of months.

I have also had the chance to visit Wellington, New Plymouth, Taranaki, and Rotorua on weekend trips, as well as a 2 week long road trip up to Cape Reinga, the Bay of Islands, Coromandel, and Tauranga. I went on this two week trip in a camper van with people I had only known for 6 weeks, and now they are some of my closest friends! I plan to spend the rest of my travels in the South Island, seeing Able Tasman, Mt. Cook, Christchurch, Queenstown, and even flying over to Australia! New Zealand is such a beautiful, safe country, and if you plan it right, you should be able to see it all during your stay.