Program Reviews

Studies at AUT place you in the center of the City of Auckland. The support services provided to students studying abroad is nothing short of amazing. Further, what I was impressed with the most, was the approachability of the faculty. Unlike some schools that attempt to put up a barrier, here the staff are genuine in their desire to give students every opportunity to be successful and have an enjoyable stay. I honestly was not expecting to have an experience as amazing as the one I encountered when overseas at AUT. People are truly looking to help and are so generous with their time it is unbelievable.

It honestly is a good idea to utilize student housing while there. Proximity to campus facilities is exceptional, as well as the city itself. That being said, especially for older students (ie: not 18-21), communicate prior to arrival about seeing if your flat assignment can be with a group of 'age appropriate' students. Makes a huge difference and will make your time go a lot smoother!

I loved living so close to campus. It was a five minute walk from my flat to classes or the library. I arrived in Auckland two weeks before term started and did not have a class schedule, but the faculty were extremely understanding and helpful. I was able to create a schedule that allowed me to engage in my courses and still have plenty of time to enjoy the rest of what New Zealand had to offer. Overall, it was a fantastic experience in one of the coolest places on Earth!

I chose to attend AUT for the Fall 2008 semester and it was hands-down the best decision of my life. I knew no one else going, but immediately made some of my best friends. I'm a bridesmaid in one of their weddings this year! The staff at AUT worked very hard to ensure the transition was as informational and seamless as possible, and were always there to help with any questions the entire time. Culture shock I obviously going to happen, regardless of how "cultured" you think you may be. The staff (and your fellow study-abroaders) make it much easier. i also loved that they really immersed you in the experience. I was the only American in our four-person apartment and LOVED it! It was so cool learning about the other cultures and working them into our day-to-day lives. Everything about AUT was amazing and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I made the most incredible memories - including bungee jumping and sky diving! Hey, it's the adventure capital of the world! It's such a travel-friendly country, and because of its size I was able to visit the majority of the absolutely stunning country! I seriously cannot say enough great things about AUT and New Zealand.

Getting to class was easy, besides the hills. The study abroad staff was great and welcoming. I quickly made friends and had a great social circle early that lasted the entire semester.

I stayed in the 1st-year dorms. I was studying as a 4th year student. I was worried that would take away from my experience, but living with all the young Kiwis was awesome. My flat was an international flat. I lived with someone from Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and New Zealand. It was a lot of fun.

Some of the professors were accommodating to international students, which was nice. I'd say the work was challenging but not impossible.

Auckland had plenty of restaurants and nightlife. It was difficult to go anywhere that wasn't walking distance, as the bus drivers were NOT friendly (in Auckland, they were a joy in Wellington).

Overall I loved the experience. It was pretty easy to travel on weekends as well.

My experiences in New Zealand at AUT University are now some of my most treasured memories of my undergraduate career. The campus is situated in beautiful, downtown Auckland. There is so much to do in Auckland, including exploring volcanic caves, going to the harbor, museums, hiking, shopping, going to the beach. On the weekend it is easy to take the ferry to hike the green Mt Victoria or the volcanic island of Rangitoto. On the weekends, it is simple to travel, as well, either around the North Island or a short plane ride to the South Island.

The classes are well structured and I enjoyed most of my classes. The study abroad was flexible and helped me get set into the right classes and I had no problems transferring the credits back to my home university. The teachers were all very nice and I enjoyed the classes I took, especially A Pacific Reader, where I had the opportunity to learn more about Maori and Pacific Islander heritage and their history. The students were welcoming, but most had been in their classes together for years so it was hard to get to know them, although I was able to make many life long friends while I was there.

I can't even put into words how incredible this entire experience was, but I know you won't regret it.

I had a great time while at AUT. The classes required some work but also allowed plenty of time to explore. The staff was INCREDIBLY helpful when I found myself stranded in Australia due to disrupted flights and was unable to return before my original move out date and they allowed me to stay an extra few days in order to rearrange my flight schedule home.

My first two years of college, I had no intention of studying abroad. I decided to check it out towards the end of my sophomore year and applied to AUT. When I got accepted, my world completely changed. I spent 6 AMAZING months in New Zealand and was immediately engaged in both the school and community at AUT, as well as the great culture and experiences New Zealand has to offer. I was lucky enough with my class schedule that I had 4 day weekends every week, so I was always traveling and going on adventures (a la Bilbo Baggins, knocked on his front door!). Campus life was great as well, I became fast friends with Kiwis and other international students alike. I could go on and on about New Zealand, and I guarantee you wouldn't be bored, but I'll keep it nice and simple. AUT is an amazing school with an amazing staff in an amazing country with amazing people!

I did not know about the AUT page when I first applied to the school. But I met other students who filled me in and I was able to make so many friends and got invited to many adventures. It was a blast

Kia Ora! I had the most educational and exhilarating experience when I studied hospitality tourism during my 6-month semester at AUT, January through June 2010. My daily walk to Uni was about 10 minutes, and my flexible class schedule allowed me to complete a 400-hour internship at a local hotel. AUT is located right in the heart of Auckland, so after class there was always something fun to do close-by with my new kiwi mates. I even had the chance to travel extensively on the weekends and uni holidays, so having the city and its many resources at my fingertips helped so much. I never felt alone or hard-pressed to find something to do or someone to hang out with - class and the daily life I had was the perfect mix of study and fun.

I truly enjoyed learning in a foreign setting and seeing firsthand how different yet similar the American and Kiwi culture are to each other. My experience will forever stay with me; it formed memories and skills for both my personal and professional life that I will forever carry with me.

New Zealand and AUT was an amazing experience. The classes where great and transferred to my home school easily. I really enjoyed my time there! The area is great, beautiful places to travel and very easy to get around.