Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Reviews

After spending 5 years in Auckland, I can say with hand on my heart this is my second home. My journey started at AUT and I credit a lot of my love towards New Zealand to my 3 years at the University. The reason I say this is because traveling to a different country all by yourself can be scary in many ways, but not once did I feel alone or that I wasn't looked after. AUT offers a lot of services both in terms of your academic life and social life. Any questions and challenge can and will be solved, and that is an invaluable "safety net" to have.

I took a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation at AUT, and was very happy with the overall variety in the papers we could choose from. The lectures were professional and educational, and included practical work as well as good old lecturing. During the last year we got a chance to test our knowledge through a cooperative education paper - spending a whole year out in the real world, working in the chosen field. This was the highlight of the program for me and without a doubt where I learnt the most.

Although I came to New Zealand to study and was prepared to go back home after completing my Bachelor's degree, the love for this beautiful country and its people had me stay a further two years. I now feel like I have a second home and family on the complete opposite side of the world and I am incredibly thankful for that. Can't wait to come back for a visit!

AUT is an amazing university! There are a lot of events for international students and when I was studying they had nice bus trips on saturday that are free for students (except some small fees).

The University has a lot of different programms and they have a special weekend for international students on the beginning of the semester. The Noho Marea (Maori cultural weekend), where you make a lot of new friends and Whanau (family).

Even long after you leave New-Zealand you will have great memories. But the best of it all is that it never ends, in Europe we have a reunion of AUT alumni ever year which you can attend. The base of this is the Noho Marea experience. Each year it will be held in a different country.

Travelling in New-Zealand in youre freetime is awesome! You will see the best views and have a great time exploring the country and it's outdoor activities!

I would highly recommend AUT to everybody, because I believe that this university suits any individuals' needs.

Going on exchange is something I would recommend to everyone, no matter what. Moving to New Zealand, living on the other side of the world and studying at AUT is one of the best choices I have ever made! This country has everything. Deep fjords, high mountains, geothermal areas and beautiful beaches, not to mention all the nice and caring people living there.

AUT is an amazing school; they know how to welcome international students and how to adapt the lectures for non-English speaking students. It was also arranged different types of events for international students to meet up and get to know each other.

Many students may look at New Zealand as too far away, but the experience you get is so unique and definitely worth it! I fell in love with this place, and even though I live on the other side of the world – I will be back!

Deciding to do an exchange semester at Auckland University of Technology, AUT, in New Zealand, is one of the best decisions I've ever made. The country is absolutely breathtaking and the people are the kindest and most laid back people I've met.

One of my favourite parts about studying at AUT is the student accommodation. I lived at Akoranga Student Village, ASV, for five months and never wanted to leave again. The friendships I've made there are priceless, and the atmosphere is the best. The place is alive and social but respects the need for studying as well.

So if you are to ever go studying at AUT, I would recommend staying at ASV in a heartbeat.

No matter where you go, going on exchange will change your life. You meet people from all around the world and learn so much more about yourself than you would ever imagine. I'm so glad I decided to come to AUT for my exchange. The exchange program advisors were super friendly and very helpful with regards to everything from application logistics, to your classes, to making you feel welcome in a new city.

AUT itself is a very great educational institution in the heart of downtown Auckland. With modern architecture, approachable teachers and a plethora of study spaces on campus, I'd highly recommend AUT.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time hear in New Zealand, the country is beautiful and the people are fantastic. Its makes me sad to know I will be leaving this place is a couple weeks but I definitely know I will be back!

Living in hostels is the best way to make friends, but also the worst way to study. Plan out as much as you can before you arrive (living arrangements, work/money, phone plans, etc) so your time abroad can be spent having fun instead of struggling to survive.
I am proud to say attending AUT was the highlight of my journey! The staff are very helpful and friendly and the school offers a very positive and welcoming atmosphere.

Travelling to New Zealand on my own was one of the biggest challenges of my life. I had mixed feelings about it, however, most of them were positive. Today, I can say that it was the best decision I have ever made, because that expirience has made me stronger and more confident. New Zealand is an amazing and open country with plenty of different nationalities, where you don't feel like a stranger, because everyone is so warm and helpful. AUT is a very modern, business minded university. The focus lays on teamwork and continuity. Furthermore, the university takes really good care of the international students, doing everything for them to integrate with each other. One of the events created by AUT that made the international students really close to each other was the internatiolan Noho Marae, which is a weekend where you learn about Maori (Native New Zealanders) culture. From the very beginning we were treated as a part of the family and all the social barriers disappeared. We have learned Maori songs, dances and did other activities with the other students and I think all of us will remember this weekend for the rest of their lives with a smile on their faces. Moreover, the staff at the international center are very friendly and helpful, which makes the process of applying and the stay at AUT much easier. I would highly recommend AUT to everybody, because I believe that this university suits any individuals' needs.

When it comes to choosing a location to study abroad, I do not regret coming to New Zealand. As an American, being able to experience the unique landscapes and mentalities that this region provides was incredible. When it comes to academics, the Maori papers I took changed my perspective on so many aspects of my life and I couldn't recommend them any more. The only downsides that I found during my time here was the lack of activities to do inside the city during my free time. AUT does not offer many extracurricular clubs which makes it difficult to become involved in things and meet many kiwis outside of your living arrangements. The other struggle is that Auckland as a city is not very big and in order to truly experience what this country has to offer you need to get outside the city limits. However, the public transit here is not very conducive for doing this or leading you to sites for tramps or camping so often I have found you will need to rent a car in order to get to these places. These trips add up very quickly so make sure to try and fill your car and condense as much as you can into your trips. Must do: Tongariro Crossing!

The university is very modern and have good facilities. There are silent study areas at the library, group study rooms, and a lot of computer labs equipped with Mac computers and all necessary programmes (Adobe, Word, Excel etc.). Also, there are cafes, food shops, and a book store on campus.

AUT is a multicultural university with students from all over the world. There are always many people at the university, and students are often working until late at night. The atmosphere at AUT makes you want to study hard.

Generally, I believe the academic level is high. One of the most challenging parts of my papers, Journalism, PR Communication, and Reputation Management, was that all examples, cases, discussions etc. in class were from New Zealand. That they only used examples from New Zealand sometimes made it difficult for me to understand what they talked about and to participate in the discussions. I never thought about this before leaving to New Zealand. It was challenging but I learned a lot from it.

The International Office was very helpful and created a Facebook page for all exchange and study abroad students. Here you could ask questions and etc. Also, the staff answered quickly when contacting them by email.

AUT organised a Noho Marae Weekend for International students, where we learned about the Maori culture. Students taking the Noho Marae paper had priority and the rest of the places were filled out afterwards. This semester it was the 30th Noho Marae, and we had dinner at AUT Saturday night, where we performed with singing and dancing. In the beginning of June, the people who participated had a farewell dinner together.

AUT has been one of the best experiences in my life.

I've really found a whānau at AUT. It's a place where I've made lasting not relationships and had an experience of a lifetime. I am an abroad student who has never felt safer at a university than I have here. It's a place that values cultural reciprocity, it's students, and engaging students in meaningful academics. The international Noho Marae class was really powerful for me because I was able to immerse myself in the native culture of New Zealand and create a whānau that would support me for the rest of my journey here