Study Abroad at AUT University in New Zealand

The engineering program at AUT is amazing. Very hands-on approach with practical curriculum taught by excellent professors who were very accommodating and really knew their stuff. There were a few very interesting group projects where we were tasked with formulating solutions to real world problems The on-campus bar made working in groups very enjoyable with a relaxed atmosphere and was an easy central location for everyone to meet.
AUT staff are awesome and always helpful and know how to show you a good time. They always made me feel very welcome and made every effort to make sure I had a good experience. They set up a very fun cultural weekend where we learned about New Zealand's history and Maori customs.
I made a ton of good friends from all over the world. We traveled the entire country together and formed very tight, lasting friendships. I still talk to many of them on a regular basis and plan to visit each other. We went bungy jumping, mountain climbing, backpacking, skydiving, surfing, mountain biking, snowboarding, kayaking, glacier hiking, just name a few activities. There is something for everyone. The wine and beer are out of this world! There are so many interesting sights to see and small towns to big cities to explore. Great nightlife. By the end of our trip we were hostel aficionados and masters of traveling on a very tight budget. There was never a dull moment. I could spend hours talking about all there is to see and do!
This was an unforgettable experience that I literally think about every single day, even 5 years later. Do yourself the biggest favor you ever could, and GO! You will never regret it. I will definitely be back someday :)

Every week, I would attend my four papers. My Maori papers were definitely the most fun; moreover, I would encourage any study abroad student to take at least one Maori paper. Learning about Maori and mainstream New Zealand culture really allowed me to surround myself fully with the experience. I not only lived in New Zealand, I was able to learn about its history and modernization in a classroom setting.

AUT was a great place for me to experience my first study abroad on my own. New Zealand was an awesome place for me to study and learn about the culture as well. My University in the states is in the middle of nowhere and I have never lived in a big city and it was amazing to experience what all there was to see. I loved being able to walk to class and see all that the city had to give me.

I chose to take my fifth semester of uni at AUT due to the following:
- The available courses fit well with my studies in Denmark
- I had always wanted to see New Zealand
- I had heard good things about the effort done by the student support staff to make the international students feel at home and welcome at AUT.

Fortunately, all of my expectations were met completely. Not only did it give me a new and different perspective and experience regarding my studies, but it also gave me the opportunity to create friendships with people from everywhere around the globe, and to have fun experiences and memories with through the travels we did around the country. People that I still often keep in touch with.
Travelling around New Zealand was a dream come true for me, to witness some of the great landscapes taken out of an adventure book.
Only problem with studying in New Zealand is that afterwards, you can't help missing it a lot.

The faculty were so welcoming to study abroad students. I felt comfortable interacting with fellow students and the teachers were so accommodating to our differences. The atomosphere at AUT was outstanding and I made the best lifelong friendships!

I studied abroad three times in the UK (London), Spain (Sevilla), and New Zealand on this program with AUT and this was by far my favorite. The staff was insanely helpful during orientation with everything from throwing welcome events (at bars, not in America anymore!) to helping change class schedules - and they were only ever an email away.

Auckland is a great city as well and if you stay at the school accommodation you'll be right in the heart of it. Less than a 15 minute walk from the harbor, 10 to center of downtown and 5 to classes. There's also a great public transport system that can get you around easily. In addition there are so many other great things to see in New Zealand that Auckland is great because of the airport. Short (and cheap) flights leave all the time to other parts of the country and to Australia, Fiji, etc.

Since they speak English in New Zealand, I didn't think there would be a language barrier. But you'd be surprised. Slang is very different and common words often have slightly different connotations - but you get used to it quick!

I randomly chose a country to study abroad in and ended up at AUT. I had one of the best times of my life and met so many amazing people that I continue to visit all over the world. AUT is in a fantastic urban location but easy to get out of town as well.

Great experience. Amazing memories and lasting friends. The landscape is gorgeous and the people are extremely friendly. There are so many great outdoor activities you could spend years on one island without exploring all that it has to offer. The culture is rich and the weather is beautiful.

I still talk about my time studying abroad in New Zealand and attending AUT. it was the best decision of my life and I am so incredibly happy that I went to New Zealand! AUT is the best university with the best professors and staff. I have nothing but good things to say about my experience and I would do it again if I had the chance!

Every staff member I met involved in the program was incredibly caring and competent. You definitely felt like you were in good hands the entire time. It was a wonderful learning experience and I met friends that I'm going to keep in touch with for the rest of my life.

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.