Hosted by Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

Study Abroad at AUT University in New Zealand

Read 231 reviews

Location

New Zealand
- Auckland

Term

Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer

Subject Areas

Accounting Architecture Arts Business Communications Computer Science Creative Writing Culinary Arts Cultural Studies Design Education Engineering Finance Global Studies Health Sciences Hospitality International Business Law Life Sciences Linguistics Māori Studies Marketing Mathematics Media Relations Nursing Performing Arts Philosophy Physical Therapy Psychology Social Sciences Sports Science Tourism Visual Arts +23

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Program Details

Program Type

Direct Enrollment

Degree Level

Bachelors

Housing

Apartment

Language

English

Last Updated: Dec 23, 2019

Last Reviewed: Oct 03, 2019

71 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

AUT University is the second largest University in New Zealand and is among the fastest growing. 4,000 international students from 85+ countries flock to campus each year and there are three unique campuses all within Auckland. AUT is accredited by the New Zealand government and offers personal and interactive classroom settings. AUT also boasts the highest graduate employment rate out of all the universities in New Zealand. Come check it out for yourself!

AUT accepts international students twice per year: in February and July. You may apply as a College Freshman, but at the time of application, you must have a high school diploma and a 1500 SAT score. Alternatively, Sophomores and above are welcome to apply for an exchange.

Video and Photos

Student Orientation

Poi dance

sky tower

aut campus facilities

Akoranga Library

Business Faculty

Gym

Millenium

AUT Campus

AUT at dusk

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Related Programs

Program Reviews

4.77 Rating

based on 231 reviews

Rating Spread Study

5 rating 78.79%
4 rating 19.91%
3 rating 1.3%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Academics 3.8
Support 4.5
Fun 4.1
Housing 4.5
Safety 4.85

Good for Adventure travelers, Solo Travelers, Photographers

Showing 153 - 160 of 231 reviews

The staff is amazing, very helpful and always trying to solve the problems. The infrastructure is wonderful and the location is good, as wall the professors. I am definitely having a good time here, either within or outside the university!

I had a great time at AUT. I am doing my Business Master in Bayreuth/Germany and I spend one semester in New Zealand as a study abroad student. Our supervisor Kenneth was great and a big help even before I arrived. I took three classes which were more challenging than I thought but with Wednesdays and Fridays off I still had enough time to explore Auckland and its surroundings. The University is right downtown and it can be tricky to find a place to stay but I didn't apply to WSA and still found a great apartment only 10 minutes from AUT. My time here just flew by and I am sad it's coming to an end soon!

What would you improve about this program?

I wish there were even more activities events for the international students since they were always lots of fun.

Since it is my first study abroad i don`t have any references to rely on but i can tell you that i wasn`t disappointed at all with the AUT and also New Zealand. I think it was a good decision to visit this place. The Nature and Landscapes are beautiful and count to the best places i have been so far.
The University is modern and well equipped. The papers i took were interesting and the Lectures took care of the students during the workshops, i never had a problem to get a question answered.
Although most of the workshops and assignments in my papers were organized in group work, you should know this before.

And don`t forget to travel!

What would you improve about this program?

Would be cool if there were more activities or trips organized by the university to support meeting all the others international students, since there are so many of them.

Back home in the U.S. I would say that Europe is the most popular destination to study abroad where I initially wanted to go, but I couldn't be happier that I chose New Zealand for my exchange experience! Not only is the country beautiful but the people here are so friendly and welcoming. I was lucky to be able to have this opportunity to study at AUT which has a very centrally located campus. Living in WSA means a 5 minute walk to class and, like a lot of other exchange students said, the courses aren't too difficult. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone who is looking for the experience in studying abroad and who loves to travel!

What would you improve about this program?

The staff at AUT were really friendly, but I would change the organization with courses and assignments. A lot of times I didn't really know what was going on in some of my classes between having Blackboard, Arion and a separate email. More consistency with that would have been beneficial or maybe even including a tutorial on how to use all of the online sites during the international orientation!

My semester abroad was one of the highlights in my bachelor studies. New Zealand offers so many great travel experiences. So it is the perfect country for an exchange program.
AUT University has very modern buildings and a excellent equipment. There are best requirements for good and successful studies.

Also there is a great support by the international coordinators.
All in all studying at AUT has been a great experience for me!

What would you improve about this program?

The paper description was too short and not very useful.

Also it would be nice to have more events for international students.

There are not enough study areas for students! All of my papers required group projects and the most difficult part about working together was finding an appropriate place to study.
Loved that the location of campus was in the heart of Auckland.
Would of liked more physical/sport activities from AUT.
Social Events throughout semester.

What would you improve about this program?

Less papers and more quizzes/exams.y

The semester abroad at AUT was definitely one of my highlights in my Bachelor & Master studies.
The university seems well organized, the buildings are new and well equipped, and the staff is very helpful. Although the assignments, presentations etc for the courses took quite a long time for preparation, the course level was not too difficult and there was still plenty of time to travel and to experience this beautiful country.
Staying at WSA was very helpful to save time and energy looking for an apartment, and it is a great way to get to know people, to plan trips and activities, or to get help with your courses from the study groups. Although it is expensive, I feel like it was worth the money.

What would you improve about this program?

Some minor things that could be improved are the orientation week (more cultural/fun activities) and more detailed course descriptions. Although my coordinator sent me some helpful advice how to use arion, the email came quite late so I already had to figure that out on my own - which was sometimes very confusing and unorganized.

My overall New Zealand experience was pretty nice!

In my opinion the the study fees for international students are way to high!
I feel like the stuff they taught me and how they taught me was definitely not worth the money.
The level 5 classes were good structured and the lecturers did their job good. The level 6 classes didn't really prepare us for the assignments we had to do. Basically Google helped at least as much for the assignments as the lecture.

All in All you can say that New Zealand is a pretty nice country worth to visit, but studying here is in comparison to the German study system definitely not better.

Response from Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

Hi Lorenz, thanks so much for your comments and great to hear you enjoyed the level 5 papers. Regarding the level 6 ones, please feel free to email studyabroad@aut.ac.nz with more details and we'll definitely look into that for you.

By AUT University on May 20, 2015

Questions & Answers

How is the weather in the fall term?

Hi there, our February to June semester is during the end of summer to end of Fall. This is the best time to experience New Zealand's warm weather and beaches. Our July to November semester is from the start of Winter until the end of Spring, so starts a little colder and warms up nicely. Auckland experiences very mild weather so never gets too cold or too hot.

By AUT University on June 21, 2019

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose to go to New Zealand on exchange with my home college because I have heard amazing feedback from students who went before me. New Zealand is also an interesting case study when it comes to environmental management. The country has a lot of beautiful, conserved land, but composting is not very present; just being in another country for a few months enables me to see what actions are being taken elsewhere.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Since my program was through an exchange between Champlain College and AUT, the initial process was fairly simple for me. I still had to apply for the exchange to both schools, but Champlain dealt with the tuition payment and classes to take. This will make transferring my credits back home much easier as well.

Outside of these aspects, I was largely on my own for my visa, transportation, phone plan, housing, and various travel. This was not very difficult for me, as I have traveled quite a bit in the past, but it is a lot to think about; that being said, if you are reading this and feeling nervous about any of these, reach out to someone who can help guide you!

View Entire Interview

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I wish that I had known that the whole ordeal would not be as scary as I was anticipating. This may differ for other people, but, with good planning, the process was not as anxiety-provoking as I thought it would be.

I also wish that, before I left the US for my semester abroad, I had researched more about where I wanted to go in New Zealand while I was here. I love going into travel with open options so I can discover as I go, but I was left wishing I went to the 90-mile beach when it was still warm out. Create a little bucket list before you leave!

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Because my visa doesn't allow me to work here, my schedule is very open compared to back in the US. I only have four courses for the semester, and any other events I participate in have been voluntary. I have found that this free time has been valuable for me to pursue personal projects and goals outside of my college education. I started going to the gym, reading more books, and working on creative projects.

As for the weekends, a lot of my friends and I often have three-day weekends, so we have been able to take little weekend trips around the North Island.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was that I would feel out of place or uncomfortable in the big city of Auckland, New Zealand. I grew up in a town of less than 1,000 people and go to college in a city of around 60,000; Auckland has a population of 1.5 MILLION people, and that made me wary. However, the city is beautiful and very welcoming. The key is being open for a change and looking for a place that, even if it pushes you outside of your 'normal,' can accommodate what you seek.

Were there any experiences that pushed you out of your comfort zone?

No matter whether you go overseas or not, there will always be instances of something pushing you out of your comfort zone, but living abroad for a few months really brings new experiences I couldn't have imagined. Personally, I am a pretty bad swimmer, but I swam in the ocean with wild dolphins and fur seals.

For some people, this doesn't sound daunting, but I was incredibly nervous. After doing these activities, I can confidently say that pushing myself was well worth it. I learned so much during it, both about myself and about the places and animals I was around. If I hadn't studied in New Zealand for the semester, I don't think I would have progressed like I did.

Nina Eydenkaldt

Michelle Garvey

Jan-Willem Aarents

Alyssa Jeffer

2014 Alum

Default Interview Teaser Image

Jessica Cohen

Shannon Yska

Merel Jansen

2015 Alum

Henriette Andrea Hansen

Alexander Boehmer

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Sam previously worked at AUT and is now completing his Masters in Norway. The international education adventure has not stopped for him!

What is your favorite travel memory?

Seeing an old friend in London after a rough day of travel!

I had started the day with a 3:30 am flight from Bergen getting into Manchester later in the morning for an event starting at 12. It ran until the late afternoon, at which point we had to quickly pack up and catch a taxi to the train station. We were crammed into a packed train to London. With my over-sized luggage in tow, I then had to navigate the Tube to find my hotel. My phone was dead by this time, I was relying on passers-by for directions. I eventually got there to find an old friend waiting for me. I was exhausted at this point, but there was no greater feeling than sharing a beer with a mate after a long, long day!

View Entire Interview

Which destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

Estonia in my opinion is a country that more people should visit! Just a ferry ride from Helsinki, Tallinn is a beautiful city, with a lot to see and do. The cost of living is quite low, so a beer and meal won't set you back much. If you get out of Tallinn, you really should visit some of the islands, like Saaremaa. A magical place, filled with natural beauty and history.

On the other hand, Amsterdam was not that amazing in my opinion. Far too many tourists for my liking!

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

For me, it's how we engage with our stakeholders. In my role, the most important are the students and partner universities. Students have lots of questions before they arrive, and then need a welcoming introduction once they get here. If we can give them a good experience, they will tell their friends and family back home. Word of mouth is a great way to encourage more students to choose AUT when they study abroad.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

When I started at AUT, I really had no idea about the scope of International Education. I've learned how vast this industry is, and how exciting it is to work in. Before starting in this role, I would never have seen myself working in this industry. But I can now see a career path for myself, in an area which I'm passionate about. The most rewarding aspect for me is seeing international students coming to study in New Zealand, and the positive experiences and impressions they leave with.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

We had a German design student who planned to come for one semester last year, who ended up staying for the whole year because he loved AUT and Auckland so much. He is now planning to finish his studies in Germany and return to AUT for postgraduate study, with hopes of landing a job at Weta Workshop in Wellington.

Shivani Rajan

International Programmes Coordinator

Monique van Veen

International Relationships Manager

Kenneth Holt

International Programs Manager

Location

Location:

Auckland

Currency:

New Zealand Dollar

Weather:

Jan-Mar

75 F / 46 F

Apr-Jun

68 F / 30 F

Jul-Sep

61 F / 28 F

Oct-Dec

72 F / 41 F

Airports:

Auckland International

( AKL )

Christchurch International

( CHC )

Wellington International

( WLG )

Auckland, the City of Sails, has it all — from oceans to volcanoes to city life. Though Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city, the city center packs a lot into a small space. Whether you crave outdoor adventures or want to go for some fantastic food and shopping downtown, Auckland is both urban and packed with nature.

Featuring influences of the native Maori culture, Auckland is also the most multicultural city in the country, offering a variety of traditions and cuisine. With three national universities located in the city — University of Auckland, Massey University, and AUT University — Auckland is also a student-friendly city and a popular study abroad destination.

About Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

AUT is the second largest university in New Zealand. We have been a university since 2000, but a place of learning for 120 years and operate in accordance with the Education Act (1989). In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021, AUT is ranked in the 251-300 band. We are the third highest ranked university in New Zealand. AUT is...