Hosted by Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

Study Abroad at AUT University in New Zealand

Name: Study Abroad at AUT University in New Zealand
Brand: Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
SKU: 51001
Rating: 4.77 (231 reviews)

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4.77 Rating

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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

Wish List

73 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.

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Program Reviews

4.77 Rating

based on 231 reviews

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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 225 - 231 of 231 reviews

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.

What would you improve about this program?

A possible improvement would be to integrate study abroad students with full-time students at the university.

One teacher I had was also very open about his contempt of Americans, which may be justified, but I had a hard time enjoying the class because I felt like people were judging me for being there.

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

What would you improve about this program?

I would change my lack of knowledge of the web page, I am not tech savy and I do not think about joining things like Facebook pages. Would of loved more big group events too. Did not get enough of nights at the pub with "Off The Wall"

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.

What would you improve about this program?

I think the only thing that could be changed was perhaps having more on-campus programs for abroad students to meet local students. I did meet many kiwis and other international students in my classes, but perhaps having some activities where everyone can come together would be effective (the Noho Marae weekend for example was awesome in submerging all students in meeting and having fun with each other). Perhaps a sponsored coffee hour or study groups could enhance student life even more!

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.

What would you improve about this program?

Nothing, it was truly great

I found the orientation to be very be helpful. They integrated you into the xountry well. The housing was nice and I roomed with a lot of different people. I found getting set up for classes a bit difficult. AUT was a great location for weekend travel to other parts of the country. Aukland was a great city with a lot to do.

What would you improve about this program?

Setting up your classes was very frustrating. I would have liked that to ha e been better explained.

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

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!

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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...

Program Details

Alumni Interviews

Holly Francis

Why did you choose this program?

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

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

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

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

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

Staff Interviews

Samuel Davis

What is your favorite travel memory?

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

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

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

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