Study Abroad at the University of Auckland, NZ

Name: Study Abroad at the University of Auckland, NZ
Brand: The University of Auckland
SKU: 42645
Rating: 4.53 (270 reviews)

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4.53 Rating

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Location

New Zealand
- Auckland

Term

Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer

Subject Areas

Accounting Anthropology Biology Business Chemistry Computer Science Earth Sciences Education Engineering English Film Finance Geography Global Studies Health Sciences History Māori Studies Mathematics Pacific Studies Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Sports Science Statistics +15

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Program Details

Program Type

Direct Enrollment

Degree Level

Bachelors

Housing

Apartment Dormitory

Language

English

Pricing

Starting Price

9000

Price Details

Study Abroad program students pay a single flat fee (NZ$) which covers tuition fees for a full-time program of study and the student services fee.

In 2024 the Study Abroad fee is NZD13,200 per semester.

Please note accommodation costs and other living expenses are additional to this fee.

What's Included

Classes

What's Not Included

Accommodation Activities Airfare Domestic Airfare Airport Transfers Meals SIM cards Transportation

Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024

Last Reviewed: Oct 16, 2023

Wish List

74 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Combine an unforgettable travel experience with studying at a top-100 ranked university. We are New Zealand’s leading university and offer world-class facilities, excellent teaching and a friendly and supportive learning environment.

In our Study Abroad program, choose from more than 120 subjects to earn credits for your major or explore new areas including disciplines not offered at your home university. Subjects popular with our Study Abroad students include Anthropology, Māori/Pacific Studies, Wine Science, Marine Science, Environmental Science and Film, TV & Media Studies.

Auckland is flanked by two harbors, with stunning beaches on both coasts, beautiful islands a short ferry-ride away and lots of water-related activities. For those who prefer their feet firmly on land, Auckland offers lush subtropical forests for hiking and (dormant) volcanoes to climb. Urbanites will enjoy the city’s many cultural and sporting events, festivals, restaurants and vibrant shopping precincts.

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Video and Photos

Study Abroad students at the Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Study Abroad students participating in the Generation Changemaker programme

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Program Reviews

4.53 Rating

based on 270 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Study

5 rating 52.96%
4 rating 46.67%
3 rating 0.37%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Academics 4.05
Support 4.2
Fun 4.2
Housing 4.15
Safety 4.7

Good for Adventure travelers, Photographers

Showing 145 - 152 of 270 reviews

My semester at University of Auckland so far have been great. Started of with a good introduction by the University and the affiliated societies. Especially the University of Auckland Study Abroad Students' Society (SASS) helps introduce foreign student into their new university life in Auckland. This include tours, trips, tip and a ever welcoming attitude. Visiting as a master student from Scandinavia, the academic level was important for me when choosing university. UoA had a fine ranking in my field, and it was easy to find the CV of the lectures. This helped me pick courses before arriving. The way of teaching is kind of old school, but in line with what most universities at this level provide. At this point the university might not be that much up-date. However it is not a showstopper, and in so many other ways the university does a really good job in providing a good environment for the student in order to learn.

What would you improve about this program?

The way of teaching combined with how exams are made does not encourage further learning and research in the field. In some ways the school still feel like it is 30 years behind.

I am a Malaysian that currently enrolled as a student in a university in South Korea, and now here I am in Auckland for an exchange program. In term of studies, I really like the system in this university as it is kind of different from my home university. Less stress, and the lecturers and tutors here really help students a lot. For this point, I really really wish I can stay in this university for a longer period. The international students clubs and societies are good to join for making friends and get some buddies to travel around here together. However the student accommodations are quite pricey but I guess everything is expensive here in Auckland. Plus sometimes I quite miss the lively night in Korea. Overall I really really enjoy my stay here!

University of Auckland is located right in the heart of the city, which makes it very convenient to see all of the exciting parts of Auckland. However, if you're coming to New Zealand you're probably coming for the beautiful landscapes and those aren't something you'll find easily in Auckland. Getting out of the city and traveling to other parts of the country is the most rewarding part of studying in New Zealand, and the two week long semester break is a great time for that. As far as classes go, I struggled to judge the difficulty of classes until a couple weeks in. The classes I thought would be difficult were easier than expected and vice versa. All of my classes have either a lab, tutorial, or workshop in addition to lecture, so quite a bit of time is spent on campus for classes.

I am one of the few lucky students, who get to stay at UoA for a whole year, from March until November 2017 in my case. Applying for the exchange program, getting my student visa, enrolling in courses and getting advice on admin stuff and housing was super easy and I didn't really go through any of the usual crazy uni bureaucracy.
A place in one of the uni accomodations was guaranteed and I took a place in Huia residence. However, if you arrive in NZ a week or two before the semester starts, I would recommend to go flat hunting, since you'd probably find something cheaper and with more space than the average uni rooms or flats.
During the first week of the semester you'll find a great offer of clubs: Outdoor stuff like the Tramping, Climbing, Canoe, Surfing, Underwater, etc. clubs, plenty of church clubs, or just fun stuff like the Meat Club with their shirts "Make Rump Great Again!". The SASS ("Study Abroad Student's Society") offers events specifically for exchange students. You'll easily meet new people in all of these clubs and shouldn't worry about making new friends before you come over.
The academic level (I'm studying Mathematics) was a lot lower than in Germany, however that left me with plenty of spare time to enjoy the NZ nature, pretty much the main reason why I came over anyways :) My lecturers were amazingly helpful without any exceptions, even when it came to finding someone who could supervise me during three exams from my home uni, which I had to take from NZ at 8pm local time.
Personally, during my stay in Auckland I found out that I'm not a city person at all and even though Auckland doesn't feel like a 1.5mio city, it stressed me out quite a few times. But of course that has nothing to do with the university itself. Overall I can recommend UoA for a semester or year abroad. If you will be having a good time over here depends on you in the end, but I can confidently say that the international office and the lecturers would do their best to help you with that!

From the very beginning the University has been more than helpful - they offer free airport pick-up to your accommodation. There is a large range of modules available, all very different to ones back home in England and each very interesting, including information specific to New Zealand but also in the context of the whole world. There are lots of clubs to integrate you to the university and help you to explore all the uni and country has to offer.

What would you improve about this program?

Offering students more help on how to choose modules for your timetable, and more course information (exams/tests times to help students plan their travels around them!).

My study abroad experience so far at UoA has been amazing. I absolutely love New Zealand and feel very comfortable here. It was a struggle to make friends at first, but as school got under way and I joined a few clubs, including SASS and the Canoe Club, I was soon mingling with other international students and forming friendships.
The New Zealanders that I have interacted with seem friendly, helpful, and welcoming! I love how diverse the campus is, and how there is a sense of student culture. Everyone has their own style and people seem to be accepting.
As I came from a small university, I love the layout of the large lectures which were also supplemented with small tutorials. A few of my classes were a bit more difficult than I was expecting, but that was just due to the material being new and confusing.
I have loved my experience so far, that I want to stay longer and possibly extend my time at UoA.
I would definitely recommend everyone who loves a diverse culture with beautiful scenery to come and study at the University of Auckland.

If you appreciate the natural beauty of the landscapes and creatures around you, New Zealand is absolutely the place for you. From the clashing of oceans at Cape Reinga to the physics-defying structures of Cathedral Cove; from the wrangled trees to the plethora of flightless birds; New Zealand is full of unique nature.

Auckland is a modern city with all the conveniences you'd expect of a city of 1.4 million people, and the University of Auckland is located right in the thick things. Auckland is also full of green spaces and public parks, such as Albert Park, located adjacent to the University. My personal favorite spot in Auckland is Mount Eden, a dormant volcano with 360 degree views of the city, as well as the many bays of both the Pacific and Tasman. But, in my opinion, the best parts of New Zealand lie outside of the city, including many places just a quick day or weekend trip away.

Much of the culture of New Zealand is inherited from America and Europe, so if you're an American student looking to experience a radically different culture, I'm not sure if New Zealand is the right place. But if you love the outdoors, hiking, and nature, you can't beat this.

As for the academics, I have found the philosophy towards learning to be much different than in the US. First of all, everything is much more laid back, which has its pros and cons. You'll also find that your exams, especially finals, are worth ridiculous portions of your overall grade. I'm talking 50% to 70%. Meaning the rest of the semester is worth only 30% to 50%. Meaning there are less assignments and/or those assignments aren't worth as much. Which is awesome if you're studying abroad, because it means that you'll have plenty of free time to explore the country on weekends as long as you are reasonably productive during the week!

Overall, I've had a blast in New Zealand and highly recommend studying in Auckland!

Auckland was different from what i expected. Just thinking of New Zealand, I didn't imagine Auckland to be so urbanized. This meant that yes it was very convenient in living but nothing felt new. I would have preferred a more rural lifestyle but it isn't too bad.
In terms of academics, you are required to take only 4 courses, but because i took the courses in bioscience major 3 hour labs were mandatory for all classes so it was very strenuous. This was different from my home university's courses but i thought it was a good thing to experience.

Questions & Answers

Is there certificate that you can receive in cinematography for film?

The University offers Screen Production major under Bachelor of Arts.

By Sarah Sung on March 7, 2021

What is the weather like?

The weather can be hugely variable in one day. The summer months are hot and sunny, while in winter the temperature does drop quite a bit but it was never below 0 when I was there. My advice to you is always carry an umbrella just in case!

By Sally Hicks on September 27, 2018

Alumni Interviews

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

Why did you choose this program?

I chose to study abroad largely because of the inherent differences between civil and common law jurisdictions. As we never learned about New Zealand's take on jurisprudence, it seemed like an interesting area to dive into. I chose to study abroad due to this, but also to discover more about the 'unknown' other end of the world and to just go experience something entirely away from home, family, and friends.

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

My home university set up a variety of events to talk to people from other universities and backgrounds. Going to these events only made me keener to go and experience another country and university.

They have also helped ensure that I met all the relevant deadlines on time and that I was given this opportunity to go abroad. Although they did an immense amount of administrative and supportive help, I still had to decide what I wanted to focus on and make sure I met all of my academic requirements.

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

My biggest piece of advice is to get in touch with another student from your university who already went on exchange to your new university. They have been in the same boat as you and most definitely have some great recommendations on what you need to do and where you need to go.

If your university provides experience reports, I really recommend reading them as it provides an ease of mind of what to expect when you get there and what to look forward to.

If you are going overseas, I would most definitely make sure that you are aware of the deadlines, especially housing ones. Often this is the trickiest step and sometimes accommodation is scarce, and you definitely do not want to arrive in a new country with nowhere to stay. Apart from that, make sure you dive in headfirst and join as much as you can to meet new people and places.

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

As I have to take 30ECTS/60 credits, I am taking four classes at the University of Auckland. I have Tuesdays and Thursdays off, so I am usually spending my days playing volleyball or going out to a new area to explore.

I have two classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, and they are differently structured than back home. Nonetheless, it is still exciting to go and learn more about areas that I am genuinely interested in.

The Study Abroad association at Auckland University also has a few events each week. Either to a place like Waiheke Island or Rangitoto. This is a great place to explore your surroundings and meet new people. I usually try to go on most trips- so far, they have been amazing.

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 is actually so trivial because, at the end of the day, all of the exchange students are confronted with the same circumstances and all of us just want to make friends. I know that making friends is not that hard in a group of open-minded and welcoming students, but it always plays a role in your fear before you go on your trip abroad.

I think, when you start university anywhere, that is a thought that goes around in your head. As I said before, just be yourself, open and kind, and join clubs and societies to make sure you get the most out of your time abroad. Don't be afraid to try new things, oftentimes you'll enjoy yourself and you'll meet the greatest people while doing it.

What is something you expected from Auckland that is actually different?

Coming from Europe, I thought that New Zealand winters were similar to our autumns. Although it is not nearly as cold here during the winter as back home, it is still cold. If the wind comes from the South, it is freezing, and you can tell. The amount of times I almost got blown away is more than I'd like to admit. Nonetheless, there have not been days where I couldn't walk to class because it was "too cold". In fact, some people still wear shorts. I'd not like to follow suit, though!

The weather is very unpredictable. The weather app is almost always wrong! It'll say it's sunny, but it'll actually be raining like crazy. We hiked up Rangitoto in the rain and once we got to the top, it was so overcast we couldn't see an awful lot. When we were heading down, it was dry and blue skies! My biggest tip is to be patient and take your time. The weather changes quickly and sometimes waiting a minute will make the world of a difference. That being said, be prepared to buy a few umbrellas during your stay here! ;)

Auckland is relaxed and vibrant and everyone is really friendly and willing to help. I can't wait to see what else New Zealand has to offer! If you have the chance, I would recommend going on exchange and exploring the stunning scenery in New Zealand!

Chloe Ashworth

2018 Alum

Alison Schroeder

2018 Alum

Monica Prario

2017 Alum

Andrea Nailoi Gabriel

2017 Alum

Jessica Johnson

2016 Alum

Kaitlyn Dowding

2015 Alum

Staff Interviews

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

Sarah Sung

Program

Study Abroad at the University of Auckland, NZ

Job Title

Study Abroad and Exchange Officer

Sarah was born in Korea and moved to New Zealand in 2002. She graduated with a BA in Linguistics and English Literature from Kyungpook National University, Korea. Sarah was an English language teacher in Korea, but moved into the international education field when she immigrated to New Zealand. She now looks after international students coming to the University of Auckland on Study Abroad and Exchange programmes.

Did you study abroad?

Sarah: I completed my first degree in Korea which is a very different type of learning experience from here in New Zealand. At that time I did not have the opportunity to study abroad which I regret.

Luckily I have recently been able to start postgraduate studies in education, here at the University of Auckland.

I’m enjoying the interactions with my professors and classmates from all round the world. Auckland is very multicultural and this is reflected in my program, where I’m able to get a global perspective on education policy. This study will help me take my career to the next level – I am interested in policy in the international education sector.

What was your favorite traveling experience?

Sarah: My favorite traveling experience was my first trip to Europe in 2013. I had always dreamed about traveling there and it totally lived up to expectations – I loved it. I visited seven countries from the UK down to Italy. I was fascinated by the rich histories of each country and the magnificent architecture and art.

My favorite place was the Piazza San Marco in Venice – I was completely overwhelmed by the grandeur when I first entered the square. I’m returning to Venice for my Christmas holidays this year, I can’t wait! Another favorite memory from this trip was spending time in the mountains in Switzerland and exploring the farmers markets there.

Any exciting new programs at the University of Auckland

Sarah: The University of Auckland is always developing new programs, especially at postgraduate level and often in response to global issues. For example our new multidisciplinary Master of Disaster Management is very popular with students from around the world. On the Study Abroad front, in addition to our typical semester abroad program, we are developing short-term programmes as we recognise some students prefer a study abroad experience over their summer break.

The first one is scheduled for June/July 2016 and is an exciting screen-production program from our Film, TV and Media Studies department. In the last two decades New Zealand has played an impressive role in the film industry, with projects like the Lord of the Rings, the Hobbit, and Avatar based here.

Alongside these big-budget films, New Zealand has a strong indie film industry so I think this will be a very interesting program to join. Plus, it’s going to be taught by a Hobbit cast member!

Why is language learning and cultural immersion important to you?

Sarah: Well, I used to be an English language teacher, so obviously I think language learning is very important. Learning another language helps break down barriers between cultures and increase understanding. It gives more opportunity to interact with other cultures and broadens your perspective.

I always say “if you know another language, you know another world”.

I would encourage students to study abroad in a country with a different language or customs. Even here in New Zealand we offer study abroad students the opportunity to learn Te Reo Māori, the language of New Zealand’s indigenous people, and engage with Māori customs and culture. The University of Auckland has a strong Māori Studies program.

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

Sarah: One Medical and Health Sciences student from Brazil came to the University of Auckland for two Study Abroad semesters. He was a top student in Brazil and wanted to achieve highly in his courses here as well. Naturally, this caused him a bit of stress as coming to a new country and studying in a different language is a big challenge.

The first semester he worked really, really hard and achieved the top grades possible, but it took a toll on his health and he reached a point where he decided he could not continue to a second semester. However he reached out to our international student support team for help. The University health services helped him put strategies in place for dealing with stress and after his summer break he was able to continue. This second semester led to him being accepted for an internship at Auckland City Hospital, a very rare occurrence.

He described it to me as the best thing that had happened to him in his life. He felt “honored to be able to be part of such an amazing medical team” and he wants to return to Auckland to work with them again in the future. Whenever I think of his story I smile -- it’s things like this that make my job very rewarding.

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 The University of Auckland

The University of Auckland is located in the heart of New Zealand's largest and most cosmopolitan city. Ranked in the world's top 100* universities, the University of Auckland has a strong research focus where students have the opportunity to learn from academics who are at the top of their field, nationally and internationally. The University's 42...