Study Abroad at the University of Auckland, NZ

Studying at the University of Auckland has been a pretty great experience, particularly because of it's great location for travel. Classes are just challenging enough compared to my home institution that it gives me a bit of break from school and stress and allows me to learn how to be independent and do things for myself like cook and travel. I enjoy how accessible all different types of activities are from the University, from different clubs, to night life, to traveling to other parts of New Zealand.

I am a exchange student from Sen Yat-sen University in China. Since I am the only one student getting the opportunity to be exchanged in New Zealand, I was very nervous and anxious at first. But it turns out that my worry were totally redundant.
In terms of study load, I feel quite easy to catch up with my papers since I only enrolled in three papers, which means I can have much spare time to experience the life living and travelling here. The life is cozy and comfortable with the companion of new friends as well as the beautiful scenery.

I have met so many interesting people here at the University of Auckland. My flat is very diverse and so is the student village. There are always people keen to hike or enjoy the outdoors on weekends here. Over the break, I was able to travel to New Zealand's South Island to explore many of the hikes. One of the photos I shared is of Mt Cook. Here I am wearing my home University's department of Environmental Science shirt and looking at Mt Cook. This shows the broad range of my education this university has given me.

It has been more than 6 months since I came here.
I literally have had amazing time staying in Auckland.
Compared to Japan, there is nothing and sometimes I feel inconvenient.
However, Auckland has a lot of greens, which makes me always feel relaxing.
I also have met great people and made fabulous memories with them.
Heaps of things have happened only in 6 months and I really feel how fast time flied.
Auckland, New Zealand is the place where people can both work hard on something and relax.
Since I came from Tokyo, where everything moves busily, I am able to stay comfortably in here.
I strongly recommend to choose New Zealand as a place to visit, stay and study.
I love to be in Auckland so much.

Arriving in New Zealand was one of the most terrifying and coolest mix of emotions I have ever experienced. It is the farthest I have ever been from home and I feel like I fit in better here than I have anywhere else I have been. I have made friends from across the globe ranging from Norway to South Africa. Studying at the University of Auckland has open my eyes to Pacific islander rights, different environmental issues and how New Zealand deals with them, and culturally different ways of how people interact. It has been incredible and I have grown as a person more than I think I ever have in my life.

Everyone is so nice and kind here, especially to strangers! I'm from the southern USA, and at least the way I was raised, you are polite to others (I have actually shocked a fellow student when a server was trying to get his attention, and since I didn't know him and wasn't in the mood to call him "Dude" I got his attention with "sir" as I was taught to as a child, which made him look at me with wide eyes (not the bad kind)). Here in New Zealand it's like everyone has been given "nice-and-kind" shots. I am an antisocial introvert with social anxiety, so asking people questions that I think are stupid really takes a lot out of me, especially things that are known generally by people here. However, when I work up the courage to ask my questions, the people are really understanding and make it seem like it wasn't as stupid as it sounded to me in my head to ask about. It has actually boosted my courage, and has me doing things and going outside of my normal comfort zone. I always wanted to try skiing, and was able to do that, even though I didn't get more than one day on the slopes due to weather, but the second day I tried (the sound of steel on icy snow might just stick with me) and when I went to cancel my lesson that I signed up for the instructors I talked with were very understanding and gentle with me (I might have been on the verge of tears due to having gotten stuck at the top of a slope with no apparent way down without falling), making jokes and trying to get me to cheer up and have a good experience instead of a bad one. Also when I was stuck some students who were there on a school trip for snowboarding gave me advice on how to get down the slope since I was visibly terrified, and when I mentioned that I was scared of falling again since I did it three times the day before they said at least it was only three and not like 30 times so I should be proud of myself.
There are more instances like these, where people are willing to help and be kind to someone, and that has made my trip so far very enjoyable and will continue making my trip enjoyable and a trip I will never forget.

NZ has been fantastic. The city is pleasant, it is manageable but with plenty to do and see here. Kiwi's are generally really friendly and happy to help if you aren't sure of something. NZ is a great place to explore and Auckland is a fantastic point to be based in. You can head to the Pacific Islands like Rarotonga, Samoa or Fiji if you need some sun. Or you can head into the countryside of the North Island, great places only being a couple of hours away from Auckland.

I would highly recommend Auckland University for an exchange.

Since I got here everything has really turned out well. First of all, everything has gone so smoothly, right from the beginning. In the unlikely event you would have a problem with something there is so much help to get. I have always been greeted warmly and felt welcome to ask even the most basic questions, from both administrators and lecturers or professors. The local students are also happy to lend a hand or answer any question you might have.