Location
  • New Zealand
    • Wellington
Term
Academic Year, Fall, Spring
Subject Areas
Arts Biology Business Chemistry Communications Computer Science Cultural Studies Design Ecology Economics Environmental Studies Film Finance Gender Studies Geology Global Studies History Humanities Indigenous Cultures International Business International Relations Māori Studies Marine Biology Marketing Music Natural Sciences Pacific Studies Photography Political Science Psychology Public Health Public Policy Sociology Theater Web Design +25
Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships
Health & Safety

Program Details

Program Type
Direct Enrollment
Degree Level
Bachelors Masters
Housing
Apartment Dormitory
Language
English

Pricing

Starting Price
8300
Price Details
Study Abroad program students pay a single flat fee which covers tuition fees for a full-time program of study.

Study Abroad tuition for one trimester: 13,500 NZD (around 8,300 USD)

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 Travel Insurance Visa
Aug 02, 2023
Aug 02, 2023
48 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Wellington prides itself on welcoming people from around the world and providing an experience of a lifetime. New Zealand has an endless list of adventures awaiting any who dare to be bold.

Victoria University of Wellington provides a wide variety of courses in the Sciences, Architecture and Design, Education, Engineering, Health, and AACSB-approved Business courses. We also have NZ's largest Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Located in the southern tip of New Zealand’s North Island, between a beautiful harbor and rolling green hills, the vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Wellington is the political, cultural and creative capital of New Zealand. Sign up with VUW today to make your trip to New Zealand one of a lifetime!

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

Victoria University of Wellington's population includes people from a diverse range of communities. We have student support networks like our VIC.Without.Barriers community for Refugee-Background Students, and Māori and Pasifika Hubs for Indigenous students looking to connect with their communities on campus. Student are encouraged to join clubs like the Cultures United club and the Victoria African Students Club, among 100+ other student clubs at the university!

LGBTQIA+ Support

At Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual/agender (LGBTQIA+), and takatāpui communities are known as the Rainbow community. The University's rainbow and inclusion service supports LGBTQIA+ and takatāpui students and works with our community to make sure our campuses are a safe and inclusive environment for students of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and sex characteristics.

Accessibility Support

Te Amaru—Disability Services works in partnership with staff, students and the disability community to strengthen Victoria University of Wellington’s culture of inclusion, celebrate disability and ensure students can fully participate and achieve their aspirations. We encourage students with accessibility concerns to register with Te Amaru—Disability Services to receive individualized tailored support and access to key services such as a Disability and Inclusion Advisor, Access Suites, Inclusive Learning Software, Adaptive Technology, and more.

Impact

Sustainability

Victoria University of Wellington is championing a sustainable future by fostering the leaders of tomorrow, delivering world class research and building a sustainable campus, with a goal of Net Zero Carbon by 2030. We rank #1 in New Zealand for Climate Action and Affordable Clean Energy (THE Impact rankings); we have 177 researchers undertaking work with significant contribution to sustainable development; and since 2007, we have saved 28,000 tonnes of carbon emissions by our sustainable practices. We encourage reusable coffee cups on campus, run frequent tree and native bush planting events, and just opened a Recycling Wall on our Kelburn Campus.

Program Highlights

  • Study in NZ's political, cultural and creative capital city!
  • Choose from over 120 different subject areas
  • Take part in the Victoria International Leadership Programme (Only programme of its kind in NZ!).
  • Join the hiking/tramping and club and see more of NZ! There are over 140 clubs & societies!
  • Start dates in February and July

Popular Programs

Students in Kelburn Courtyard

The Wellington International Leadership Program (WILP) is a free, self-paced program aimed at making participants more globally aware by advancing your ability to engage with global issues. Choose from a wide range of interactive seminars delivered by academics from across the university and visiting experts; experiential learning and volunteering opportunities both on campus and beyond; and speaker events hosted by the University, the diplomatic community, and other international organizations.

Program Reviews

4.74 Rating
based on 125 reviews
  • 5 rating 76%
  • 4 rating 23.2%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0.8%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 4.05
  • Support 4.25
  • Fun 4.5
  • Housing 4.2
  • Safety 4.75
Showing 1 - 8 of 125 reviews
Default avatar
Maia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Study Abroad Experience at Vic!

Studying abroad in Wellington at Vic has been an incredible journey! The international orientation made me feel at home right away, connecting me with like-minded people from all over the globe. Moving across the world was daunting, but the warm and friendly staff created a supportive environment, making the transition smooth. Wellington's vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and endless activities have enriched my experience. From exploring the captivating museums to hiking the picturesque hills, every moment here is an adventure. I've grown academically, personally, and culturally, and I can't help but cherish this amazing chapter of my life. Wellington is a truly remarkable city that embraces diversity and leaves an indelible mark on your heart!

Pros
  • People
  • Scenery
  • Outdoor activities
Cons
  • Too short
33 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Luke
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Choice

Awesome home base for an exchange experience! Staff for university was typically easy to contact and resolved problems well. Staff for housing a little less accessible but were great and quick to resolve issues when they were available. Wellington is a very cool city and a great place to be around. Also good for jumping off to explore either island of NZ. Loved the many people I met there who came from many different backgrounds. Overall a great experience and I have absolutely no regret in choosing VUW!

40 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
sol
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Experience at VUW

I’m very grateful to have been a student living in Wellington from Feb-June. I had an incredible time meeting new people, making new friends and immersing myself in the culture of New Zealand. VUW had a lot of clubs that I was able to join, including meditation club and tramping club, in which I made some fun memories. These activities helped me be more mindful as well, and I’ll continue to pursue these hobbies in my home country. I still keep in touch with the people I met after moving back and I hope to keep those wonderful connections.

Pros
  • friendly people
  • good work-life balance
  • beautiful nature and wildlife
Cons
  • some lecturers and tutors may grade harshly
41 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Emma
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

VUW

Wellington is definitely a city based on walking, so bring good walking shoes and be prepared for your legs to hurt. Figure out public transportation because it is a life saver! Other than that there are so many amazing small stores and restaurant/cafes to explore so try something new as much as possible. And going for walks everyday can help with finding your way around the city and getting the most out of Wellington in general. Definitely go up to the botanical gardens also, during the day and at night it's beautiful all of the time.

Pros
  • coffee shops
  • public transport
  • beautiful scenery
Cons
  • massive hills
  • bit expensive
  • windy
37 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Lydia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best abroad experience I've had

I was here for just one trimester, which definitely wasn't enough. The city is fantastic (my favorite in NZ), and you could definitely spend your entire time just staying nearby. We traveled a TON, which was really easy from Wellington as it's pretty central to everything. The academic standard is definitely way below the U.S., at least from my institution, but in my experience that just allows you to spend more time in the city and traveling. Don't study abroad to study -- you can do that every other semester :)
The housing is pretty good, though I know they changed locations for this semester. I will say that all the Americans noticed that the Kiwis typically have less experience flatting, so they often don't clean... hopefully, your flatmates will listen when you tell them this, but if now, trimesters are short enough to deal with it. There's a fantastic hiking and backpacking scene, and even as a solo woman I felt very safe and frequently freedom camped. I definitely recommend going in the northern summer (so the first trimester) -- best temperatures and climate. The attempts at indigenous reintegration are really interesting, and NZ in general is a great place to study indigenous land management and knowledge. NZ is NOT the place to come and spend all your time in the city -- I would recommend it most for those interested in the outdoors or at least willing to explore other cities! It's very difficult to get to the country since it's so far away from pretty much everything, so you really want to make the most of it.

Pros
  • Universally (by students in other cities) heralded as the best program in NZ
  • Wonderful and accessible outdoors
  • Great public transportation (especially around Welly)
Cons
  • Will be devastated to leave
39 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Emory
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best decision I have ever made.

I have only been living here a couple of weeks, but could not be happier with my decision to move abroad to study in Aotearoa. The faculty during orientation week at VUW welcomed us with open arms and gave us ample opportunities to get to know other international students and explore the city. All the students I have met at VUW have been so friendly and welcoming, but you definitely have to take the first step to build a real friendship. My professors have all been very fun and passionate about what they teach. The school work so far has not proved to be too difficult and the due dates for assignments are few and far between which I feel like has assisted the learning process to be more about the learning and less about the grading. I love living in the city of Wellington and being able to walk to everything I need and explore the cafes and eateries on foot. There is a wonderful bus system as well that has definitely come in handy when you don't want to carry your groceries up huge flights of stairs. The efforts in sustainability here have also been one of my favorite parts of living here as everyone really cares and does their part to reduce their waste. Groceries can be expensive at some supermarkets, so go to the Harbor Farmers Markets every Sunday instead to get cheap produce and then travel to Pak'n'save for the best deals on whatever else you need. My biggest pieces of advice are probably: buy really comfortable shoes (you'll walk a lot), wear a short sleeve under your jacket (its cold but you can be sweaty and places are always warm inside), and bring your own grocery bags. Oh and they don't have drip coffee here- just lattes, americanos, flat whites ect.

Pros
  • Large international community
  • Eco friendly/ eco conscious
  • Cafes!!!
Cons
  • Lots of uphill stairs
  • Wind can make it feel alot colder than it is
35 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Stephanie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An Amazing Place to Spend Some Time

I absolutely loved my study abroad experience at VUW. My program is at the graduate level in Canada and undergraduate level in New Zealand, so there was an adjustment going from a graduate to undergraduate program for a semester. But the professors were generally lovely and I learned so much.
Wellington is a great place to live, and a fantastic jumping off point to explore New Zealand further (in-country flights can be very inexpensive!) I completely fell in love with Wellington, and my experience in study abroad was completely fantastic. I would highly recommend studying abroad at VUW for anyone, but especially those who love nature, culture, food, and wine.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My number one advice is to get out there and DO things. Say yes. Explore opportunities. Walk around the city by yourself if you have nothing else to do. Book a solo trip (I went skiing!) It can be scary, to put yourself out there, but that's where friendships are forged and amazing memories are made!
92 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jasmine
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

You can't beat Wellington on a good day

Going to Victoria University for my student exchange was truly one of the great things that could have happened to me. I learnt so much - how there are so many things out in the world beyond the shores of my small country; the challenges and efforts of people in bridging Maori and Pakeha relations; the reality that learning does not have to be stressful and only about grades. Staying at Helen Lowry Hall, I've made some awesome friends who showed me how living in a community is about caring, sharing and making connections. Wellington is a really accessible city with plenty of nature trails and walks. All you need is your two feet to get to see some plenty awesome views that'll blow you away. Something that I miss a lot about New Zealand are the natural landscapes and the kind people I've met during my journeys around Aotearoa.

What would you improve about this program?
I think the price of food in general is something that I needed to get comfortable with. It'll be great if the food in school could be more affordable with more selections but the staying in a catered hall has helped. Being able to pack seconds at dinners for the next day's lunch was a good solution in reducing expenditure on food.
103 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Depending, courses are 15/20 points. The normal thing is to choose 3 or 4 depending on the number of points it has. So around 50/60 points would be the normal thing

How was the workload in maor 123? I'm currently taking it, hoping it won't be too difficult. I have a chem lecture that sadly has a final exam... which sucks but hopefully I should be able to do alright.

The hall is around 4.000 NZ $ and you have to pay it all together at once before coming and obviously the flight is also a bit expensive but once here you won't spend much. Traveling is cheap, food is at european price more or less... But there is always a cheap option. It depends on you. I live in a catered hall so food is included so i don't spend more than 50$ per month.