Study Abroad at Victoria University of Wellington

Definitely a great place and it's made even better if you put in effort and make things happen.

Classes: I'm a science major so I can't speak from other degrees. All of my classes were at the Kelburn campus which is pretty centrally located. Business and Law classes are about a 30 minute walk away. Standard lecture classes and then you have "tutorials" that you sign up for and it's a smaller tutor led review session. This is where you'll have most of your "homework". Large assignments every 2-3 weeks. I also had labs that often overlapped lectures which is totally normal. Skipping lectures is a way of life here. Most professors will record them and post them online.

Housing: I recommend living in University Hall. Wai-te-ata is closest to campus and town, really nice interior, houses 5 but its also really loud when it rains because its a tin shack. Te Kotahinga is more traditional apartments. Uni Hall arranges alot of events which is why I recommend it. I also advise living with other internationals. Kiwis aren't as friendly. Other internationals are looking for friends too and it makes it alot better. Just do it. If you want to live in a catered Hall, Te Puni village is the best in my opinion. The rest are out of the way and run down.

Social life: Clubs exist but arent as big as they are in say the US. Drinking is still a college pastime here. But alcohol is also more expensive so be wary. $8 for wine, $20 /12pk, $40 for hard stuff. Bars are really cool and the people in them are mostly students or young people. Mish Mosh, The Establishment, and Boogie Wonderland are fun places. Lots of bars and restaurants have specials on Wed night so...do that. And remember, you're only abroad once so live it up! You'll remember and cherish this experience forever.

There was this one crazy afternoon where me and my friend took off to Brooklyn Hill to conquer the Brooklyn Hill Wind Turbine Walk with groceries (think cabbages and carrots) and school stuff in tow. The sun would be setting in a few hours, and we were uncertainly unprepared; I was wearing extremely inappropriate shoes for navigating muddy trails and my friend was lugging her laptop in her backpack. Nonetheles, the proximity of Wellington City to Mother Nature was too close to deter us. I really like how city and nature can coexist side by side and the wonderful blend of city and nature - my room has a spectacular view of the nearby mountain range, albeit at the price of aching calves from climbing hills to get home - gives you the urge to go out and EXPLORE. On a more serious note, learning at VUW is really conducive. For instance, controversial topics such as transgender community are freely discussed in the classroom (all in the name of learning, of course!) To end off, I really can't wait to explore the rest of The Land of the Long White Cloud!!!

Victoria is a really lovely uni, I am completely based on Kelburn campus and I love it, it's a really nice campus, the buildings are lovely and it's really easy to find your way around. My course are really interesting and stimulating and I alway know who to go to if I need support or help with anything. I live in the Katharine Jermyn catered halls and I really like it, it's really nice being in the city.

I had and amazing experience in Wellington, and Victoria University was the responsible for that in most of the time. I met great people from all over the world, and had the funniest moments. Also had the chance to learn with highly capable professionals during the lectures and tutorials.

Studying in VUW so far has been awesome. The professors are really approachable and knowledgeable. The students here are also very friendly and keen to share. Wellington is also a really scenic place with many tramps to go on! Though of course there are even more outside of wellington, so if you like hiking, this is the place to be.

Vic Uni was an active campus. There were a lot of clubs to join and I enjoyed the classes I took. They were challenging at times but not extremely hard.
I did my program through Globalinks (now merged with ISA) and that is where I made my closest friends. I had good roommates as well. Additionally, I like where I lived. I was in the Wai-te-ata apartments. When we had a problem, we would call housing and they would come out within a week. Our couch was awful though, there was a giant hole in the center of it and it was rather dirty.

I had the best experience I could have had. Sometimes it's frustrating going to school while in the most beautiful and magical country you've ever been in, but you have to realize that you're not going to do everything you want to do. Most trips will be crammed into weekends and you'll only get a taste of the incredible things you can do in New Zealand. But because you are working so hard, those weekend trips are something to look forward to. Do them! Don't spend all your time partying, go out and experience! After a weekend of drinking, there's nothing better than spending the next one canoeing down the Whanganui River.

School was harder than it is back home (in Canada) so be prepared to work your butt off and not always get the results you expect. But don't stress too much (especially if you're on pass/fail). People know you're here to have fun, just as much to get the kiwi university experience. And will these grades matter in 5 years? No. Still, work hard and learn things. Take MAOR 123! I learned so much about the Maori culture and history and enjoyed doing it.

Living on campus was totally worth it. You're surrounded by people who want to do the same things as you, and sometimes they even plan trips for you. This is awesome because you get to enjoy yourself doing something really cool without even having to look on the internet to find the best deal for a car rental. Also, it's so worth it to be super close to town and super close to the uni. You never quite get over climbing the hill back to your flat, but at least you're getting exercise and working off those alcohol calories!

This was an incredible experience. I will miss the pineapple chews, the whittakers bars, marmite, not well insulated houses, the natural beauty, cows, sheep, the accents, the little fish that have the soya sauce in them, weekend trips and most of all all the amazing people I have met here. New Zealand is worth it and Wellington is worth it! Perfect city for those wanting to be in a small city right on the ocean and those who appreciate unique bars and cute coffee shops!

I have had amazing experiences in New Zealand, especially during the two week break from school. I went bungy jumping, horse trekking, wine tasting, tramping, and fishing. The country is strikingly beautiful; it surpasses all of my expectations in that regard. The initial adjustment was difficult, since my two roommates did not arrive until two weeks after me. This made me feel isolated and awkward. But, now that they are here, I am so grateful to have them. They are New Zealanders and constantly expose me to things that I otherwise would not have experiences, especially in regards to food. If I could do everything differently, I would have applied through a program. I applied directly to the university (not even through my home university) and basically was left to my own devices. The people who came to the university with a program entered school with a secure friend group. Initially I felt out of place and uncomfortable. That feeling has dissipated now, leaving me content with my experiences here. But, if given the opportunity to do it all over again, I would have paid the extra money for the program.