If you LOVE the outdoors and aren't looking for much culture shock, go to NZ! Past Review

By A student (Chemistry., The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 07/01/2014 to 11/08/2015 with

University of Otago, New Zealand: Study Abroad Programme

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

If I had to do it all over again, I might pick a place with sunnier, warmer weather where I could do outdoors things all the time and there was a bit more cultural difference. If you don't really wish for rich culture, want to live in a small town, and don't mind constant rain, go to Dunedin!

Review Photos

University of Otago: Dunedin - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	Some classes were larger than I expected. For example, biochemistry was in a lecture hall full of about 400 students. Writing classes were graded very strictly. Resources were available. Great library and study centers. Two of my classes had multiple teachers for different sections of the course throughout the semester.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Flatting with Uni Flats was awesome. There are usually about 5 people to a flat. One is a kiwi host and the others are international students. An overwhelming majority of the international students at University of Otago are American!! It's always good to make friends from other states though. :)
* Food:	Not really different from the U.S. other than coffee (which they call "long black", "short white", etc. -- based on espresso). Every single muffin in NZ is amazing. They have their muffins down.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	Giving 4/5 stars because I felt very comfortable with the local culture... a little too comfortable. Some people want to feel the culture shock of experiencing a completely different way of life when they leave their home countries. If you're one of those people, Dunedin might not be for you. Student life at Otago doesn't feel very culturally different from student life in a small town in America. Be ready for rain, cold, and wind all the time. The weather can be quite depressing if you're used to being exposed to lots of sunlight. Be prepared to live in a small town if you're from the city. There's not a lot to do in Dunedin. Try to get outdoors on the weekends as much as possible! Dunedin is the place to go if you love the outdoors; there are a few places to hike / climb / surf if you're in dunedin, but it's mostly "the place to go" because it's in a convenient location on the South Island, so all the sweet national parks are easily accessible.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	Hitching rides is normal.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget? (1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)	The exchange rate helped. Expect everything in NZ to be about 3 times as expensive as it is in the U.S.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Hitch rides. Get relocation cars from Jucy. Fly Jetstar. Go to the little farmer's market on campus outside the library.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component?	No

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university?	Exchange

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
* Who did you take classes with? Select all that apply	Local Students Americans International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?	Outdoors vibe Muffins Other International students
* What could be improved?	Things to do in Dunedin Weather...
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I knew the weather was going to be cold and rainy, and that I wouldn't see the sun very much; I wish I understood the psychological effects of that kind of weather, too. I wish I understood what it would be like to live in a small town, coming from Austin, TX. Dunedin culture is comparable to that of other small towns in the U.S., but it's definitely different from living in Austin. There is no "weird" factor. Several American international students who were there with me agreed that there was in fact culture shock, but not in the way we would expect; Dunedin was a bit shocking for its lack of cultural identity. It's kind of a plain jane place. Not much diversity either. But you go to Otago Uni and enjoy the experience for its close proximity to everything outdoors. Nobody really goes to "experience Dunedin".

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.	The Avid Adventurer The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.