Refreshing and adventurous semester abroad Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Class Structure: Most of my classes had multiple lecturers, as opposed to UT where I've usually had one main lecturer, and at most two lecturers for a given course. TAs played a similar role as the ones at UT. Workload: Generally much lighter than at UT. All my classes had very few assignments, so I rarely constantly had something to work on for each class, despite taking the equivalent of 15 UT credit hours. Also, I happened to have virtually no midterms/exams before the final. For me this was fine, since it allowed for enough time to explore the other aspects of being abroad besides studying. Generally, the assignments that we did have to do were engaging and required dedication. Grading System: On the one hand, the grade thresholds are much lower at Otago (a 50 is a C-), but since there are fewer assignments per class, it can still feel hard to get your target grade. Finals were worth more here as well (50% in three of my four classes). I thought finals were worth too much back in the U.S., so this was an interesting discovery. Lecturers/Professors: Very knowledgeable, willing to help, and seemed very passionate about their respective subjects. Most of the demonstrators/TAs were also very nice.

On-site administration of your program

The International Office at the University of Otago was very helpful throughout my preparation for arrival and maintained a presence during my time abroad.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I had a great experience with UniFlats.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Student healthcare is easy to access and generally responsive.

New Zealand is a beautiful country with very warm people and loads of potential for amazing experiences, whether it's in the outdoors or from a more cultural perspective. The University of Otago is a solid institution and the International Office clearly cares about its students.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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