I'm moving to New Zealand Past Review
By A student (Wellesley College) - abroad from 02/18/2019 to 06/20/2019 with
University of Otago, New Zealand: Study Abroad Programme
A new appreciation for taking my time and enjoying being in the present, the world's most beautiful views, new friends, and a university experience completely different from Wellesley. Definitely worthwhile
Personal Information
How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Very different from Wellesley - large, lecture-style class sizes; fewer assignments throughout the semester; different grading scale; classes not necessarily as rigorous. This took some getting used to and higher levels of self-motivation than I was expecting... however, I appreciated having a larger university experience. |
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The international office made themselves open and available. |
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Loved flatting, and UniFlats are constantly unkept and very clean in comparison to some of the other student flats I saw. The kiwi host system was great and provided a good initial way of interacting with domestic students. I do wish that international and domestic students were more integrated -- the flat complexes tend to be fairly separate, and this made meeting New Zealanders more difficult. |
* Food: |
Students cook for themselves |
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Everyone is incredibly welcoming, but because international students are housed together for the most part it definitely takes some effort to go out and meet locals. |
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Had to go to Health Services for an illness -- was a very easy trip and getting my medication afterwards was also easy. |
* Safety: |
Felt very safe. |
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I absolutely loved my time at Otago -- the classes I got to take, the people I met, and the places and things I got to experience while in Dunedin completely surpassed my expectations. |
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) |
Food in NZ can be expensive, but if you budget it is manageable. |
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $50-$75 |
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? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? |
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* What could be improved? |
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* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Traveling around New Zealand is much easier with a car. Many international students choose to buy a cheap used car at the beginning of the semester and then resell it at the end to get some or all of their money back... if I could have fit this into my budget, I would have. Definitely worthwhile if you plan on seeing the sights. |
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 AdventurerThe 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. |