Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

New Zealand is beautiful and a great place to study! Past Review

By (Bard College) - abroad from 02/26/2018 to 07/05/2018 with

IFSA: Wellington - Victoria University of Wellington

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned to be independent and how to travel on my own.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I loved all of my classes at Victoria Unviersity of Wellington! Expecially the anthro classes, the lectures were fantastic.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Great administation. Always answered questions and really worked to make international students feel welcome and comfortable in New Zealand.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I loved my flatmates and lived in a beautiful flat close to the university.

* Food:

Coffee on campus was amazing!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt really integrated, I learned about Maori culture.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't go to health services while abroad.

* Safety:

Very safe, I never felt unsafe walking around the city.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Yes! I would love to go and study/live in New Zealand if I were given the oppertunity.

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 is very cheap in NZ and I was able to fly to the south island for at least $25 usd.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $20-$30 per week.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Go to weekend markets! They're a lot of fun and you can great deals on fresh veggies.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

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?
  • Cultural immersian
  • Hiking
  • Food
* What could be improved?
  • More group trips
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? How to handle the 16+ time difference between New Zealand and the USA.

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.