New Zealand, studying @UNITEC University
Not yet knowing that these 160 days of my exchange truly will be the most special ones in my life.
As soon as I decided that New Zealand will be the destination for my semester abroad I knew that an amazing time would be expecting me. There was not one day – or even minute – I have ever regretted my decision and I recommend everyone choosing New Zealand and UNITEC University for a semester abroad. Read here a recap of studying @UNITEC.
STUDYING
The university itself offers a wide range of studies and I enjoyed the courses and lecturers, though the written assignments were challenging at some point. The lecturers were interesting and provided a good mix of theoretical background and practical (and New Zealand related) examples. Local as well as international students were welcoming and helpful and the everyday student life was never boring.
LIVING
I stayed at the accommodation at UNITEC campus, called UNITEC Residential Village, which is perfect for everyone who wants to get to know new people quickly and easily. The accommodation consists of 2 to 5 room apartments with a shared kitchen and living room. The campus is very large and located slightly outside of the city centre, which can be reached in 30 minutes by bus, although I suggest rent or buying a car anyway. That makes traveling, food shopping, spontaneous trips to McDonald’s and simply daily life a lot easier. 😀
USU (UNITEC Student Association)
The USU is a fun bunch of people who work hard to make the stay for international students at UNITEC an even more fun and joyful experience.
The association organises international food days on campus, outdoor movie nights, music festivals and much more. You should definitely not miss out on the great trips that are organized to different parts of New Zealand’s North Island with lots of exciting activities, such as rafting, zorbing, snorkeling, sailing, sand boarding …. This is also an ideal opportunity to meet other international students and make new friends.
Of course a semester abroad is not all about studying. It is a once in a lifetime experience to get to know new people, places and mostly oneself. And when going to the other end of the world it must of course be combined with lots of traveling. Read more in a short recap of my semester abroad here.