As part of the application process, you will be asked to rank your university preferences, so you are encouraged to carefully explore the host university websites. In evaluating the differences between universities, you might consider whether courses in your major are offered to exchange students; the number of students enrolled; the layout of the campus; the size of the nearest city and nearby attractions; the comments of knowledgeable family, friends, and returnees; and your preference for an urban, suburban, or rural locale. Each host institution offers all the usual campus amenities, sports facilities, and cultural learning opportunities.
Ranking these wonderful institutions may seem daunting, but remember: New Zealand is full of wonderful opportunities, new people, and interesting places, so whatever host university offers you a place, you are in for the time of your life!
Lincoln University, Christchurch
Lincoln University, located outside of Christchurch in a rural area of rich farmland, was established as an agricultural school in 1878. The university enrolls approximately 4,500 students in the faculties of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Commerce; and Environment, Society, and Design. Lincoln University welcomes international students, representing more than 60 countries. Strong course work is available for UC students in agriculture, business and management studies, viticulture, and environmental and ecological sciences.
The University is located about 20 minutes by car from the city of Christchurch in a small township (population 1,500). The township offers a range of shops and essential services, including a service station, supermarket, bakery, post office, student pub, and banks. In addition, the surrounding area has an impressive range of outdoor recreational activities in both the Southern Alps and the Pacific Ocean.
Massey University, Palmerston North
Massey University was established in 1927 in Palmerston North. The original campus, located alongside the Manawatu River, is within walking distance from the Palmerston North city center. The university has a large student body spread across three campuses, with about 9,000 students attending the Palmerston North campus. Much of the student body is made up of international students from more than 100 countries. The University offers course work within the colleges of Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Sciences. You will find strong course work in agriculture, Maori studies, and Pacific studies.
Palmerston North is located on the North Island, 90 miles from Wellington. Its population is about 79,000. Palmerston North, which was settled more than 100 years ago to service New Zealand farming country, has become a prosperous industrial, educational, and commercial center. Massey University also has campuses in Wellington and Auckland. Students with comparable majors can request to study at either of these campuses.
The University of Auckland
The University of Auckland, established in 1883, is New Zealand’s largest university. The main campus extends over eight city blocks and covers nearly 40 acres. The university conducts teaching and research within faculties of Arts, Business and Economics, Creative Arts and Industries, Education, Engineering, Law, Medical and Health Sciences, and Science. You can find strong course work in Pacific studies, chemistry, history, Maori studies, mathematics and statistics, and many other fields.
With over 1.3 million people, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city, housing more than a quarter of the country’s population. It is located on the North Island on an isthmus between the Waitemata and Manukau harbors. The harbor is one of the city’s major features. Auckland is a major business and manufacturing center, built on the sloping hills of extinct volcanoes. Its famed War Memorial Museum contains some of the most comprehensive Maori arts and crafts collections in the world.
University of Canterbury, Christchurch
The University of Canterbury, established in 1873, is situated on a spacious campus in suburban Christchurch, about three miles from the city center. More than 22,000 students are enrolled in the university’s six colleges. The university has strong science and engineering departments. In addition to the broad range of course work available, UC students can benefit from courses related to New Zealand (European and Maori studies) and courses in Pacific art, literature, history and culture, and Antarctic studies. The university operates an astronomical observatory and a number of field stations around New Zealand’s South Island.
With a population of more than 400,000, Christchurch is the largest city on the South Island. It is British in character and has many old buildings, gardens, museums, and churches. Christchurch offers excellent access to recreational resources, including national parks for skiing, boating, and hiking.
University of Otago, Dunedin
The University of Otago, New Zealand’s first university, was established in 1869. It is located in a residential district close to Dunedin’s town center. Otago enrolls more than 21,000 students in divisions of Commerce, Health Sciences, Humanities, and Sciences. A comprehensive range of course work is available in the areas of the humanities, business, sciences, and health sciences. Many EAP participants have been majors in psychology, chemistry, the liberal arts, and the biological sciences.
Dunedin, a historical coastal city of about 122,000 people, is a typical New Zealand town with a mixture of old and new. Originally a planned Scottish settlement, it grew rapidly with the discovery of gold in the 1860s. The town, which is surrounded by rolling green countryside, contains many old churches, mansions, museums, and a large harbor. Dunedin’s heritage includes gold rush days, early Maori culture, the whaling industry, and the early Scottish farmers. Dunedin has a variety of marine wildlife, including seals, penguins, and a world-famous colony of Royal Albatross.
The University of Waikato, Hamilton
The University of Waikato was established in 1964 and enrolls more than13,000 students. Fifteen percent of these students identify themselves as Maori, and some 2,200 are international students from 70 countries. The university is organized into schools of studies in Arts and Social Sciences, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Education, Law, Management, Maori and Pacific Development, and Science and Engineering.. You will enroll in one school of study and will likely select courses from offerings in that school. Of particular note are courses in environmental and ecological sciences; Pacific, Maori, and indigenous studies; communication studies; electronic commerce; and women’s and gender studies.
Hamilton is located on the North Island in a prosperous dairy-farming district. Lakes, rivers, beaches, caves, and mountains in the surrounding area offer a wide range of recreational and adventure opportunities. Hamilton’s Museum of Art and History holds a valuable collection of Maori artifacts and chronicles Hamilton’s past as a military settlement.
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University was established in 1897. The main campus is located in Kelburn, a residential area of Wellington about one mile from the city center. The Law Faculty, part of the Faculty of Commerce and Administration, and schools of Architecture and Design are located in the heart of the city. In addition to institutes and research facilities, the university has faculties of Architecture and Design, Commerce and Administration, Education, Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law, and Science. You can find strong course work in English and New Zealand literature, indigenous studies (including Maori, Pacific, and Asian studies), linguistics, environmental and ecological sciences, geography, political science, and theater and film.
Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is located in the southwestern tip of the North Island. Wellington is a particularly good choice if you are interested in observing New Zealand politics. As an intellectual and cultural center, Wellington has numerous museums and art galleries, drama and musical societies, and professional theater companies.