New Zealand P rogram and Partner Overview Learning Environment - An undergraduate degree is typically 3 years in New Zealand. The exceptions are law, medicine and engineering which are 4 - 6 years. Other professional qualifications require graduate (what we call postgraduate) study. - New Zealand second - year courses are usually considered "equivalent" to the US junior year courses. New Zealand Honours and Postgraduate - level courses are usually considered "equivalent" to US graduate - level courses. You usually have to complete a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline to be eligible to enrol in these courses. - Student address Kiwi academics (lecturers and tutors) by their first name rather than as 'professor' or 'doctor'. - In New Zealand , university students are expected to be independent and show initiative. Academics won't chase you up if you miss classes or assignments. - All lectures are recorded (but don't leave it to the last minute to watch them!) . - The main forms of teaching are lectures (50 - 500+ students), tutorials (10 - 25 students), seminars (30+ students; half lecture, half tutorial) and labs/practicals. - Most urban students don't move away from their hometown to attend uni; they tend to live with their families or in rented accommodation, often with other students ( flatting ). - Auckland and W ellington are among the best cities in the world for studying and liveability . - O ur New Zealand partners are world - class comprehensive, research intensive institutions that cater to almost all majors. In each partner's entry, we have highlighted their stand - out strengths for UCEAP students . - All partner universities provide disability support services that support students who have ongoing physical or psychological conditions or learning/cognitive disorders. - All partner universities offer Maori and Pasifika culture, language and history courses . - Psychology is taught differently in NZ to how it is taught in the UC system. It is more challenging and more likely to include statistics and critical analysis . - All NZ universities offer free (or covered by your insur ance), confidential medical and mental health services on campus. Social Life - Most New Zealand students commute to uni and go home straight after classes. This can make it difficult to form friendship with locals. - New Zealand students have already formed t heir friendship groups , so they may be difficult to break into. Join clubs to get to know local students. Doing exchange in the US Spring semester means you’ll arrive as Kiwi students start their new academic year. It will make it easier to form friendship s as year - long cliques won’t have formed. - Many UC students travel to Australia during their breaks. Connect with UC students in Australia to find travel partners and cheap accommodation. You can help them out when they visit New Zealand. 1 Challenges - The New Zealand semester is longer and has a slower pace than the UC semester or quarter. Most assessment is due toward the end of the semester. In a 12 - week semester, it is not uncommon to have your first assignment due in Week 6 and not receive any grades ba ck until Week 8. Finals may be very heavily weighted (40 - 80% of your final grade). - There is usually a study period between the last week of semester and the start of the 3 - 4 - week exam period. - In New Zealand , students are expected be very independent learners. Even if it doesn’t look like it, students are working hard throughout the semester. They’re ‘stealth studiers’. - New Zealand is more expensive than California, but the quality of life is exceptionally high. - Financial Aid will be out of sync with t he local semester and accommodation due dates so plan accordingly. - You will experience extremes of weather in New Zealand. Even on overcast days, y ou must use sunscreen. It will get very, very cold and many New Zealand houses have no insulation - bring swe aters! - It can be hard to meet locals, especially if you arrive in Fall or live in international student accommodation. However, it is easy to meet other internationals who are often more motivated than locals to travel and have weekend adventures. - With the exception of La Boca Loca in Wellington, you are unlikely to find authentic Mexican food in New Zealand . Sorry. - Sand flies!!! We recommend you . - Consider doing your exchange in the Spring as it coincides with the first semester of the NZ academic ye ar. That way, you and your classmates will be new to the year level and classes; local students will be less likely to have already formed cliques and friendship groups - Investigate special study projects well before arriving in New Zealand. You need to hav e found an academic to work with before you arrive. - If planning to take Maori or New Zealand culture courses, some prior knowledge the nation’s history and languages will make things much easier. Consider taking Maori or New Zealand focused courses Pass/No Pass to remove some of the pressure to achieve high grades. - Try to take at least one ‘fun’ course that doesn’t count toward your major. - The earlier in your degree that you exchange, the better. That way you have time in your degree to extend your stay if you wish (many students do wish they had time left in their degree to extend their exchange!) - If you think there is any chance you might want to work while in NZ, arrange your work visa in the US as it’s cheaper and easier than arranging it after your arri val in New Zealand. - Review the NZ - UC grade translation table so you are not unnecessarily stressed during semester . - Join clubs! - Outdoor activity clubs and study abroad/exchange student clubs will help you get to know people and the culture quickly. - If you’re older than the average undergraduate, consider joining your uni’s mature age students club. - If you are LGBTIQ A + consider joining your uni’s queer club - Buy a bicycle. Helmets are compulsory. - Consider buying a clothes dryer - Consider the weather of your chosen city 2 University of Auckland Auckland is a large harbour city of 1,418,000 . The university is integrated into the city and the city itself is surrounded by dormant volcanoes. UoA has some unique features including: - its own vineyard (Goldie Wines, on Waiheke Island ) . - ‘ plussage ’, a system that allows you to get the best possible grade for a course. UoA is very welcoming to exchange students. The university has a goal of 25% of students participating in study abroad, exchange or overseas short programs. This means they look after their incoming and outgoing exchange students except ionally well. Also, UoA offer s very attractive packages for incoming exchange grad uate student s . To ensure exchange students get to meet a range of Kiwis and international students, the university works hard to get a good cultural mix of students in its ha lls of residence and flats. The University of Auckland is the best school for . Languages, Humanities, Life Sciences UCEAP students recommend you take . MĀORI 190 Kapa Haka EDUC 100G The Creative Process ANTHRO 225 Anthropology of Art and Performance WINESCI 201 Introduction to Wine Science We recommend you . Join Study Abroad Students Society Take advantage of the f re e airport pick - up and welcome package . Apply early for accommodation. A ccommodation is guaranteed if you apply on time , and it’s a case of f irst in, best dressed . Accommodation The residence halls provide three meals a day, seven days a week; sporting facilities (cricket, rugby, netball, etc.); single or double bedrooms; and the opportunity to take part in campus life, social events, and sports tournaments. The residence halls ar e the best housing choice for study in Auckland. Listen to this short video to hear more about the residence halls at UoA. There are also several university - managed facilities near the campus. Accommodation is g uaranteed for UC students who apply on time; it’s first in, best dressed. UoA aims to get a good cultural mix in each their properties. Some students choose to rent or share a private flat off campus. Since you arrive prior to the Auckland semester start d ate, you are in a good position to locate a private rental. Carlaw Park Student Village - 5 – 10 - minute walk to city campus - Self - catered apartments, 2 - 4 students in shared apartments - Fully furnished with everything you need – pots, pans, plates etc. - Large comm unal lounge/dining/kitchen for group activities - Large study room with printing facilities - Games and music rooms, basketball and outdoor chess - Coin operated laundry 3 55 Symonds - Newest university accommodation - Self - catered studio apartments with kitchenettes and en suite bathrooms - 5 - minute walk to campus - TV/theatre room - Study room - Games room - Large communal lounge - Communal kitchen and dining room - Coin operated laundry - Events organized by RAs for socializing with other residents - A little more expensive but very high quality - Very popular with both social students, and those who prefer the quiet life University Hall - Towers - 5 – 10 - minute walk to city campus - fully catered - One of the newer Residence Hall - Single bedrooms for 442 students, mostly younger students - Music room with piano and drums - Game room with pool table, foosball, air hockey, and Sky TV - Residents receive membership to the University's Recreation Centre, only a few minutes away O’Rorke Hall - 5 - minute walk to city campus - Fully catered - Very social atmosphere - Common rooms with TVs on each floor - Music room - Outdoor