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IES Abroad - Study Abroad in New Zealand

by: IES Abroad

9.73 (11)Verified

Studying abroad with IES Abroad in New Zealand is paradise for nature lovers. The North Island offers sailing, beaches, and hot springs. On the South Island, wild rainforest, the Southern Alps, glaciers, and gold towns await your exploration. More than 800 years ago, the Maori became the first people to migrate to New Zealand, crossing the South Pacific in canoes and navigating by the stars. Eu...

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Program Highlights

Some programs have the option to add a no-cost, part-time internship or service-learning placement for academic credit. Multiple placement types are available!

You’ll have an individual IES Abroad Program Advisor to guide you before your study abroad adventure. From visa requirements to travel details, they are your #1 resource for preparing to study abroa

For those directly enrolling at a university in Auckland or Christchurch, we offer well-located, comfortable housing for all students because securing housing independently can be challenging.

Make new friends with local residents, international students, and fellow students from all over the U.S. inside and outside of the classroom during orientation, activities, and excursions!

From health insurance included in your program fees, to a worldwide crisis management team, we work 24/7 to keep you safe, healthy, and happy abroad.

Quick Details

Locations:
  • Auckland, New Zealand
  • Christchurch, New Zealand
Availability
Year(s) OfferedYear RoundTerms Available:
  • Fall
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Academic Year
Age Requirement:Varies
Types & Subjects:
  • Accounting
  • Art & Fine Arts
  • Arts
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • See more
Guidelines:
  • American
  • All Nationalities
See all program details

Awards

GoAbroad Innovation Awards 2024 Winner - Student VideoPeople’s Choice Award 2023 FinalistInnovative Student Video 2023 WinnerInnovative Student Video Finalist 2022

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

9.73

Total Reviews

11

New experiences and a ton of adventure!

August 27, 2019by: Reeves Goettee - United StatesProgram: IES Abroad - Study Abroad in New Zealand
10

Spending a semester abroad was more than just taking courses in another country for a couple of months. The experience impacted me in every way imaginable. I experienced the unknown a lot while I was abroad – public transportation, Kiwi slang, Māori language and culture, Tim Tam Slams – and each of these experiences is a memory I carry that developed me into who I am today and who I will be in the future. Study abroad taught me to be more independent, flexible and fun-loving. The five months I spent navigating the ins and outs of a new country increased my self-confidence and helped me mature as an individual. The curriculum I engaged with while abroad opened my eyes to new ways of thinking about subjects I thought I already knew, and a spark has been ignited in me to follow my passion and do what makes me happy. While my experiences abroad may have shifted some of my plans for my future profession, there are certain qualities I acquired that will be useful no matter what field I end up in. I have a greater respect of people who aren’t the same as me. I’ve always been a tolerant person, but study abroad has helped me to better understand habits and notions of my own culture that were so ingrained in me I didn’t realized they existed. Not only have I earned a greater sense of respect for people, but I also feel more comfortable adapting to new situations and environments. My semester abroad threw many things my way I couldn’t plan for. I had to learn very quickly how to juggle them in order to succeed. As part of my program, we went to Rarotonga, the Cook Islands. The entire trip was unforgettable. IES gave us such an incredible and unique experience that I never would have been able to plan myself. On one of my favorite days, we got to visit a school that had preschoolers through about year eight students. After our introduction and a performance from the children, we got the chance to interact with them on a more personal level. They showed us how to play the drums, husk and grate coconuts, weave plates and make coconut leaf jewelry and I even got the chance to play netball and tips with them on their lunch break. As we were leaving that day, most of the children lined up to give us parting high fives. A little girl that I played netball with grabbed my hand and interlaced our fingers instead of giving me a high five. She had one of the biggest smiles on her face I think I’ve ever seen and at that point I realized I would have been so grateful to just spend every day on our trip playing with those kids. Their lives are so fundamentally different than my childhood was, but their happiness was infectious. I have never been on a holiday where I’ve interacted with the local culture as much as we did that week. Yes, we spent our fair share of time on the beach, but I also left with a greater understanding of what life is like for Cook Islanders. I hope I can do that on all my future trips. A semester abroad is about engaging with the culture of your host country. My program and my semester abroad helped me to do just that. I got the opportunity to embark on road trips with newly made friends, fly to the North Island and set out on an adventure in a very cramped campervan, work on one of my greatest passions (photography) and just see and experience the awesome New Zealand landscape. It seems like around every turn in the road there’s something new and overwhelming you get to take in. I spent a lot of my time abroad just feeling small in such a grand landscape. It was refreshing. I had my life turned upside down in the Southern Hemisphere and realized that it was exactly what I needed for a lot of pieces in my life to slot together. I don’t think I’ll go a single day in my life where the impact of my semester abroad doesn’t somehow play a role in how I interact with this world. Study abroad is important. It opens new pathways and changes perspectives. Study abroad enabled me to learn about marine biology, evolution, Māori culture, and land ethics. It enabled me to learn about what it means to engage with your surroundings. It enabled me to learn about how I think about the world and what I can do to be a better global citizen. My experiences during my semester abroad are unparalleled to any method of learning I have previously been a part of. Not every moment was perfect, but I experienced so much sheer joy in the five months I spent abroad, I know I’m going to look back on those memories in the future and just soak in that happiness again. I am so immeasurably grateful for the opportunity to study abroad and I can’t wait to continue traveling in the future.

Best decision of my life

August 20, 2019by: Amira Farid - United StatesProgram: IES Abroad - Study Abroad in New Zealand
9

I had packed my 2 suitcases and headed to the other side of the world, not really knowing what to expect. From the hustle of city life in New York to the laidback one-large-village vibe in New Zealand, my world was flipped upside down. Study abroad was the time to experience many firsts- camping, climbing mountains, diving, whale-watching, white-water rafting, glowworm cave hunting, traveling independently, driving on the left side of the road, operating on island time, and many many more. Throughout the ups and downs of study abroad in Christchurch, IES faculty had been a solid foundation through which all of my concerns were answered thoroughly. I cannot recommend it enough. Study abroad. Do it.

A change of scenery

August 17, 2019by: Emily Manasian - United StatesProgram: IES Abroad - Study Abroad in New Zealand
9

Growing up in the middle of farmland leaves you wanting a different setting for yourself. This is why I chose New Zealand for my study abroad experience. New Zealand is known for its beautiful mountains and extensive nature. I craved a new view. New Zealand brought me this and so much more. I was fortunate enough to partake in study through IES Abroad whose advisor was of Maori culture. Throughout the semester I became immersed in the Maori way of life; learning about their values and history. I learnt more about myself the first two days on Waiheke Island than I had in a lifetime. However cheesy it may sound, I made lifelong friends and pushed myself in ways I could only do there. I welcomed the feeling of learning a new campus with new classes and people. The University of Auckland offered all the courses I needed and challenged me just as much as I am at my home university. Being time zones away from my family was new to me, but I have never felt such a true happiness that I felt being in New Zealand.

Wanaka Tree in a lake at Wanaka, New Zealand

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Auckland, New Zealand
  • Christchurch, New Zealand

Types and Subjects

  • Subjects & Courses
  • Accounting
  • Art & Fine Arts
  • Arts

Availability

Years Offered: Year Round

Age Requirement

Age Requirement Varies

Guidelines

  • American
  • All Nationalities

Accommodation Options

  • Apartment/Flat
  • Dormitory
  • Home-stays

Qualifications & Experience

    Language Skills Required

  • English

    Accepted Education Levels

  • Any/All Education Levels Accepted

Application Procedures

  • Transcript
  • Other
  • Online Application
IES Abroad

IES Abroad

9.73Verified

Ready to Learn More?

Studying abroad with IES Abroad in New Zealand is paradise for nature lovers. The North Island offers sailing, beaches, and hot springs. On the South Island, wild rainforest, the Southern Alps, glaciers, and gold towns await your exploration. More than 800 years ago, the Maori became the first people to migrate to New Zealand, crossing the South Pacific in canoes and navigating by the stars. European whalers and explorers found the islands much later. In 1840, New Zealand became a British colony, creating a unique and culturally diverse country with Maori carved meeting houses and British colonial architecture. As you can tell, the New Zealand study abroad experience is one of a kind. Now it’s your turn to study abroad in New Zealand with IES Abroad and explore this vast country and ...

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