IFSA University of Auckland Partnership

My time at the University of Auckland was the perfect blend of adventure and university life for me. The university itself had an such an array of classes that it wasn't difficult to find ones that both covered requirements for my school back home, but also offered something I couldn't get anywhere else. I was able to continue my English literature degree while also learning the native language of New Zealand, Te Reo Maōri. The classes themselves were not as strenuous as the ones I was use to at home, which allowed me to explore the city and country in my free time. On weekends, I went on trips with friends to nearby beaches (it was spring when I arrived, so the summer crowd hadn't taken over yet) or hiked up a volcanoe after a ferry ride across the bay. If I wanted to adventure in the city, there was always an exciting event to take part of. The most memorable activities in the heart of the city were the Asian Market and the Turama Festival of Lights, both unique to the city of Auckland. IFSA makes it their priority to introduce students to the native culture as well as the modern one. During orientation, my program stayed a night in a Maōri marae and became immediately immersed in the native culture, taking part in ancient traditions and learning of the legends that impacted generations of Maōri. My favorite memories were of exploring the country of New Zealand. IFSA encourages exploration and independence, but also makes certain that students know how to stay safe. There was always somebody on call in case trouble popped up. Although the city is spectacular, I don't recommend spending all of your time there. Right outside your door there are mountains and volcanos and thick forests and black beaches and huge rock formations waiting to be explored. It doesn't surprise me one bit that New Zealand became the inspiration for Middle Earth. Everywhere I went the country took my breath away. So if you go to New Zealand, find a group of friends and get outside. Take advantage of the adventures that await you.

My first experience traveling outside of the United States was when I traveled to New Zealand for a semester study abroad. The IFSA-Butler program was exceptional and I could not have been happier with how my experience panned out. The IFSA-Butler staff was approachable and extremely helpful both before departure and while in New Zealand. A range of questions came up as I was preparing to study abroad, such as what classes should I take, where will I live, how will I communicate with friends and family back home, and what should I pack. It was really convenient to have IFSA support me through this process and answer all my questions. IFSA provided us with housing through the school where I got to live with another study abroad student from Italy and a student from New Zealand! Plus, housing was only a five minute walk from campus which was a huge perk. In regards to academics, the University of Auckland is a top notch university. All of my classes had 100+ students, but each class also had tutorial sessions each week where you were put in smaller groups (10-20 people) to discuss class topics in more of a discussion based setting. While abroad, IFSA provided me with resources on where to stay, must-do experiences, and knowledge on Maori culture. IFSA also had countless excursions planned for those on the program. Auckland truly was an amazing place to live and New Zealand provided endless opportunities for outdoor activities and jaw dropping landscape photography!

I could not be more grateful for my semester abroad with IFSA at the University of Auckland. I chose IFSA because the flexibility of the course selections allowed me to study both dance and philosophy (with courses going towards both my Dance and Moral Psychology majors!). In addition, with guidance from both the IFSA staff and the UoA staff, I had the invaluable opportunity to intern for Dance and Arts Therapy New Zealand, gaining hands-on experience in a field of interest for me. This internship was truly one of the highlights of my experience. I was also given the incredible opportunity to perform and choreograph with UoA's dance studies students. In addition, New Zealand is breathtakingly beautiful, and the IFSA-sponsored orientation and trips allowed us to explore while also immersing us in and allowing us to learn about their culture. Our on-site IFSA program advisor was also amazing, and truly cared about each student!

IFSA made my time abroad so much richer and memorable. I loved the community the IFSA students and staff built, and the programming really helped me learn so much about New Zealand and immerse myself in the culture there. I felt so supported, and it truly was an incredible experience. The trips we took as an IFSA group were so incredible, and orientation was amazing! I miss New Zealand so much and I can't wait to return (and visit my on-site IFSA program advisor Ellen, who is amazing). I am so grateful to have had IFSA to support me!

I could not speak more highly about my experience. From the day I got to New Zealand, I knew that it would be an adventure of a lifetime. Normally, I dread going to Orientations and doing lots of awkward ice breakers. However, this was not the case. During our Orientation, we took part in activities that I had so much fun doing, and I not only learned about the culture and beauty of New Zealand, but I was also able to meet some of my best friends from all over the nation. I had never been to New Zealand before my time abroad and was extremely nervous for everything it entailed. However, the process to get there, move into my apartment, and start school was extremely smooth. I never had a day or weekend go by where I felt like I was alone or had nothing to do. In between classes and exams, I had time to travel and explore all of New Zealand. My friend and I even went to the extent or renting a camper van and driving across the country. We also were able to travel to multiple other countries such as Australia and the Cook Islands. Such an incredible experience! At the University of Auckland, all of my teachers and classes were incredible. I learned so much and it was so cool to be able to learn a different way than I was used to in the past. Overall, I had the best time. I am honestly considering moving back after I complete my degree because I loved it so much.

I studied abroad in Auckland, New Zealand during the 2019 Spring Semester. I chose IFSA because I liked the fact that they had a co-curricular aspect as part of their study abroad program. Students go on a multi-day pre-orientation program where they gain some exposure to their host country. During the pre-orientation program, I was made aware of what New Zealand and Maori culture were. This exposure helped prepare me for my studies at the University of Auckland. During my time abroad and up until departure, IFSA made sure that every student in their program and gained New Zealand cultural exposure. My friends who studied abroad in New Zealand outside of the IFSA program did not have the same experience that I had as an IFSA Student. These individuals did not have a coordinator or a resource to rely on during their time abroad. They were essentially on their own, thousands of miles away from home. I appreciated all of the connections that I had in New Zealand and relied on them throughout my time abroad. My friends who studied abroad in New Zealand outside of the IFSA program did not have cultural exposure to New Zealand like I did. IFSA recognises that study abroad is not complete without this sort of exposure. I appreciated this exposure as it allowed me to learn and grow in my host country. I do not regret my decision to study abroad with IFSA, and if I had the choice to study abroad again, I would choose IFSA. I believe that IFSA does a lot to help their students adjust to the study abroad experience before leaving the United States, during the time abroad, and after leaving the host country. This type of support that I have received from IFSA made my experience more enjoyable.

Why did I choose my program? I wanted to study in Aotearoa New Zealand because of the epic geography and diverse landscapes. I chose Auckland specifically because I wanted to live with kiwis (term to describe people from Aotearoa New Zealand) and this specific program offers gives the option for students to complete an internship during the semester. Why I chose IFSA: IFSA made me feel supported, not suffocated. The program provided a lot of support from my student services coordinator and the community of students on my program. IFSA also worked out a lot of the logistical information for me, such as figuring out a health care plan. I was able to live my life how I wanted to while feeling safe knowing there are resources and people there to help me if I need it. Orientation: The IFSA orientation was amazing! We stayed in Shakespeare Regional Park for two nights and spent a third night on a Marae (the grounds that belong to an iwi (tribe), hapū (sub tribe), or whānau (family)). IFSA kept us busy with fun activities such as sea kayaking, snorkeling, New Zealand trivia, and touch rugby. Staying on a schedule for the first few days helped me beat the jet lag and get to know both people who would be studying in my city and in different cities (but still on IFSA program). I ended up traveling and visiting some of the people I met during orientation who were studying in a different city. The stay at the Marae was my favorite part of orientation. During our visit, we learned about the local iwi and how, as manuhiri (non-Maori guests), to respectively engage with Maori culture in a meaningful and positive way. This visit provided us with a lot of important background information which we continued to build upon throughout the semester. This experience also helped me notice and appreciate different Maori influences I saw throughout my time in New Zealand. Housing: My accommodation exceeded my expectations. I lived in a mixed-gendered apartment with two kiwi roommates who are regular students at the university. The apartment was part of student-housing and IFSA provided us with bedding. My apartment was very spacious, super clean and came with new (or recently updated) appliances. My accommodation was in a great location being a 2 minute walk from the train, 10 minute walk from the University, 15 minute walk from the grocery store, and a 20 minute walk from the bars. Classes: Classes varied a lot depending on the course. I took an introductory level statistics class which was in a massive lecture hall with 300 students. The largest lecture at my home university is about 80 students so it was a little overwhelming at first, but I got used to it pretty quickly. This class has an optional “tutorial” section in addition to the lecture. Tutorial is when the class meets in smaller groups to work on additional assignments. I also took an upper-level conservation ecology course that had 20 students in the class. Overall, the classes were easier there than at my home university. Studying abroad as a STEM major was super manageable for me. I was able to get the courses I needed to take approved with my academic advisor before I left, so the transfer of credits was really easy. I took two labs at the university and they were both super interesting. Taking labs was a really great way to get to meet more kiwi students. Student-Athlete abroad: I am diver on the varsity swim and dive team at my home university. The University of Auckland doesn’t have a swimming pool, and I didn’t want to spend money on a membership to a pool with diving boards. This limitation allowed me to focus on other aspects on my sport that still helped me as an athlete. I used the free membership at the university gym to improve my strength by lifting regularly. I also took free yoga classes to improve my flexibility. I would go with two of my friends I made on the program, so we could keep each other accountable and motivated. I wasn’t able to practice how I originally imagined, but was still able to stay in shape and prepared for next season. Excursions: All of the excursions were super fun and well planned. All of the excursions were covered by IFSA tuition and I didn’t need to spend my personal money on these trips. My favorite excursion was an overnight boat cruise around the Bay of Islands. On the drive there, we visited glow-worm caves and waterfalls. Once on the boat, we went fishing, night kayaking and swimming in bioluminescent waters (so cool!). The next morning, we went snorkeling and took sea urchin shots (you cut a fresh sea urchin in half and take it like a shot). We also went paddle boarding and got to explore one of the Islands. All the excursions were in high attendance. Other excursions included going to a local restaurant, visiting a local museum, surfing, planting trees, and eating dinner in the famous Auckland Sky Tower. I had a really great time on my program and would highly recommend IFSA New Zealand to anyone looking to study abroad. I ended up staying in Aotearoa New Zealand after my program ended and found a job working at a ski mountain. My whole experience was amazing and if I could do it all over again I wouldn't change a thing.

This program was accommodating, organized and supportive. Because of the information I received before departure and the support I got once on site, I really would say it was the trip of a lifetime. The IFSA staff works hard to make sure you get everything you need while abroad including awesome living situations, health care needs, and planned excursions that were better than any trip I could have done myself. They also realize that this is your time to explore and don’t try to micromanage, especially since New Zealand is such a safeness place. I highly recommend doing this program, you won’t regret it.

Studying at the University of Auckland exceeded any expectations that I could have- all thanks to IFSA! Before the departure, I felt well prepared for the journey because of the surplus of resources that we were provided with. Any questions about banking, airlines, cultural experiences- it was all covered. Once we got to New Zealand, we were immediately bused away to Shakespeare National Park for three days where we could adjust to the time change and make friends with other people in our program. (I have to mention that they will feed you so well at this point in time!) We kayaked and played rugby and had such a relaxing time before returning to Auckland for move in. We had a few days to explore the city, and attend orientations and what not. The housing was all pretty well organized through IFSA- I lived in Parnell which was sort of a walk to campus but I made such amazing friends with my neighbors. It can be hard to adjust to a whole new school system and way of life, but weekly catch up meetings through IFSA were also a great addition because if you ever needed to vent about the adjustments or reminisce about home it was a comforting space and we all became really close. We also took some incredible trips around New Zealand, including a cruise through the bay of islands and learning how to surf (there's a lot more where that came from too but I don't want to spoil it.) My onsite coordinator Ellen (if you get her you are so lucky!) was amazing and so helpful through guiding us on New Zealand culture and she always brought awesome snacks. IFSA really tries to help you optimize your time in New Zealand, but you also have great freedom in traveling and exploring by yourself too during breaks and on weekends. I loved being in Auckland and hanging out with my IFSA crew but I also found myself with a lot of time to immerse myself in the Kiwi culture with other friends. New Zealand is an amazing country that everyone should visit, and if you're considering studying there, do it through IFSA!

My time at the University of Auckland was one I will never forget. I was able to experience a completely different culture, academic setting and social life. The challenges of figuring out life on my own was difficult, but I was given an abundance of resources through my IFSA program and also the University of Auckland. During my time abroad, I faced sickness, family issues and financial struggles - but was able to overcome these obstacles through on-campus services. My time in New Zealand was filled with a lot of firsts: first tattoo, first time skydiving, first time bungee jumping and first time driving on the left side of the road! Although I had a lot of fun outside of the classroom, I was able to balance my time with my studies. My favorite class I took, at the University of Auckland, was a strategic marketing course. My team and I were able to run a virtual online business for the entire semester. Every week we would make strategic decisions based on our previous week's data. We were challenged to look both inside the company (marketing, sales, operations) and outside (competitor analysis). We ended up coming in 3rd place in our industry! So I encourage you to go abroad and go to New Zealand!

The IFSA-Butler program was exceptional. The orientation team and my program advisor went above and beyond in helping the students adapt and learn about New Zealand. The program informed us of academic expectations, travel information, and gave us plenty of contact information if we had any questions or needed assistance in any way. I was beyond happy with traveling to New Zealand through the ISFA program and would do it again if I could.

I traveled to Auckland in Spring 2016 from Fordham University in New York and I could not be happier with my choice of abroad programs. From choosing my courses to getting acquainted with the city, the IFSA-Butler staff was incredibly helpful and approachable throughout the entire process. While in New Zealand, the program planned numerous events for our group ranging from rugby games to an overnight trip on a boat. Being so far from home, it was a great comfort knowing I had a staff member just ten minutes away to answer any questions I had or just to catch up and grab a coffee. I met other Americans who either traveled alone to Auckland or chose another program and I can honestly say they did not have the full experience my group and I had. If I had to go abroad again I would absolutely do it Butler.

Going abroad is scary. I get that. I was scared out of my mind. But it was so nice knowing that I had a support system both with me in New Zealand as well as back in the states. IFSA was an amazing study abroad program, I'd recommend it for people who want to be fully immersed in another country's educational system. I met some awesome people, saw amazing sights, traveled all over the place, all the while knowing that there were people whose job it was to look out for me no matter what I did. Wish I could go back!