Study Abroad in Wellington, New Zealand

This semester was by far my favorite out of all I’ve done. New Zealand is the perfect place to really find yourself, connect with nature and culture. From hiking (or as they say tramping) to learning about Māori culture, I feel as though I got everything I wished for and more out of this experience. You have enough freedom to get up and go on a roadtrip to a lighthouse across the island and stop to see the Milky Way but enough support to get help if you need any. I cannot express how much I recommend Wellington to anyone. It’s a perfect in between point for the North and South Island. One weekend my friends and I hopped on the ferry and went to Kaikōura to go whale watching. There’s access to everything and anything you want with the city right there (in a very manageable size) and nature in your backyard (quite literally too).

Studying abroad in Wellington was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The city is beautiful, the people are super friendly, and Vic is an amazing school to study at. Personally, I'm really into exploring different cafes and Wellington is full of them. No matter where you are in the city, you will be within walking distance of a good latte and pastry. I'm also a really big sports fan and Wellington is home to two really fun teams to watch. The Hurricanes (Rugby) and the Phoenix (soccer) both have discounted student tickets and are a great way to meet new people so if you're into sports Wellington is a great city to be in. TEAN did such an amazing job organizing the program and they will always be there if you need them. The program's orientation is in Queenstown and it was a life changing experience for me. Getting to spend a week in one of the most beautiful places on earth was an amazing way to start my experience abroad.

If you're going to study abroad in New Zealand, do it through TEAN. They provide multiple opportunities to make the most out of your time abroad: orientation in Queenstown, mid-semester excursions, and several cultural events in your host city. They also provide an abundance of support from start to finish. Preparing to study abroad can be overwhelming, but TEAN's website guides you through the process in six easy steps, and they also provide a checklist for documents to submit. Although I would've preferred not to have the virus affect my time abroad at all, it did show how capable TEAN is: I felt like I could trust TEAN when I was deciding on whether to go home or not. They made it clear that they would support students whatever their decision was. Studying abroad with TEAN means unique opportunities and continuous support.

The entire experience feels like it was a dream. TEAN gave me the opportunity to live in the coolest city and introduced some of the most genuine people I have ever met. The staff at VIC were incredibly accommodating and you could see how much they enjoyed working with the students. Each house in University Hall was unique which just added to the charm of Wellington. I could not recommend this program enough. I felt entirely connected to this program that, even leaving for weekend trips I would always have Wellington in the back of my mind.

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My experience with TEAN was extremely helpful and supportive. The people I met in the program became some of my best friends. The TEAN orientation for New Zealand, which brought together students from all of the New Zealand universities, was a huge highlight for me and gave me access to locations throughout New Zealand. Meeting people from all of the New Zealand universities gave me friends to stay with across New Zealand, and I ended up exploring the country with close friends I made there. Once we were moved in at our universities, TEAN was very good at being supportive to us and provided several memorable outings. The outings were really fun and allowed me to do activities and see places that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Overall, the TEAN staff and fellow students in my program were crucial to my wonderful experience abroad in New Zealand.

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I could not have picked a better program for me in choosing to study abroad in Wellington, New Zealand through TEAN. The program administration answered all questions I had beforehand, and was easy to reach once I got there. The city itself had a great mix of urban and rural activities, there was always something to do. I definitely recommend checking out the farmer's market and the local chocolate factory! Victoria University had all the courses I needed for my major and I found the classes to be very interesting. It was easy to get involved through their club fairs and student hub events. I also found the locals as well as the overall culture to be very welcoming.

My experience at Vic was wonderful not only for the beautiful, easily accessible campus, but the extremely friendly and knowledgeable professors. The city of Wellington itself was so fun to live in as it was extremely walkable yet filled with a variety of restaurants, cafes, shops, museums, and other activities. Everything the city had to offer was colorful and unique and there was never a shortage of things to do! Being at the southern tip of the North Island made Wellington the perfect home base for travelling throughout New Zealand. I can attribute my preparation beforehand and comfort throughout the experience to the kind and helpful TEAN staff who were always accessible and happy to support their students in any way possible. The program provided an unforgettable experience that I would recommend to anyone looking to go abroad!

My overall educational experience at VUW was really amazing - the teachers were all incredibly accomplished and easily accessible and the classes themselves were interesting. In addition, the administrations of both VUW and TEAN were absolutely amazing. Everyone with whom I spoke was kind, knowledgable, and very willing to help. TEAN did a fantastic job of preparing me for the specific program, so I really had all the information I needed. The only thing is that I wish I had known how amazing the food was going to be in Wellington, because I would have budgeted more money per week to eating out. In terms of opportunities, both TEAN and VUW provided experiences to interact with the culture. For example, during TEAN's orientation in Queenstown, the staff there had made arrangements for a professor from the University of Otago to come and teach us all about Maori culture. VUW offered many different events also related to Maori culture and discussion about it. Wellington itself is also a diverse and culturally rich city, with tons of different museums and cultural immersion opportunities. I felt very strongly that both TEAN and VUW encouraged participating in those opportunities, and I spent most of my off days doing so. I loved TEAN, VUW, and Wellington and would recommend the program, the university, and the city to absolutely anyone.

I could not be happier with my choice to study abroad in New Zealand. Wellington especially! Coming into my abroad experience, I knew that I wanted to explore as much of the beautiful landscape as I could, and I was not disappointed in the slightest. New Zealand is a true backpacker's dream and has supplied me with some of the most amazing landscapes I have ever seen. Some of my trips including seeing Mount Cook, hiking past Mount Doom, and also trekking across the Southern Tasmanian Coastline. It's so easy to get around a travel for cheap in New Zealand as well. Wellington itself is such a gem of a city. It is a perfect little San Francisco with a vibrant waterfront, coffee culture, and great food and craft beer. It is a very liveable city with lots of cultural events and activities. Check out the Sundays Farmer's Market, such a great time! Overall, TEAN as a study abroad aid was instrumental. They made it so easy to know exactly what was needed to be done before departure and their orientation provided a good transition into the study abroad lifestyle and definitely got some of the jitters out. We even got to go to Milford Sound! All my questions were answered promptly and accurate before and during the program. Highly reccomend TEAN and can't wait to go back to New Zealand again!

I had such an amazing experience with TEAN and my amazing host country, New Zealand. TEAN was amazing and provided me with so many resources to seek out scholarships and through there resources I applied with the NZ education department and received a stipend to do social media marketing and received a letter of recommendation from them in return. TEAN provided me with an efficient and useful orientation and were incredibly reachable but they also let me personalize my abroad experience and do my own personal travel. It was nice to be able to meet all of the NZ students so that we were able to network and couch surf the country to save on travel costs. It was also really nice to be able to lean back on a TEAN advisor in my home city where she would take us out on coffee check ins, day trips to Weta workshop or Zealandia and a beautiful farewell dinner. A day has not gone by where I do not wish i was back in my flat with my amazing friends in Aotearoa.

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Studying abroad in New Zealand was always a dream of mine when I was in High School. The education abroad network (TEAN) proved to not only be the best program for me as an international studies major, but as a young traveler eager to see the country. TEAN has in an in country staff that is very helpful and guides you through helpful orientations along the way. I was able to experience real New Zealand culture through many different events planned by TEAN as well as travel outside of the program. I felt safe, supported, and happy because of the help of this program. VIC University is a phenomenal school with a gorgeous campus that over looks the greater Wellington area. I found the courses to be engaging and thoroughly interesting. Wellington itself is my favorite place in the world, seriously. I would go back and do it again in a heart beat if I could!

I love to travel, and I hope that never changes. Coming to New Zealand has made me realize how much I love to travel for an extended period of time. Backpacking around is fun and all, and I love that too, but I loved meeting the people here, spending time with the Kiwi's learning the Maori Culture, taking classes, going to food stores, and being fully immersed in a culture the way that you can never experience in only a few days or weeks at a time.

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Studying abroad in general ends up being one of the most important decisions of your life. Studying abroad with TEAN as your program makes it the BEST decision you will ever make. As your time in another country transforms the person you are into something even better, the program that is there to guide you becomes an invaluable tool for you. From orientation in Fiji and Auckland, to the programs they hosted for us throughout the semester, TEAN made my semester above and beyond amazing. They were so good at keeping in touch and communicating with all of us, and prepared us so well for our journey. Wellington was a very cultured, perfect sized, host city. If you love coffee and cafes, and being right around beautiful harbour, it is the city for you! I spent countless days just exploring everything the city had to offer, and I rarely missed a farmer's or night market that the city had every weekend. Not to mention, that Wellington is a very convenient place to travel from! Victoria University was a school in which I could learn and build friendships with so many other students. I quickly got to know my professors and became more aware of the culture of the country. I am extremely grateful that I chose Wellington as my place to learn and grow!

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All my best friends studied abroad in Europe and when they found out I would be going to New Zealand a lot of them questioned why. However, I have never been more happy with a choice I have made. I got to see a portion of the world that without study abroad and TEAN I don't know if I would have ever experianced. 10,000 miles away from home in a foreign country The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) was always there to provided assistance if I needed it. Without TEAN's pre semester excursion I would never have gone to FIJI and made some life long best friends. TEAN was the best program I could have picked and the various times they provided students with free food throughout the semester just solidified my choice! I can't wait for the day I get to go back to Wellington!

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My abroad experience will absolutely have a lasting impact on my life. Everything was just perfect, from the staff at The Education Abroad Network (TEAN) to the beautiful, picturesque scenery that surrounded me everyday. Without TEAN this trip may not have been possible. The program helped me every step of the way and made the whole process stress free. I had no idea what to expect as I began my journey to study abroad. I had so many questions... Where do I go? How will I get there? Can I even afford it? After I decided to go to New Zealand, TEAN helped me learn all I needed to know about leaving the country for the first time. I remember my parents looking over the program and a huge weight being lifted off of their shoulders. I had never been so far away from home and I had never been without my parents for so long. After they saw all of the support we had, they felt comfortable letting me go. TEAN helped buy affordable flights that included flights to Fiji, Auckland, and my home destination in Wellington. As a student on a tight budget I was worried study abroad would be out of my reach. Fortunately, I was wrong. Not only did I get abroad, but I had a program trip to Fiji, an 11 day trip around the South Island, many explorations around the North Island, and trips all around Wellington. TEAN even brought us to an ALL BLACKS GAME, which, might I add was awesome (the Haka gave me chills)!! I cannot thank TEAN enough for all they did for me. The on-site staff in Wellington was absolutely amazing. The Chicago staff was wonderful. Every little bump I had along the way was fixed quickly and efficiently by the TEAN staff. So, THANK YOU TEAN... can I go back yet?!

It is hard to put into just a few sentences what a great impact my experience in New Zealand through the Education Abroad Network had on my life. The people I met, places I traveled, and experiences I gained were absolutely incredible. The staff at the TEAN office were extremely helpful from the beginning. They were always available and willing to help with every step of the process from acquiring a visa, to selecting classes to take the university, and even with packing tips. My abroad journey began with an orientation in Auckland followed by an amazing trip to Fiji. Throughout orientation we learned about New Zealand culture and started to get a feel of what it was like to become a member of their society. I could not be happier with my decision to study at Victoria University in Wellington. Wellington is the coolest little capital with mountains, city, and water all wrapped into one. There were always new places to eat, shop, and explore. Studying at the university was also a great experience. I was placed into classes full of Kiwi students, allowing me to make other friends besides other international students. I learned about New Zealand history and the country's larger position in the world and it was truly an eye opening experience. I would not trade my experience in Wellington New Zealand for anything in the world. I learned so much throughout the whole process and now hope to be able to travel to more beautiful countries in the future.

It is difficult for me to wrap up how I feel about my experience with TEAN and with living/studying in Wellington and just a few sentences. TEAN provided me with the opportunity to explore new countries, cultures, and people, while discovering things about myself all at the same time. Before even leaving the US, the members of the TEAN staff were extremely helpful in guiding me through the visa process, choosing my classes, and makings sure that I was completely prepared for my trip abroad. All of the representatives on the phone were friendly, informative, and insightful even just while calling the office to ask a few last minute questions. Through TEAN I began my abroad experience in Fiji and then had orientation in Auckland. Just during orientation they gave us a thorough introduction to the culture, and gave us helpful ideas on how to fully assimilate into New Zealand culture. Living in the beautiful city of Wellington was the most amazing experience I've ever had. I had discovered a place that was mountains, city, and water all wrapped into one. A place that encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone, a place of adventure, and of unique culture. I also really enjoyed studying at Victoria University of Wellington. I was able to learn more about New Zealand and its history, while also meeting Kiwi students in my classes and really getting a feel for what their daily lifestyle is there. The endless adventures and opportunities that TEAN provided for me, helped me to learn, grow, and most of all inspired me to travel in the future. I am so incredibly lucky to have been able to call Wellington New Zealand my home for 5 months and I am continue to count down the minutes until I return.

Going abroad to New Zealand through The Education Abroad Network was the best decision I have made in my college career. The program does an amazing job of getting you prepared to go abroad, getting all of your documents in order, and reassuring you that they are there to help with any questions or problems. The friends that you make through the group become some of your best friends and that is due to the fact that TEAN does an excellent job preparing activities that get people to converse and really get to know each other. I would recommend studying abroad through TEAN to anyone!

The most memorable experience for me was my week long trip to the norther part of the south island stuffed in a car with the people that would become 5 of the best friends I've ever had. We arrived in Wellington almost a week before classes started so we decided to use that time to explore. We spent 3 days backpacking, took a bike wine tour and camped in the middle of a field surrounded by the most beautiful mountains. At the beginning of the week, my companions we just some random people who wanted to travel and by the end they were some of the greatest people I've ever met. It was truly the experience of a lifetime. I chose my program based on how helpful they were before I even committed to traveling with them. They answered all of my questions and never pushed me to make one decision or another. The staff was young and excited, with the same passion for travel as I had. After speaking with them, I knew they were the right choice and they continued to be helpful throughout the entire process. I lived in a 5 bedroom flat really close to campus. I had two female and two male roommates, who were all great. One of them was our 'kiwi-mate' who lived with us and helped us navigate though New Zealand culture. We all had our own room and a full kitchen and living room. The only downside to the flat I lived in was we were hooked to campus internet, which got REALLY slow when classes we in session, which happened to coincide with the times I could skype family. Other than that, a great experience.

My experience in New Zealand is one I wouldn't trade for anything. In 5 month, I learned more about myself and the world around me than an entire lifetime of school could teach. New Zealand is a truly breathtaking place, filled with so much wonder. There is something for everyone, from beaches and sailing to mountains and skiiing. In those 5 month I made the best friends any person could ask for. I climbed mountains with them, swan in the oceans of Fiji and jumped off bridges. I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this program, because without TEAN, I'm not sure my experience would have been the same.