Travel & Tourism Study Abroad Programs in New Zealand

The best course you could do I can’t recommend more if you’re looking for a high intensity thrilling experience this is definitely for you. I did the course in April 2025 and have loved skydiving ever since you learn everything and meet some of the best people along the way. If I had the choice I would do it again 100 times over.

I started the course in January 2022 and easily was able to work after the short course. Since then i’ve quickly upskilled to camera flying and instructoring and i couldnt of have this amazing job without completing course. And a bonus is tye amazing people you meet on the way!

I am from Scotland and I moved over to NZ to join the NZ skydiving school, I honestly cannot speak highly enough of my experience, the instructors are so professional and made me feel so safe throughout my experience. Everyone should skydive !!

I didn't know this frequency of fun was sustainable. I figured worst case scenario this course would just be a really expensive holiday but now I realize my whole life can be a holiday. Me and my wife left our country and our jobs to pursue this and it is the greatest decision we ever made.

My study abroad was great and I would definitely go back to New Zealand, just not to study abroad. The academics were horrible. It was also very very expensive and nobody would give me a job as an international student so I really struggled financially. The people are great though and so was the landscape. I was in Palmerston North my whole study abroad and it was very small, a big change from my big city life, but I would definitely come back to visit friends.

New Zealand was a blast. Being put in contract with all of the other students studying abroad at the university I attended was a game changer. We all met within the first week and that allowed us to create a big group of students from all around the world that could hang out and do activities. I made some really good friends in this group and we spent the whole semester abroad going and doing fun activities. New Zealand is not a huge country and I was able to explore a lot of different areas of the country. For spring break 9 of us rented camper vans and toured the whole south island for two weeks; this was definitely the best part of the semester. I visited many beautiful beaches and hiked multiple (small-ish) mountains. I will always miss the new zealand meat pies that were available at every corner store.

Months before departure, I was nervous about how I would make friends and make the most of my experience. When I arrived in New Zealand, I had no idea I would meet the people I would be lifelong friends with. I instantly clicked with the other students down my hall and in my classes and used all our free time to experience New Zealand as a group. I also met my best friend from this experience, he is a Kiwi and showed the foreigners how to have fun in the southern hemisphere.

New Zealand was fantastic, USAC was basically MIA as soon as we touched down in the country to be perfectly frank. Plus getting a visa was a headache. The people in charge of certain parts of my USAC experience changed like 3 times during my experience and it was all a little weird

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).

At first, I was super scared to travel abroad. But with the help of my counselors, I was able to study in New Zealand and have a great time. I was also very nervous about making new friends abroad, since I had never gone out of the country, but there were plenty of events on campus that allowed me to make new friends that were both native to New Zealand and also other Study Abroad students. The location of the campus was great as I could make a best trip to the downtown area so I was able to explore it much of Auckland. It was the best thing I’ve ever done and I was very glad for the experience!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at NZSS. it pushes you to the limit mentally and physically but the rewards are amazing. You learn more about yourself than you think. It's definitely a course where you get out, what you put in. A real "work hard, play hard" enviroment.

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.

My experience at the University of Otago is by far the best academic experience I've ever had. My semester at the University of Otago was a combination of taking challenging and culturally immersive courses and a very exciting social life. Academically, the University offered culturally immersive courses such as Introduction to Maori culture and society. One particular course that I enjoyed was Adventure Education. This course taught topics related to the psychological and sociological effects of adventure on an individual. Moreover, the University of Otago offers an array of clubs such as outdoor recreation groups (OUTC, OUSSC), social events, and volunteer opportunities. Some of my favorite parts that I loved about the University of Otago is its beautiful campus, friendly community, and the accessibility to restaurants, coffee shops, libraries, and nearby towns. I chose to study with API because of their stress-free application process and support that they have for its students before, during, and after the program. I 100% recommend API to any student thinking about studying abroad!

I've spent the last 3 months part of the Adventure Guide Program in Queenstown, travelling to some of the most stunning parts of New Zealand hiking and learning to climb. We started off as 11 strangers but after 90 days living together, travelling, exploring, learning, growing, and pushing ourselves, we're now a little family who raise each other up. We've achieved so much together (and I'm not just talking about all the qualifications we bossed), I'm so glad I made the decision to join the Pure Ex crew!

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.

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.

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!

I had one of the greatest times in my life going on a Pacific Discovery trip. It was incredible and I learned more about myself then I ever imagined I would. Rach and Scotty led the trip and they were amazing guides and teachers. I have always highly recommended this type of trip to students who might feel stuck in college or not sure what to do. The trip will open up your eyes to new experiences, cultures, and make you think about how to live your life in a more adventurous way. Wish I could do it all over again and experience everything I did again for the first time. Cheers, Gregg Starr