Zoology & Wildlife Sciences Study Abroad Programs in New Zealand

I spent my semester abroad in Christchurch, New Zealand with Worldstrides, and it was an extraordinary experience from beginning to end. We began the program with a 4-day orientation in Queenstown where we got to meet all of the Worldstrides students in New Zealand and participate in special culturally immersive events, while also being supported in the transition abroad. Having the opportunity to befriend each other before everyone continued on to their respective cities (Christchurch, Auckland, Dunedin, and Wellington) is something that I came to realize was unique to Worldstrides. Many of us ended up visiting each other across the country throughout the semester, and I loved being able to show Christchurch to my friends from other cities. It definitely created a community from the start, and I knew wherever I traveled in New Zealand I could always reach out to a fellow Worldstrides student nearby! As for the city of Christchurch, I cannot recommend it enough. Living in the Uni accommodations created such a special environment that tight-knit friendships with students both in and out of the Worldstrides program. Another huge part of my Christchurch experience was our Resident Director, Gill. She was basically our parent away from home and she truly cared about every one of us–not to mention she was a blast to hang out with! She gave us a tour of the city and gave us all of her local knowledge. She checked in on us weekly and always went out of her way to be there when one of us needed some extra support. When I go back to New Zealand (because after this experience I most certainly will), Gill will be the first person I call. Academically, the University of Canterbury offered some of the most intellectually stimulating courses I’ve taken in my college career, and I was surprised by the relationships I was able to build with my professors and local classmates in such a short time. I ended up getting more involved at UC than at my home campus, and the clubs were so welcoming and open to study abroad students. The culture and environment of New Zealand truly encourages you to get outside, step out of your comfort zone, and become a part of something so much bigger than yourself. I’d do it again in a heartbeat!

I went to UC for Forestry, as the school is well known for the program, and I am so glad I did. The classes were very interesting, and I felt completely welcomed as an international student, as many professors accommodated for lack of prior knowledge of the area by taking time with me to help me understand the land I was now living in. As for the program, I was able to meet some great people who have already moved into the status of life-long friends. I was able to go all around the South Island and see some of the most beautiful sights in the world, and some were already included in the program. Whether it was boating on the Milford Sound or sea-kayaking with dolphins and penguins, my experience was nothing less than extraordinary. Our advisor was super helpful and provided us with great support and recommendations as we went through the semester. I had the time of my life, and I would recommend it to anyone!

I had a great time in New Zealand!! Studying abroad in Christchurch was amazing and there are so many things to do within a short walk or bus ride. Absolutely amazing time hiking and taking advantage of the beautiful nature! Studying there was satisfying and I was able to learn so much!

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.

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!

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!

API was a fantastic program to work with!! The pre-departure material was comprehensive and made me confident starting life in a new country. Housing was included in the cost of the program and API took care of setting up the living situation. I was in a co-ed "flat" style living, which is similar to student housing, with people from all across the world. It was a unique experience to live with people from different backgrounds and integrate our experiences, living styles, cooking preferences, and personalities. API provided multiple excursions within the program which allowed me to see amazing places I probably would not have seen otherwise! These excursions fostered friendships and typically included a meal, always a bonus for a student! API went above and beyond to ensure us students were taken care of and had the assistance necessary to thrive in a new environment. There was an international education adviser on campus we had access to as API program members. Everything from housing, travel, and education was seamless through the help of API. Terrific program, and I would recommend to anyone looking for a new experience in a vibrant country!! So much beauty and culture to explore, let the adventure begin!

API was a fantastic program to work with!! The pre-departure material was comprehensive and made me confident starting life in a new country. Housing was included in the cost of the program and API took care of setting up the living situation. I was in a co-ed "flat" style living, which is similar to student housing, with people from all across the world. It was a unique experience to live with people from different backgrounds and integrate our experiences, living styles, cooking preferences, and personalities. API provided multiple excursions within the program which allowed me to see amazing places I probably would not have seen otherwise! These excursions fostered friendships and typically included a meal, always a bonus for a student! API went above and beyond to ensure us students were taken care of and had the assistance necessary to thrive in a new environment. There was an international education adviser on campus we had access to as API program members. Everything from housing, travel, and education was seamless through the help of API. Terrific program, and I would recommend to anyone looking for a new experience in a vibrant country!! So much beauty and culture to explore, let the adventure begin!

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.

My experience working with staff at the TEAN program was nothing short of awesome. Everyone at this organization is so well-versed in what they do and know such specific things about each program that their ability to help students is top-notch. Studying abroad is a pretty big decision and absolutely stressful when the process first begins. However, TEAN was so helpful and answered every single question I could muster up, and managed to get me excited about this amazing experience I was about to have. I would have to say my favorite thing was having an on-sight TEAN advisor. My advisor was actually born and raised in New Zealand and attending graduate school so she was super helpful when it came to travel advice in the area, any questions I ever had about the way their universities worked there, and even just what hikes she liked or coffee shop she recommended. I haven't stopped thinking about my semester abroad since I've come home, and it's been about a year now since I started the application process. I made life-long friends, which I was honestly super nervous about at first, but it was so easy. Every single student going through TEAN that I met at orientation was so excited to be there and so adventurous and accepting; we were all in the same boat, trying to meet people and have fun, so it was so easy to make friends. My friends that I met at Lincoln University are absolutely, without a doubt, life-long friends now. Living in an international section was probably the best decision I made because I got to meet people from literally all around the world. I was traveling the incredible and beautiful country of New Zealand with American, Norweigian, Dutch, German, Swedish, and Brazilian friends. Who could have even imagines that? It was so surreal, and I wish I could relive every single second of my semester in New Zealand. I always felt like I had a safety net with in-person help from TEAN as well as over the phone and online as well. They were always there in the background which was amazing, and I was still able to explore and travel and be adventurous without being held back. Overall, I would 110% recommend this program to anyone looking to get out there and adventure a little bit; you won't regret choosing this program!!

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!

Worthwhile is an understatement when describing my time abroad. Although it may sound cliche, I absolutely feel like I grew and changed as a person during my time abroad. I came back to the US more confident, cultured, and with a new outlook on life. Traveling through TEAN allowed me to make friends, see incredible sights, and make unforgettable memories. If I could do it all over again, I would choose TEAN every time.

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.