Victoria University of Wellington Graduate Degrees

It was incredibly easy to meet and interact with other international students through the programs that VUW sets up. The campus allows for easy socialization, with clubs and organizations allowing for many opportunities to do so. The city is nearby, and depending on which dorm you are placed, it can be a 5-20 minute walk into the downtown area, with many restaurants, pubs, and other activities being plentiful. The classes allow for easy communication between lecturer and student, and what is expected of you is always known from the start. Overall, it is an exciting and enriching experience to take part in both the campus and social life when studying at VUW.

Studying abroad in Wellington, NZ was the best choice I could’ve possibly made! It’s truly the most surreal country. While I adapted to life there, I was surrounded by the most incredible new friends from all over the world, who I had the pleasure of flatting with. Living just a ten minute walk from both Kelburn campus and Lambton Quay, it was manageable to fulfill my role as a student and my personal needs in independent living. In terms of academics, I will say that I think the academic rigor at VUW is contingent on what you study/major in. I experienced a lot of challenges in my studies at VUW, given my academic areas, as it was completely different than what I’m used to at my home institution.

I studied abroad for a semester at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington during my third year of undergrad. After graduating, I came back to New Zealand to pursue a Master's degree which turned into a PhD in Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience.

I have absolutely loved my experience doing postgrad studies at Te Herenga Waka. The staff are excellent in terms of student support and knowledge in their field. My research, laboratory, and writing skills grew immensely throughout my PhD experience. I had opportunities to present my research at various academic conferences throughout New Zealand and was supported by my supervisor to publish research as well.

I have just submitted my PhD for examination and will be working at the University conducting research in my PhD supervisor's lab. Would strongly recommend Te Herenga Waka for a well-rounded postgrad experience.

I am from the USA, studying music composition at Victoria University’s New Zealand School Of Music. I’m coming near the end of my first of three years here at Victoria, and it’s been an incredible experience!!! I’ve met amazing people - both lecturers/faculty and students, embraced a new and beautiful country, and have learned so much this year. This first year has been an amazing journey.

For starters, Wellington is a fantastic city for Uni students generally, and Victoria University’s location here is truly ideal. You can get practically anywhere you need to by foot, and should you need to travel further, public transportation options are abundant. There are plenty of scenic places to go as well as shops, cafes and restaurants students frequent. I have loved the flexibility I have to get up and go whenever I need to and get everywhere I need to easily. There are, however, LOTS of hills and if you’re not accustomed to that (I wasn’t at first) it can be daunting. But you get used to the terrain very quickly - just take it slow in the beginning!!

Victoria has multiple campuses in Wellington, and I spend most of my time at Kelburn. The facilities at the school have really impressed me - they’ve modernized different sections among older buildings that have been there since the start of the school’s existence and it makes for a great atmosphere. Though the campus is big enough for the many students it houses, it’s still quite easy to find your way around once you familiarize yourself with it.

I fully recommend taking advantage of VUW’s halls of residence for your first year in Welly, especially if you’re new to the area. I’m at an alcohol-free section of a catered hall and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my experience living here.

I know I’m just scratching the surface of the good things I have to say about Victoria - but I’m truly glad I made the decision to come here for university, and am genuinely looking forward to my second year!!

Wellington is indeed a very windy city, which I came to realize when I first got here. It is not as warm as I would have thought at first. It is, however, a lovely city with loads to experience. The university is very helpful and makes a good effort to meet your needs when you are here. Since I am a masters student I had a difficult time finding the relevant courses, and I still don´t think they fit as well as I had hoped. Therefore I feel I got more out of the experience, rather than the academic outcome. Housing can be difficult if you are looking for a flat outside of uni, took me a while before I ended up in university hall in the end. Wellington is easy to get out and about from, so I highly recommend to do some traveling while you are here.

Moving to New Zealand to pursue my Master's degree in Marine Conservation was one of my best decisions. This program is multidimensional and challenges you to think about conservation from the many different viewpoints of all stakeholders involved when it comes to the environment, from scientists to policymakers and local communities. Beyond providing networking opportunities through guest lectures, this program offered amazing field courses that allowed me to gain international experience as well as practical skills. Although in my opinion the best part of the program was the people. New Zealand is unique in its education and its scientific community in that everyone strives to build a collaborative environment. Coming from the US, where university felt like a competition, having all of my peers and professors wanting to and helping me succeed was refreshing. My research experience, knowledge, and connections gained through this program have allowed me to continue my education as I currently pursue my PhD in Marine Biology

I am pleased that I chose Victoria University of Wellington to complete my Master's degree. The program provides many field courses that allow international students like myself to travel to places around New Zealand as well as other countries. I've met many students from all over the world during my studies and made long-lasting friendships. The field course to Indonesia was eye-opening. It provided an opportunity to immerse ourselves in a completely different culture and to learn about the marine ecosystems and conservation of those ecosystems.

I completed a Master of Arts degree in Media Studies at Victoria University of Wellington and it was a fantastic experience which has irrevocably changed the direction of my life and forced me to reassess my values.

The University is large, but the relatively small size of the campus and the city of Wellington makes it feel like you aren't totally lost in the crowd. I experienced some health challenges while studying and everybody was incredibly helpful during that experience. I was able to make changes to my visa, file multiple complicated insurance claims, and work with my professors to adjust deadlines and academic expectations. This was a stressful time made easier by these people.

My academic program required a lot of research and the library and my professors were real assets in helping me get through it. If you do come to VUW for graduate work I'd recommend contacting your professors ahead of time to state your interests and passions, people are really relaxed and welcome proactive outreach students.

As far as lifestyle, Wellington and New Zealand are second to none. I became hooked on the super strong coffee, endless variety of outdoor activities, and the laid back attitude of Wellington. One thing which was not so great was housing. New Zealand houses are often not insulated, which sounds barbaric to people from colder climates like myself. It can be hard to find a house that is suitable, so once you decide to go to New Zealand look early and use social media to find good places. Cost of living is often complained about, but I found if you are a bit flexible with what you eat/purchase you can get by pretty easily (I'm also from a more expensive area of the U.S. so take my comments with a grain of salt).

I have absolutely no regrets about coming to Victoria, and I'm happy to answer any questions about it. I'm still in constant contact with friends I made there and New Zealand will never leave me, which is really awesome.