Details

• New Zealand
• BBE-18
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

Make sure to adequately prepare for the interview and especially be able to explain why you ranked your chosen universities in the way you did. Explain your motivations by mentioning academic as well as personal factors to show your excitement about going abroad. Learn some facts about the university and the city beforehand. Ensure to apply for your student visa well in advance and don't underestimate the time it takes to find courses that correspond to WU's accredidation requirements. Don't forget to set up a NZ bank account, phone number etc., if you get those formalities out of the way before you get there, it will save you a lot of unnecessary stress.

2. Accommodation

Accommodation was provided by the university, you apply using an online portal and can select an accommodation type you'd prefer - depending on availability you will be assigned to the one of your preference or another one. I lived in a campus house with two others and had a great time. The house was very close to campus (5 minute walk), spacious and had a garden. The area, and Christchurch in general, are very safe, I never felt unsafe or uncomfortable in any way. Linen and towels can be ordered online via the same accommodation portal, I'd highly recommend taking advantage of that, so that on your first day you don't need to worry about buying things like that and are able to relax after the long flight.

3. Academic life at host university

UC's campus is a lot bigger than WU's, there's lots of cafes, libraries, greenery, and the overall vibe is very nice. Academic culture is more laid back compared to WU, the focus is more towards writing papers and final exams rather than continuous assessments through weekly assignments or tests. The teaching style is quite informal and professors are very approachable and eager to help if you have any questions. Almost all courses are worth 15 points, i.e. 7.5 ECTS, the course load can be demanding depending on the assessment criteria. Just check the criteria for courses you'd be interested in and make sure they align with your academic preferences (e.g. do you prefer group projects or individual assessments?)

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport: Busses run all throughout the city, the network is easy to manage and one ride is 2.50 NZD, public transport close to the accommodation and uni is available Safety situation: Christchurch and the suburb I lived in are very safe, I didn't have any bad experiences in the six months I spent there Social/leisure activities/events/sports options: lots of events are planned for international students which makes it very easy to get to know people, UC offers lots of events throughout the year (e.g. Tea Party), I recommend following the university's instagram page to stay informed about what's happening. There are countless (sports) clubs and organizations students can join, e.g. I joined CUSSC, UCCC and UCTC. I highly recommend signing up to some of the clubs, as it allows you to connect with locals as well as other internationals.

6. Testimonial

My experience was wonderful, and I'd recommend studying abroad, especially at UC, to anyone. The people I met, the academic exchange, travelling around the country with friends and everyday life in Christchurch are what made my exchange in New Zealand particularly special. The exchange provided me with new perspectives and shaped me in ways I couldn't have imagined beforehand.