Studying Abroad: New Zealand!

Studying in New Zealand

Studying in New Zealand, the country of The Lord of the Rings, is an adventure. The nature and culture are great and overall very different. This makes New Zealand a very adventurous and inspiring study destination. The universities with which we work are internationally acknowledged and offer excellent education.

New Zealand studies
In New Zealand you can study a full bachelor or master programme in various fields. There is also the option to study several different courses over a year of half a year. New Zealand offers interesting study opportunities.

Nature

The nature of New Zealand is of overwhelming beauty. New Zealand has many beautiful beaches. Especially the northern island has attractive beaches because it is warmer there. Here you can find tropical, white beaches with clear blue water.

Also on the northern island are the coniferous trees that only grow in New Zealand: the Kauri tree. This special tree has a soft bark and small oval leaves and is only fully grown after 800 years. The largest Kauri tree is 51 meters high and has a diameter of 4.4 meters and is located in the Waipoua Forest. The age of the tree is estimated between 1250 and 2500 years.

Dolphins

Do you want to see dolphins whilst studying in New Zealand? That is an option! On the west coast of the northern island the smallest dolphins in the world can be found: the maui dolphin. Maui dolphins are no larger than 1.7 meters and have a noticeable physique: grey with white en black stripes and a round black fin. On the southern island the Abel Tasman National Park is a great place to watch for dolphins and seals in the calm waters.

Activities

On the coastal Piha, close to Auckland, the beaches are amazing. The waves are high, which is perfect if you love surfing. In the summer there is a lot to do here and there are many fun parties in the weekends with live shows. Another beautiful beach is Ninety Mile Beach on the most northern part of the northern island. At Ninety Mile Beach you can go horse-back riding, kayaking, fishing, quad riding and golfing. The northern island is also known because it is where The Lord of the Rings was filmed.

Extreme sports

New Zealand is also a country of extreme sports, such as bungee jumping, rafting, motorsports and rugby. A definite recommendation is to visit a rugby match of the national team, All Blacks.

Culture

The Kiwis, the unofficial name of the New Zealanders, are friendly and international students are warmly welcomed. New Zealanders spend most of their time outside and that makes this the perfect place for an outdoors person. The cities are safe and comfortable.

Population

Roughly 70% has a European background. Most European New Zealanders are British, Irish or from The Netherlands. Roughly 15% of the population descends from the original inhabitants, the Maori and their influence is found back everywhere in New Zealand culture. The Maori are the second ethnic population group. The Asians make up 6.5% of the population and the immigrants from the Pacific Ocean region another 6.5%.

Facts and digits

Population: roughly 4 million

Capital city: Wellington (500,000 inhabitants)

Other large cities: Auckland (1.3 million inhabitants)

Language: English, Maori

Timezones: UTC +12

Currency: New Zealand Dollar / NZD

Government

New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is head of state; she is represented by a governing general.

Climate

New Zealand has a mild, changing climate. Since New Zealand lies on the southern hemisphere, the seasons are exactly the opposite of The Netherlands. From June to August it’s winter, and from December to February it’s summer. The temperatures vary greatly between different places. On the southern island the summer is warm and dry, whereas the north of the country is usually more humid and the summers are cooler. The summer in the area north of Auckland is sub-tropical.

Due to the clean atmosphere and the thin ozone layer above New Zealand, the sun can feel very powerful. Take good care with sun lotion! New Zealand is in an area where earthquakes are possible, so be prepared and pay attention to the instructions from the government.