Location
  • New Zealand
    • Wellington
    • Auckland
    • Dunedin
    • Christchurch
Term
Academic Year, Fall, Spring
Subject Areas
Architecture Business Creative Writing Design Earth Sciences English Film Music Natural Sciences Political Science Theater +1

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
Bachelors
Housing
Apartment
Language
English

Pricing

Price Details
Visit our website for details on current program fees, along with what's included, estimates of additional expenses, and available scholarships.
What's Included
Accommodation Some Activities Classes Travel Insurance
What's Not Included
Activities Airfare Meals SIM cards Transportation Visa
Jan 24, 2023
Aug 05, 2020
5 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Interested in a study abroad experience in a beautiful, unique and off-the-beaten track destination? If you want to study in one of the world’s most unspoiled places, Arcadia Abroad in New Zealand is for you!
Arcadia offers four programs in New Zealand at prestigious institutions that cater to every major and interest.
Our expert New Zealand team ensures you’ll arrive well-prepared for Kiwi life and will soon feel at home as they invite you to delve into New Zealand’s history, landscape, and traditions. Programs for a semester or full academic year are available.

Academic credit
Personalized support from program staff
Program-related activities and excursions
An unforgettable semester or year

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Arcadia excursions enhance cultural immersion and provide meaningful context
  • Academic credit
  • A diverse and welcoming country, full of inspiration and excitement, with something for everyone
  • Personalized support from program staff
  • An unforgettable semester or year

Popular Programs

Auckland, New Zealand

Recognized internationally as New Zealand’s largest and highest-ranked university, and located in New Zealand’s largest and most multicultural city, the University of Auckland is home to 40,000 students and a vast array of course offerings. Auckland’s lovely harbor and temperate climate set the background for your studies with strengths in STEM subjects, including biology, marine studies and engineering, as well as anthropology, ethnology, and Maori and Pacific studies.

New Zealand

Established in 1873, University of Canterbury was known for innovation from the start, including the immediate admission of women. It prides itself on being a holistic university which values seven dimensions, known as the UC7: Learn, Innovate, Connect, Bicultural, Global Citizen, Well Being and Explore. Areas of academic strength are in engineering, forestry, astronomy, environmental science, and speech therapy. Canterbury students are proud that they can ski and surf in the same day.

Otago, New Zealand

University of Otago is New Zealand’s oldest university, ranked in the top 1% of universities globally, with world-class facilities and extremely high student satisfaction ratings on all aspects of university life. It’s situated on a residential campus with the majority of students living nearby, in the fun and active seaside college town of Dunedin, allowing ample opportunity to engage with kiwi life. Regardless of the courses you choose, you can expect to look at the world in new ways.

Wellington, New Zealand

Victoria University of Wellington is located in New Zealand’s capital city and is proud of its century-long history of civic engagement and its vibrant, multicultural community and is now ranked in the top 2% in the world, and in the top 100 in 12 subjects. Wellington enjoys a busy harbour, miles of coastline and unspoiled natural areas. It’s a diverse and welcoming city, full of inspiration and excitement, with something for everyone.

Program Reviews

4.90 Rating
based on 21 reviews
  • 5 rating 90.48%
  • 4 rating 9.52%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 3.75
  • Support 4.85
  • Fun 4.65
  • Housing 4.85
  • Safety 4.9
Showing 1 - 8 of 21 reviews
Default avatar
Daniel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Excited

I am really excited to study abroad. And this college is cheaper than other universities as well. I am from Nepal and right now studying on Bachelor 3rd year on the faculty of Humanities. I want to join a excellent University to extend my view, thoughts and ideas. As well as, want to study abroad. This university will be the perfect for me to create new thoughts and planning. After my Bachelor study, i am going to try this college and hoping for the positive response. I like to study Music or Sociology at there.

What would you improve about this program?
Will show more details about the study level and their costs for studying. It will help more and more intermediate students to know.
49 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Michaela
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

10/10 Would Recommend

I'd wanted to go to New Zealand my entire life and I was able to through Arcadia and the Vic. The Arcadia program managers were amazing and fun to be with--very interesting and amazing people! I had decided to take easier classes while abroad because my credits with my home school gave me some wiggle room in what I had to achieve while I was there, which gave me more room to explore and experience all that Wellington had to offer.

Speaking of Wellington, it is an incredible city; I'd definitely consider living there for a period of time. It's extremely walkable and just fun to learn the ins and outs of. There are two farmer's markets every Sunday, one on the water front, which also has a bunch of food trucks, and another, slightly smaller but less busy one only a few blocks away! There is also a night market every Saturday night on Cuba Street off of Manners (at one of the food trucks we got 2 massive, delicious samosas for $6NZD, which is like $4USD--quite the bargain).

A few other Wellington highlights were the Botanical Gardens (the Botans) and Koha. The Botans are beautiful and free and just a great place to go hang out! Plus some glow worms live there so if you want to scout some out for free it's the place to do it, 100%. Koha (which means gift in Te Reo Maori) is a cafe super close to campus, on the way from the Hub to Kelburn park/field, which is within range of the campus wifi and has the sweetest staff. It is a Christian organization but you don't have to be Christian to go hang out there (I'm not lol). There you can get coffee, tea, hot cocoa, sometimes they have sweets, and you only pay what you can! You leave a 'koha' when you leave, so it's a very nice very affordable place for students to come and get some work done. Highly recommend it.

My last note would be that the trips that Arcadia takes you on are unbelievable. For one, orientation was a blast and a good way to get to know the people you'll be spending time with. Two, the weekend trip to Abel Tasman was a once in a lifetime experience and I appreciate that Arcadia added this to the group activities because I wouldn't have been able to afford it otherwise. The scenery was beautiful and the hiking was amazing! Most of the students also got to go kayaking the last day there, which looked like a blast. I (unfortunately) had just gotten a wrist cast off and so could not participate in that.

10/10 experience! I already miss it and the people, though I know I made some life-long friends while I was there (sounds cheesy to say, I know, but it's 100% true... so... sorry for the cheese but it is one of the best foods.)

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Study abroad is truly what you make it. One of my friends from the program was the chilliest and most positive people I know and took every situation and saw the funny side to it and I honestly think he had the time of his life. I got stressed out at times but the chill Kiwi way of life is very comforting and really helped me take everything for what it was and not blow it out of proportion. I would say hang out outside when you can (can't beat a good day in Welly!) and participate in things that make you happy. Make the most of your time there.
49 people found this review helpful.
Read my full story
Default avatar
Esmely
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Arcadia- University of Auckland

The experience was great. The staff have been very lovely and supportive. I have enjoyed the activities they've planned for us and I would recommend this program to anyone who would like to study abroad. The University of Auckland is the opposite of my home school in the US and it gave me the opportunity to become more independent and adaptable. The courses were rigorous and demanded a lot of work which allowed me to work more on understanding my preferred way of learning and studying.

43 people found this review helpful.
Read my full story
Default avatar
Audrey
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Absolutely lovely semester spent in Aotearoa!

ARCADIA:
Awesome program! Very thorough orientation and the transition into my semester abroad went smoothly. The Directors and Student Support Coordinators answered ALL my questions and were very helpful/accessible throughout the entire semester. We went on many excursions together too: geothermal parks, black water rafting through glow worm caves, surf lessons, a re-created indigenous Maori village, Zorbing, an All Blacks rugby game, and more! I had lots of fun and bonded well with my fellow Arcadians on these weekend trips. Not only that, but Arcadia coordinated my accommodation and placed my entire program in Carlaw Park Student Village. Carlaw is located in a great neighborhood and is just a 10 minute walk from campus. I have to say that it has the most facilities and was the cleanest student accommodation I have ever stayed in.

My experience was unique because I took a Pacific Studies course as well as a Islam in the Contemporary World course... topics I could not have taken in my home university. By the end of the semester, I felt that I had gained a rich cross-cultural learning, where I definitely had to engage in cultural humility and self-reflection, while confronting and reconsidering my preconceptions. With courses that foster critical thinking as well as the most beautiful natural landscapes/views I have ever seen, studying abroad in New Zealand at the University of Auckland was truly a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I'm glad I did not pass up on!

40 people found this review helpful.
Sammy
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Living in New Zealand

I've had an amazing time here in NZ the last couple months. I've had the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful places on earth, take part in activities like skydiving and bungee jumping, met people from all over the world, and had an all new set of perspectives to see the world. The classes in general are much less challenging than at my school in the U.S. and are much larger. I do like the difference though because I go to a smaller school. I like being able to shop for my own foods and cooking them, keeping up with electricity bill payments, and other more independent/adult things. Overall, I'm loving it here and I'd recommend this to anyone!

What would you improve about this program?
From what I can see, it's great as it is and I haven't seen anything than needs any drastic improvement.
49 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sarah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Sweet as

The worst part about this program was leaving when it was over. It was everything you could want and more. Great people, both associated with the program and New Zealanders in general. Truly an amazing country with tons of adventure, unique cultural connections and a laid back life. This program was the best thing to happen to me. They really offer you the chance to get to know the country and become immersed in what it has to offer.

What would you improve about this program?
Make it longer.
Better orientation to the city, at first it was hard getting around, but I did enjoy finding my way and understanding the city.
42 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Amy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Go to NZ!

Going to New Zealand was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The Arcadia program was a wonderful choice for me. The program director, Jane, and all of her staff are amazing. Everything I could need, I could depend on Jane to help with. If she couldn't help, she found someone who could.

The classes at Vic are good. I was disappointed that I couldn't get into a class that I really, really wanted to take (New Zealand Sign Language- I was a Deaf Cultural Studies Minor). However, the classes that I took were good. Students should know that grading in NZ is not the same as in the US and you shouldn't expect to get an A without going above and beyond the level of work that is expected.

The social life in Wellington is pretty good. I found that people that go Vic, or even just people that live in Wellington, like doing things. Everything you do can be a social experience because people are so nice and willing to socialize.

I liked where I was living. I had five flatmates, but we all got our own rooms. We shared a kitchen and two bathrooms. Two of my flatmates were Kiwis and the other three were study abroad students from the US. It's nice that Arcadia gives students lots of choices of living situations, so there is something for everyone.

What would you improve about this program?
I didn't really know what I was doing when I decided to go to Vic. It worked out for me, but making the choice between Auckland, Wellington, Otago, and Canterbury is a big one. I think there could be a little more emphasis made on that decision.
52 people found this review helpful.
Read my full story
Default avatar
Madeline
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Could not have been happier

The living situation was perfect, living in Carlaw, a student apartment complex everything you needed was provided for and everyone was so friendly. The location of Auckland is perfect to allow you to travel through out the whole country. And the Arcadia staff was FANTASTIC! Could not ask for better advisors.

What would you improve about this program?
I was very happy with everything
41 people found this review helpful.
Read my full story

Questions & Answers