One of the best ways to start a social life when studying abroad is through sports

It is safe to say New Zealand is a little obsessed with sports and with its diverse terrain and island location, New Zealanders excel on the water and in extreme sports. It was a New Zealander who jumped off the Eiffel Tower - AJ Hackett, the inventor of the modern bungy, pulled off a spectacular marketing coup with that stunt. In that few seconds he created an international business that takes visitors to some of New Zealand's most spectacular scenery and offers them the thrill of a lifetime.

But for many New Zealanders there is only one sport - rugby. And the rugby club forms the social fabric of many parts of the country. There is even a Rugby Study Abroad program available at one of New Zealand's Universities, which gives international students the opportunity to experience rugby in an elite environment.

A comprehensive range of undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas and degrees are offered in recreation, sport and leisure, outdoor recreation and adventure tourism and exercise and fitness at New Zealand universities and institutes of technology.

With vast open spaces filled with stunning rugged landscapes, gorgeous beaches, often spectacular geothermal and volcanic activity, a temperate climate and fascinating animal and plant life, it is no surprise that New Zealand's pure natural environment is so attractive to adventure seeking students from other countries. About a fifth of the North Island and two thirds of the South Island are mountains and many tertiary institutions made use of this to run courses in ski and snowboard instruction, mountain skills, ski patrol and white water rafting.

Other adventures that can become study include surfing and surf lifesaving, sea kayaking, commercial skydiving and scuba diving. Therapeutic Recreation is an exciting new profession in New Zealand and it is one of the fastest growing fields in the USA, Canada and Australia. There is a degree program in the heart of one of New Zealand's best wine growing regions which provides a pathway into specialist postgraduate study in related fields.

For more information on studying recreation and physical education and other related physical disciplines in New Zealand go to www.mynzed.com