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Offbeat offerings
Michelle Waitzman on all that New Zealand has to offer international students
New Zealand is a land of awe-inspiring landscapes, rugged mountains, active volcanoes, rolling green pastures, and rare wildlife. But it isn't just the tourists who enjoy the spectacular scenery that New Zealand has to offer; these unique features also get put to good use by students to further their experience and knowledge of a huge range of subjects, including some you may not have thought about before.
New Zealand is famous for being an adventure-lover's playground. The rugged but accessible landscape makes it a must-do for hikers, mountaineers, kayakers, surfers, skiers, mountain bikers, and of course bungy jumpers! For some, the great recreational activities in New Zealand are just a bonus of studying here. For others, the recreational activities are a key element in their studies.
Matt Harris chose New Zealand for his studies in Outdoor Recreational Leadership because of the great opportunities to put his learning into practice. As part of his course has assisted teaching people of all ages and abilities rock-climbing, white-water kayaking and mountain-biking in New Zealand's outstanding natural terrain. "It's amazing what these people get from their experiences", says Matt. "Along with a strong sense of adventure, they learn teamwork, trust and confidence and they often make a bunch of new friends. It's personally rewarding for them and also for me, as their trainer."
Everything from a certificate to a postgraduate degree can be obtained in the field of outdoor recreation in New Zealand, including a diploma in Adventure Tourism Management through Queenstown Resort College. Studying in a country renowned for adventurous outdoor experiences is ideal for students who want a piece of the action. In addition to more general qualifications, students in New Zealand can become qualified as skydiving instructors, scuba diving instructors, and skiing or snowboarding instructors to name just a few.
New Zealand's remoteness also makes it a great place to study protected wildlife, with populations of penguin, albatross, the world's only alpine parrot – the kea, and the world's heaviest insect – the giant weta. For international student Jennifer Anne Moore, a prehistoric lizard called the Tuatara was the draw card. "There is no other place in the world where tuatara occur, so it only made sense to come to this fantastic country to study these amazing animals!" says Jennifer. "My field work is on Stephens Island, in the Marlborough Sounds. It's an amazing nature reserve that holds the largest population of tuatara in the world."
Marine biology students flock to New Zealand, where a wide range of sea life thrives just offshore including endangered Hectors dolphins, orca, and a number of whale species. Universities like Victoria University of Wellington have marine labs set up right on the coastline for easy access.
If that isn't extreme enough for you, what about a course that includes a field trip to Antarctica? Being at the bottom of the world makes New Zealand a key centre for Antarctic Studies. Both Victoria University and the University of Canterbury offer this unique subject. Needless to say, it's one of the coolest courses around!
If you prefer to enjoy the outdoors relaxing with a nice glass of wine in your hand, you can study viticulture (wine making) with local institutes of technology in some of New Zealand's top wine producing regions. Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Otago Polytechnic and Eastern Institute of Technology and Lincoln University all offer viticulture qualifications.
New Zealand's eight universities, 20 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics and dozens of private training providers around the country offer many practical courses which often include the opportunity to get valuable work experience as part of their programs. This gives students skills that just can't be learned in the classroom.
The small population of New Zealand also means that class sizes tend to be smaller, allowing students more personal attention from lecturers and tutors. The small classes, along with an emphasis on discussion and participation in class, mean that students from overseas get to know their classmates quickly and make friends easily. Leisure time is important to New Zealanders, so students are likely to have a lot of fun while they're in the country. That balance of great education and memorable experiences is what makes New Zealand such a popular place to study.
Studying in New Zealand, whether for a few months or a few years, is an experience that international students treasure for the rest of their lives. You may get your hands a bit dirty, but you'll also get a chance to participate in practical training and research to help launch your career.
Michelle Waitzman is Communications Specialist at Education New Zealand
Helpful Websites:
Schools and Courses:
New Zealand Education
Student Visas:
New Zealand Immigration Service
Qualifications:
New Zealand Qualifications Authority
Photo copyright: Ian Trafford - Tourism New Zealand