Dylan Coundley-Hughes, Year 2 Biology Student
Between February and June 2023 I was able to study biology for 1 semester at the university of Auckland in New Zealand. While I was there I took 4 modules including environmental and marine science modules, which really emphasised to me the difference in global environments allowing me to look at the content from an outsiders perspective. Regarding the university itself, the University of Auckland was daunting for me as I heard it was quite unsociable when researching online, and coming from the University of Southampton (which I think is quite sociable) I was worried. However, when I arrived it was very easy to meet people through facebook etc… so I ended up meeting a lot of people especially from abroad (even the UK) making the experience a lot of fun.
What were some unforgettable moments?
- SCUBA diving in the poor knights marine reserve (Seen sharks!)
- SCUBA diving in Milford sound and seeing black coral and different marine life.
- Seeing an octopus and sharks in person.
- The many nights out I went on (especially happy hour! And the Irish pubs to remind me a little bit of home)
- Exploring the different islands around Auckland.
- Exploring the South Island of New Zealand.
- Visiting Auckland zoo and seeing a Kiwi.
- Being able to go the beach after lectures or on weekends.
- Seeing a glacier for the first time.
- Jumping off a bridge into ice cold glacial water (blue pools near Wanaka!)
- Diving in Australia as it was easy to fly to.
- Seeing albatross birds in Dunedin.
- Watching the blues Vs crusaders rugby match
What was day to day life for me like in Auckland?
Most days consisted of me attending lectures or labs between 8am-6pm Monday to Friday. During my free time I did a variety of activities, I SCUBA dived most weekends with the university club or the nearby dive shop (Auckland SCUBA), I also explored the local islands, these included Tiritiri Mantangi (native bird reserve and good snorkelling), Rangitoto island (volcanic island), and Waiheke island (good for beaches, wine tours, small hikes etc…). On other days I would venture into the city centre, or walk down the the CBD area by the harbour which had a to of cafes, ice cream etc…. There are also local beaches that are very easy to access with barbecues that the public can use.
Tips for students wanting to study in Auckland:
- Avoid using Jetstar airways where possible if you plan to travel in New Zealand or out of New Zealand due to constant cancellations and delays.
- Make sure to get an AT hop card for the use of ferries and busses.
- Get involved with the canoe club (the white water trips are very popular).
- Buy most items at the host country to allow more space in suitcases.
- Use vacuum bags for packing clothes (I was able to fit everything into 1 large suitcase).
- Avoid spending money on eating out and use this for trips/experiences.
- Say yes to as much activities as possible to learn new hobbies and meet new people.
- Do some SCUBA diving if you can or get your open water license when in New Zealand as the diving is some of the best in the world.
- If going here between February and June take advantage of February and March (end of their summer).
- Get reusable bags for shopping as all the shops use easily breakable paper bags.
- UK driving licenses are not accepted as ID in New Zealand so if you are worried about using your passport consider buying a kiwi ID card.
- Try and visit the South Island, some highlights for me in the south were Queenstown, Milford sound, Dunedin, hot springs in lake tekapo.
- Make sure to wear sun cream due to the high UV levels.
- Try to avoid buying food on campus due to the very high prices.
- If you want to have an easy night out or want somewhere cheap to drink in Auckland, either go to the many happy hours in venues across the city, or start in the student bar on campus due to being considerably cheaper.
- Download a car rental app to use for short excursions close to Auckland.
- Hike / visit the coromandel.
Overall, I had some of the best 5 months of my life studying in New Zealand, with the exchange really opening my eyes to new cultures and has inspired me to try and explore more of the world. If you are worried about meeting people DO NOT worry as there are a lot of exchange students from around the globe who are very eager to meet people and are in the same boat!