IFSA-Butler at Victoria University

  New Zealand

• Wellington: 
Wellington

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring 
Dates: February - November

Description: You must undertake a full Victoria course load of 60 points (4 courses) per semester. Credit is awarded on a Butler transcript for a typical American full load which is 15-16 credit hours per semester. Course overloads are not recommended. Permission for an overload must be given in writing from your home school. Be aware that you may be charged additional fees by your host or home university to take or process additional credits. All courses are graded on an A-F scale and there is no provision for pass/fail. Underloads are not permitted and could jeopardize your legal status in New Zealand.

The New Zealand academic system is loosely based on the British and therefore can be very different to the American system. New Zealand students who go on to higher education decide on a specialization before beginning university. They seek admission to, and take courses in, only that department for their 3 year degree. Therefore, US students should normally take courses from the second year level since third-year courses require significant background. Honors courses and graduate level courses are usually not available to US study abroad students.

Some background in relevant departments is required, especially for upper level courses. You may be required to submit additional documentation about previous work completed. Students interested in taking psychology should have a statistics background as this is considered to be a quantitative science in New Zealand.

In making your selections, remember that the New Zealand academic year follows the calendar year; February-June is Semester 1 and July-November is Semester 2. All courses you select should be listed as available for the semester in which you want to participate.

Highlights: IFSA-Butler offer integrated study at five universities in New Zealand. Unrivaled natural beauty combined with a rich cultural heritage make New Zealand an education all by itself. These beautiful surroundings coupled with high academic standards and scholastic excellence make a study abroad experience that is second to none.

Called Aotearoa by the native Maori people, New Zealand has long been lumped together with Australia as if the two were one and the same. In reality, New Zealand is vastly different from Australia and students will find the divergent histories and cultures of the island nation a fascinating topic of study, a topic which a student would be challenged to find anywhere else.

The academic year in New Zealand is reversed due to the seasonal inversion in the southern hemisphere. The academic year roughly follows the calendar year, beginning in late February and ending in late November. The application deadlines for IFSA-Butler programs in New Zealand are November 1 for the spring semester and academic year and March 1 for the fall semester. Remember that if you leave in February for your 'spring' semester, you will be arriving in New Zealand at the end of their summer and will stay until the middle of the winter season.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: Inquire for more info.

Experience Required: no