Young people come from all over the world to study in the University of Waikato, and they come in droves.
Over 2,500 international students from 70 countries studied there last year. Of course New Zealand’s incredible natural scenery and the mind-blowing outdoor activities were one factor in their decision. But the University of Waikato is a stellar attraction all of its own, with excellent facilities, an exceptional research record, many accredited schools and an unbeatable quality of life for its students.
Do you have a thirst for far-flung adventure? Combine experiential learning with the cultural immersion of a year or a semester at New Zealand’s University of Waikato.
*video credit to the University of Waikato
About University of Waikato
The university ranks at 72 – that’s in the top 5% of all institutions worldwide – for research quality and impact. This has helped establish the surrounding area as a centre of innovation, with 25% of all New Zealand’s research happening in this region.
The schools have outstanding reputations of their own. The Waikato Management School has met the strict standards of the three most sought-after international accreditations: AACSB, AMBA ,and EQUIS, earning it the elite “triple crown” status. Only 1% of the world’s business schools have earned this prestigious Triple Accreditation.
The Faculty of Computing & Mathematical Sciences is a member of iSchools, a partnership of the world’s leading information schools, while the engineering programmes are fully accredited by Engineering New Zealand.
If you’re not here for Business, Computing or Engineering, don’t worry. The University offers 135 subjects across all fields and almost all of the courses (known as papers) are available to international students. All programs are industry-relevant, balancing theoretical and practical components, with small class sizes and experienced tutors. With each paper you can earn credits transferable to your home institution.
Courses in the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies have proved particularly popular with international students.
Watch Montgomery Cason from Ohio State University explain why she chose to study in Waikato
Waikato Campus Life
The main university campus is located in Hamilton; 65 hectares of idyllic parks and lakes regularly served by public transport. Here students have cafes, an award-winning student centre, gym, swimming pool, health services, and the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts.
There is also a satellite campus in Tauranga, in a shared space with another institution, which is great for marine science majors.
There is a strong international student culture with over a quarter of students from overseas each year. There are clubs, a buddy programme and planned activities throughout the semester to get involved in. Not to mention the sports! A rugby game is a must see when studying at Waikato.
What can I study?
Waikato has a small class sizes, giving you the attention you need to succeed. It has a large selection of courses from you to choose from but vary by offering each semester. Some of the most common study areas include:
- Agri-Business
- Anthropology
- Arts and Social Sciences
- Biology
- Bio-technology
- Creative Writing
- Computer Science
- Education
- Environmental Science
- Film
- Health Sciences
- History
- International Business
- Marine Science and Aquaculture - *different campus
- Mathematics
- Media and Communication
- Maori and Indigenous Studies
Why Hamilton?
Hamilton and Waikato region
Hamilton is the fourth largest city in New Zealand, located in the middle of the North Island with a population of around 169,000. It’s a student-friendly city on many levels; its modest size makes for a relaxed vibe, locals are friendly, it’s easy to get around, and you’ll share the city with 40,000 other third-level students. The region has a mild climate with warm summers and cool winters that rarely go below freezing.Sport is a big deal in the region with both the New Zealand Olympic rowing and cycling teams based here. The Waikato Chiefs professional rugby team also call Hamilton home, and a visit to the Waikato Stadium – the spiritual home of rugby in Hamilton – is an unmissable and affordable experience thanks to student ticket pricing.
One of the biggest draws of Hamilton for international students is the exploring they can do by basing themselves here. Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, is only a 1.5 hour drive north.
You can drive to the beach in just over an hour by car, and a ski trip is just 3 hour’s drive south. Other adrenaline-fuelled ways to weekend include surfing, rafting, bungee jumping and jet boating.
There are plenty of must-do day trips nearby, including the Mount Maunganui beach, a Māori culture experience in Rotorua, exploring Waitomo Caves or visiting the magical Middle-earth Hobbiton movie set.
