Mobility specification

Country:New Zealand

Institution:Massey University

City:Auckland

Program:ISEP Exchange

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts

Study level abroad:Master

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?they have tons

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?One semester has 60 credits (which is roughly equivalent to our 30), so the conversion is 7.5 credits per normal course, I rounded up to 8.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Even compared to MU, a large amount of independent work is expected. For my courses and major, it was roughly 3 essays, each of 2000-3000 words per course. Other students (apart from IT) had similar experiences. The university has a lot of support programs that are available to international students for free, such as psychological counseling.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, orientation week is very busy, I recommend attending. There are many university and club events throughout the semester where you can chat, gain knowledge, merch and food. I highly recommend the student societies, especially the outdoor societies (Alpine Club) where there is an opportunity to meet other students and explore NZ with locals. And also get people to travel with during and after the semester. It is possible to help out in various volunteer, mainly environmental, events - trap setting, various shelters, etc.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Interpretation services
Special aids and technologies (e.g., text-to-speech software, hearing aids)
Special examination conditions (e.g., extended time, quiet rooms)
Crisis intervention
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:2000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?It is not that expensive to buy and run a car here, petrol is comparable to ours.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?ISEP is confusingly funded, so sometimes they will pay expenses you wouldn't expect, I recommend waiting until the university sends a reminder, otherwise it is possible that ISEP is paying this item. The second-hand shops work well (op-shop in NZ).

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?terrible

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?The buses basically only run on one route through major cities, ticket online. For connections in cities, I recommend the Transit app. I would recommend considering buying a second hand car/van if you plan to travel, the market for them is active and they can be resold for similar money to buying.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?There's nothing like it in Palmerston North :D I recommend a trip out.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Wellington, Taranaki (Pouakai circuit), Tongarriro crossing, Ruahines mountains, South Island; I generally recommend multi-day treks, there are very well equipped lodges that are not expensive, many of them have spectacular sunsets, sunrises and scenery.

Share your best experience:It's hard to choose in NZ, any trip you come across breathtaking scenery. The trail around Taranaki volcano is my favourite. You walk all day around the huge volcano, through mossy forests you come to the pools in which Taranaki is reflected, before the overnight hut we arrived at high waterfalls where no one was at, so we bathed in them, in the evening we had dinner together, played guitar and sang.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/exchange-student-visa/

What is needed?Confirmation of accommodation from ISEP and Letter of Admission from the host university

How long does it take approximately?Usually around a week, for me 4 days

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?I recommend flying direct to Palmerston or Wellington, Auckland is over 10 hours by bus from Palmerston and the train is very expensive.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?I recommend sports equipment if you have it, there is a ground for most outdoor sports, there is a good chance you will use the equipment. From what I've brought or seen :) : trekking gear, climbing gear, skis, tents, bikes and paraglider.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?Very cool, I've never enjoyed traveling so much and studying was interesting through colonial perspectives on Psychology and the unique nature.