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VUW - VICTORIA UNIVERSITY WELLINGTON Program Level: Undergraduate Number of Weeks/Term: 16 |
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- Background
- Location Information
- Program Dates
- Host Institution
- Academic Information
- Academic Disciplines
- Credit Transfer Information
- Eligibility Requirements
- Program Costs
- Housing and Meals
- Insurance
- Extracurricular Activities
- Climate
- VISA & Passport Information
- Your Next Steps
- Experiences of Former Students
- Contact Details
BACKGROUND
Georgia Tech (GT) has developed a number of overseas programs around the globe. These programs provide students with the opportunity to complete a portion of their academic programs in top-notch foreign universities that are partnered with GT. As a result of immersion in a foreign academic and cultural environment, students have the maximum opportunity to learn to operate effectively in an atmosphere that is wholly different from that of GT and the U.S.
LOCATION INFORMATION
New Zealand
New Zealand is a South Pacific country located midway between the Equator and the South Pole, and approximately 1600 kilometers east of Australia. The country consists of two main islands, the North and South Islands, which are together similar in size to Japan or Britain.
There are over 3.8 million New Zealanders of all races, but predominantly of European and Polynesian origin. The Maori population is around 13% of the total. More than 75% of all New Zealanders live in the North Island. Auckland, the country's largest city, has a population of over 900,000 people. English is the common language of business and everyday usage, but Maori is an official language recognized in the courts and of increasing significance nationally.
New Zealand has a world-wide reputation for agricultural products. Meat and wool are produced from 53 million sheep, and meat and dairy products from more than 8 million cattle. Almost half of New Zealand's export earnings are derived from farming. Other major exports are timber and timber products, fish and horticultural produce. Tourism has increased dramatically in significance over the past decade and is now one of the major earners for New Zealand.
Wellington
Wellington, New Zealand's capital, is an educated and outwardly focused city. Its citizens embrace new ideas and new technologies with ease. Wellington is, for instance, one of the most 'fully wired' cities in the world, with one of the highest rates of personal internet connection in the world. Local inhabitants recognize the need to continually upgrade their knowledge and skills, and they use the resources of Victoria University to do so.
Wellington offers all the advantages of a modern, cosmopolitan city - it is one of the best resourced information centres in the South Pacific - in a clean, safe and culturally-aware environment.
The wider Wellington region offers many recreational and sporting activities. The wine-growing district of Martinborough, with its many boutique wineries, can be reached in just over an hour. With a climate that is temperate and mild, the city of Wellington lies at the centre of a country known throughout the world for its lack of pollution, its natural beauty and its tranquillity. There is a regular car and passenger ferry service that links Wellington with the South Island.
Wellington is New Zealand's political, commercial and cultural centre, and home to the country's many national research resources and head offices -assets which play a vital role in supplementing the University's own excellent facilities. With over $20 million spent on research every year, Victoria is one of the country's leading research institutions.
PROGRAM DATES
Fall Term: early July - mid November (Second Trimester)
Spring Term: mid February - late June (First Trimester)
NOTE: Students can participate in this exchange for the Fall or Spring terms or the Academic Year.
YEAR PROGRAM STARTED:
2000
HOST INSTITUTION ACADEMIC INFORMATION
Sitting in the 'dress circle' of New Zealand's scenic harbour capital, Victoria's main Kelburn campus enjoys an idyllic setting. Its elevated position commands stunning views, and has the unique dual benefit of removing the University from the hustle and bustle of a thriving inner city, while it remains a few minutes' walk from the city centre. VUW has 4 main campuses, three of which are all within a 15 minutes walk of each other in the middle of the city. Victoria's student population is of similar size to Georgia Tech with 21,000 students. 3,000 of those are international students from over 70 countries.
ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES
Subject Areas Available:
- Accounting
- Architecture
- Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
- Economics
- History, Technology, and Society
- Industrial Design
- International Affairs
- Literature, Communication, and Culture
- Management
- Mathematics
- Modern Languages
- Music
- Philosophy, Science, and Technology
- Physics
- Psychology
- Public Policy
- Sociology
Language Information
All courses are taught in English.
Course Information
For more information on the courses taught at VUW: click here. You may refer to the previous academic year's course catalog if necessary when choosing classes, as the course offerings do not change much from year to year.
NOTE: Exchange students are allowed to enroll in music performance classes, but must apply to the classes early as they have an audition process.
Architecture and Industrial Design Students
Architecture and Industrial Design students will need to submit a portfolio (any format - folder, CD, website, etc.) with their application. Please contact the advisor for this program for more information.
Victoria International Leadership Programme
In July 2008, VUW launched VILP (Victoria International Leadership Programme), an academically-oriented extracurricular program featuring the following themes: international leadership, cross-cultural communication, global connectedness, and sustainability. The program is open to full-time students as well as exchange and study abroad students. Exchange and study abroad students may complete the certificate in addition to their regular course load. There is no fee for the program ,nor does it bear any credits. A certificate is awarded at the end. Exchange and study abroad students in the program are expected to complete the following requirements: attend two seminars, one of which focuses on New Zealand; attend two speaker events; participate in one New Zealand experiential activity; submit reflective pieces as required by the program. Incoming exchange and study abroad students may apply once they have been accepted to VUW. Top
CREDIT TRANSFER INFORMATION
Credit for courses taken as part of GT exchange programs is added as transfer credit on the GT transcript. Since it is important to know which kind of credit students will earn abroad as soon as possible, GT requires that courses be pre-approved for transfer. With a Foreign Credit Approval Form (available from OIE) in hand, and the credit transfer system information (listed below), students should submit course descriptions to the appropriate academic unit to request their approval. If taking Math classes, for example, then the student should go to the GT School of Mathematics to get permission for the courses to transfer to GT. If approved, the GT School of Mathematics signs the Foreign Credit Approval Form showing how the courses will transfer so that students will know which type of credit they should expect to receive.
For detailed credit transfer instructions click here
For the Foreign Credit Approval Form click here
CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM
This information is intended for undergraduates students only. Graduate students must speak with their academic unit to to determine the acceptance of transfer credits.
VUW uses the following credit transfer system:
1 VUW credit = 0.20 GT credit
GRADING SYSTEM
VUW uses the following grading system listed below:
VUW Grade = US Grade
A+, A, A- (75-100%) = A
B+,B, B-(60-74%) = B
C+, C, C- (50-59%)= C
No equivalent = D
D, E, Q (49% or under) = F
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Eligible students must meet the following criteria:
PROGRAM COSTS
Students pay tuition and fees set by Victoria University of Wellington. Students pay a NZ$55 fee when applying for housing. In addition, if you are only studying at VUW for Trimester 1 (Feb-June), 10% is added to the cost of housing. Detailed information about program costs should be discussed with your Study Abroad Advisor before making a decision on a program.
Keep in mind the costs of books, health insurance, food, living expenses, and travel money, as well as pre-departure costs like your passport and visa.
The currency in New Zealand is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check the newspaper or click here for the most current rates.
DON"T FORGET TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!! See the OIE web site for more info: click here
Following are cost estimates for one semester at VUW that may help you prepare for your term(s) abroad. All costs are in USD.
In State Tuition $7,007 Out of State Tuition $7,007 GT Mandatory Fees $0 Books and Supplies $275 Administrative and/or Application fees $55 Miscellaneous (includes passport/visa fees, required field trips, local transportation and incidentals) $1,800 Roundtrip Airfare $2,500 Room and Board $4,900 Additional Language Instruction $0 Mandatory Insurance $200 Total $16,737 (in state) $16,737 (out of state)
*Costs in the preceding chart are estimates for undergraduates. Actual costs may be higher or lower than those listed above, depending on the exchange rate and personal spending habits/needs.
HOUSING AND MEALS
Housing
There are 15 on-campus student residence halls. VUW reserves places in the halls for international students. However, international students are not required to live on-campus. For additional housing details click here . When you arrive in Wellington, the International Students' Office's free airport meeting service will see you safely to your new home.
Students pay a NZ$55 fee when applying for housing. In addition, if you are only studying at VUW for Trimester 1 (Feb-June), 10% is added to the cost of housing. For information on housing payment options, click here. On-campus housing is much easier to secure for students attending Semester 2 (July - Nov).
Applicants for this program MUST apply for housing directly to VUW. This application is independent of the study abroad application and must be completed by the following deadlines : October 1 for spring-term housing and May 1 for fall-term housing. click here for more information.
Meals
Out of the 15 on-campus residence halls, 7 include a meal plan. For further details about the "catered" dormitories click here . Top
INSURANCE
Students are required to purchase insurance from VUW. The cost is approximately $150 per semester. For more information, click here. Students are also required to purchase additional evacuation and repatriation coverage for $25 through OIE.
If you would like to purchase supplementary health insurance to cover you while you travel, you may purchase insurance through T.W. Lord and Associates. click here for more information.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
There are many interesting and fun things to do while you in New Zealand, including black water rafting, visiting glow worm caves, learning about Maori culture, visiting boiling mud pools, skiing, sailing, and much more. On-campus, Victoria's Recreation Center offers a wide range of activities from photography to jazz dance, ballet, yoga, tai chi, white water rafting, intramural sports, theatre and everything in between. In addition, there are approximately 100 student clubs at VUW, for more information click here.
CLIMATE
New Zealand comprises two long thin islands that run north-south and, as such, there is a noticeable difference in the climates of the top of the North Island, which is subtropical, and the bottom of the South Island, which is temperate. Overall, however, New Zealand's is a very mild climate making it a suitable holiday destination all year round.
In Wellington, the summer months from December until February are usually warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 56ºF to 70ºF. Temperatures begin to cool during Autumn (March-May). Then the winter months from June to August with moderate but chilly temperatures ranging from 43ºF to 52ºF.
With so many outdoor activities available, swimming gear, hiking shoes, rainwear, and sunglasses are recommended, as is plenty of sunscreen. Due to the hole in the ozone layer above New Zealand, the sun is stronger here than anywhere else in the world so sunscreen lotion is a must. And don't just bring it, use it, every time you're out in the sun, even if it's just for fifteen minutes.
VISA AND PASSPORT INFORMATION
Complete information about how to apply for or renew a U.S. passport is available from the GT Office of International Education or online: click here
Before going to study at Victoria University you will need a Student Visa. When applying for your Student Visa, you will need to show the letter from Victoria confirming your offer of admission as well as a receipt showing you have paid your tuition fees in full. Additional information can be found on the New Zealand Immigration Services website at click here or on the VUW website at click here. You should go ahead and request an application for a Student Visa as soon as you are accepted to participate in the program. If you have other questions contact click here. As of August 2007, student who go to New Zealand for a full academic year will be eligible to work 20 hours per week.
YOUR NEXT STEPS
To begin the process of participating in this exchange, please do the following:
EXPERIENCES OF FORMER STUDENTS
click here
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Jennifer Evanuik, Study Abroad Advisor (Exchange Programs)
GT Office of International Education
631 Cherry Street
Savant Building, Suite 211
Atlanta, GA 30332-0284
Phone: (404)894-7475 Fax: (404)894-9682
E-mail: jennifer.evanuik@oie.gatech.edu
OIE web site: click here
Host/Program Web Site: click here
Wellington
New Zealand
Oceania
Semester
16
12
English
For more info, contact OIE.
Can I go abroad while pursuing a GT degree?
GT students have many opportunities to participate in semester/exchange and study abroad programs. In a semester program, you actually take classes with the host universitys students and faculty. (In some cases, this means that you must have excellent knowledge of the local language to participate). Semester program participants usually pay normal GT tuition and fees for each term abroad. Credits can be pre-approved to transfer back to GT so that you do not get behind in your studies. The application deadline for fall and academic year programs is in early February; for spring programs the deadline is in September/October.
In a study abroad program, the courses are taught by GT faculty and you register for regular GT courses. Residents pay normal matriculation fees, but do not pay ancillary fees (athletic, health, etc.). Non-residents only pay resident matriculation plus $250 ($1500 for GTL Summer/$2000 for GTL Spring/Fall) . This is a savings of over $6,000 for out-of-state students who participate in GT study abroad programs as full-time students! Deadlines for summer study abroad programs vary from early January to mid-February.
In most cases, if you are eligible for financial aid or scholarships, you can apply your grants, scholarships, and/or loans toward the expenses associated with participating in all GT programs.
GTs International Plan: More than just study abroad
Your major is participating in this new initiative!
The International Plan is an intensive, degree-long program designed to prepare GT graduates professionally and personally for successful lives in the 21st century. Requirements of the program include international coursework, two terms abroad (any combination of study, research or internship abroad), proficiency in a second language, and a culminating course. Students who complete the program will have a designation on their diploma indicating completion of the degree with global competence: for example, BS in Mechanical Engineering: International Plan. For more information or an application, contact your major advisor or OIE and visit the website: click here