Victoria University of Wellington

Capital City University:

Situated near Wellington's beautiful natural harbour, Victoria University of Wellington offers unique opportunities to live and study in New Zealand's cultural, political and intellectual capital. Victoria is built on 125 years of tradition. Founded to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, the University began teaching and research in 1899, while the Wellington College of Education, with which it merged in 2005, was established in 1880. As New Zealand's capital city university, Victoria is one of New Zealand's leading research universities and one of Wellington's largest employers, making a significant contribution to its economy and cultural and sporting life.

Victoria has a student population of more than 20,000 and welcomes more than 4,000 new students every year. Life on campus is cosmopolitan with the University boasting representatives from over 75 different countries. Students at Victoria enjoy four campuses in Wellington City and have the benefit of a number of unique relationships within the arts community, government, industry and research organisations. Victoria University is an integral part of New Zealand's capital city and a world leading academic institution and has been recognised by the New Zealand Government as one of the nation's top three research universities.

Victoria offers undergraduate programmes in more than 100 different subject areas and more than 220 postgraduate degrees and diplomas. Academic strengths include: Law, Music, Political Science, Management Studies (including a strong Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme), Economics, Government Studies, Architecture and Design, Earth Sciences, Materials Science, Psychology, Teacher Education, Film and Theatre, Linguistics, Information Technology, Computer Science and Biological Science and Biomedical Science. Study programmes are both flexible and diverse, allowing students to focus on their individual needs and interests.

Victoria also offers a Foundation Programme taught both in Wellington and Auckland and a world respected English Proficiency Programme that has been teaching academic English to students for almost 50 years.

Victoria has one of New Zealand's most successful student networks to help students get the very best out of their time at University. There is support available for all aspects of university life- academic, social, cultural and personal.

Outside study, Wellington is a compact, dynamic and fun city with all the trappings of a thriving metropolis but all the comforts of a close community; world-class facilities, inspired arts and culture, plentiful jobs and an expanding economy. Wellington recently received global attention for being the home of Peter Jackson's acclaimed "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy. Situated at the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island, Wellington is also the perfect staging point for students wanting to travel and enjoy the whole of New Zealand.

Student Services:

Services are run by a centralised Student Support Group and include: Students Association, International Academic Advisors, Access to computers, Language Learning Centre, Learning Support Service, Career Development and Employment, Counselling Service.

Accommodation:

All Halls of Residence have places available for international students. Some Halls are fully catered and others are self-catered. While prices vary for accommodation, we recommend that you budget at least $210 a week for accommodation including food and expenses while studying at Victoria.

Accommodation is guaranteed in a Hall of Residence for all international students studying at Victoria University who apply before 1st October for Trimester 1 or 1st May for Trimester 2.

Studying at Victoria

To help prepare you for university study, Victoria offers both an English Proficiency Programme and a Foundation Studies Programme.

English Proficiency Programme (EPP):

Over 10,000 students from over 120 countries have studied at the Institute over the past 40 years. The Institute's highly qualified staff have had professional experience in many parts of the world and have worked with students from all regions. The Institute develops its own course materials in response to the needs of students.

The programme helps you improve in:

• Reading and listening to complex information
• Taking an active part in discussions
• Expressing complex ideas and facts through speech and writing
• Becoming an independent learner of English

All courses are 12 weeks long and are offered at different times in the year. If you intend to study for a degree at Victoria you may need to combine two or three courses into a 24- or 36- week programme of intensive English.

Due to the high demand and the high standard of the programme students will need an IELTS (4.5) or a TOEFL (480) certificate to be eligible for entrance. Click here to apply!

Foundation Studies Programme:

A condensed eight-month programme designed to give students the academic skills needed to gain university entrance and to succeed in your studies.

Programme features:

• Experienced, quality teaching to suit your individual needs
• A high number of contact hours in an intensive and supportive learning environment
• A curriculum that develops your independent learning skills to help you succeed at University
• Entry to the programme in March, July or November each year

Successful completion guarantees entry to Victoria University of Wellington. Click here for an application form.

Academic Degree Programmes:

Victoria's academic year is divided into 3 trimesters, each lasting four months. Most programmes commence in Trimester 1

Trimester 1: March- July
Trimester 2: July- November
Trimester 3: November- February

Undergraduate Degrees:

There are 13 undergraduate degrees and over 100 different majors offered at Victoria. Some, such as BArch, BIT, LLB, BMus or BTM are specialised programmes with a highly prescribed course schedule. Others, such as BA, BCA and BSc, are very flexible and enable you to create either a highly specialised programme or a programme that covers a wide range of different subjects that interest you.

Many students study two degrees at once in a double degree programme. Generous cross-crediting means the second degree can often be done in only one extra year of study.

Postgraduate Degrees:

Most first degrees can be followed by a Bachelor with Honours degree that takes two trimesters of full-time study. This can be followed by a Master's thesis that normally takes two to three trimesters, but can in special circumstance be done in one trimester. There is also a wide range of specialised and professional Certificate, Diplomas and Master's programmes.

Doctoral Study:

Supervision for research for PhD degrees is offered in almost all areas. Applications can be made at any time of the year.

Entry Requirements:

Check if you qualify for Victoria here.
Application forms can be downloaded here.