It’s easy to forget about school when you are deciding where you want to study abroad. Initially, I ended up thinking more about city location in terms of travel access and how the culture of each location would impact my time abroad. In reality, the university you choose to study at greatly impacts the semester you have. Also, you spend a lot of your week there and it’s where you meet many of your friends. So I wanted to give you a brief tour of Victoria University of Wellington’s Kelburn campus and hopefully show you how amazing and social this school is.
First up is Victoria International, the place you should go if you need any help at all. They are there to assist you with any questions or concerns you might have. They also plan an informative orientation session, with campus tours, and even a day trip through the city or to the coast if you’d like to participate.
Here’s the bookstore, where you’ll go the first week of classes to find your books. The bookstore also has snacks and drinks if you need something quick before running to class.
The Lab is one of my favorite places to eat on campus. They serve noodles, salad, an array of fresh sandwiches and baked goods, and juice and smoothies. I love getting the $5 noodles and salad, it’s a great deal and you can get it for takeaway.
Usually the place where I end up taking my noodles for lunch, the Hub is an open area when students can hang out. It’s a great place to go between classes to meet up with friends and talk. And if you like getting work done in a more social environment, this is the place for you.
If you need peace and quiet to get work done, the library is perfect because it has different areas designated for different noise levels. In some you can speak quietly, and in others it must be silent. And I mean honestly, how can you complain too much about schoolwork when this is the view you have while studying?
If you need a café to have a more formal meeting, or if you want to sit down and get a cup of coffee and relax during a break, I recommend Milk and Honey. This café isn’t as loud and busy as the hub, so it’s a perfect escape if you are having a stressful day.
Next up is a classroom. This is the lecture hall for one of my history classes, which has about 40 students in it. I actually really love the set up of the room; it seems smaller than it really is, and it’s easy to see and hear your professor from wherever you sit.
Some days are just too nice to sit inside the Hub on your breaks. This outdoor terrace area is the perfect place to come.
If you need a place to eat a good meal after class one day, definitely go to the Hunter Lounge. It has 2-for-1 pizza deals, along with plenty of other options.
One of my favorite parts about campus is where my tutorials are held. Tutorials are like extra help sessions; they are smaller than your regular lectures and review what you are learning in class. The coolest part is, some are held in houses along the main road through campus.
The last stop on the tour is what I see on my way to and from class everyday. The view is just another reason to love Victoria University of Wellington.
Kate Farrell is a student at the University of Hartford and a TEAN Featured Blogger. She is currently studying abroad with TEAN in Wellington, New Zealand.
