I applied to the University of Auckland since it is the leading University in New Zealand, and being a part of such a massive institution would have been an excellent opportunity for me. The admission process is pretty fast and convenient; considering me being an international student, all my queries regarding admission were cleared through email within 48 hours. The admission process isn't much of a hassle. You fill out the online form from the website, and that's it. A few weeks later, I received an email saying I got the Conditional Offer. After receiving that, you just have to complete the conditions they have put forward, and if you manage to meet those, you will get your part. You just need to make sure that all the conditions that the University has put forward are satisfied. Mine was to get an 85% score or above in Physics, Chemistry, and Maths in the 12th Examination and receive a band of 6 or above in IELTS.
Course Curriculum
My course being engineering, it definitely is not easy. The curriculum and daily schedules are hectic, but if you are consistent, you can pull it off. You get to keep 3-4 courses in one semester, so it is pretty manageable. The faculty keeps on changing after a few weeks as the topics of the course progress. Each lecturer has been assigned a few topics that they teach and once that is finished, the teachers are switched. The first year is the common year so all the students in that course study together.
Placement
I am just in my first year right now so I might not be the right person for this. But micro internships are provided since the very beginning of your course if you wish to have some experience.
Internship
Yes, I have applied for micro internships. Since I cannot go to campus due to border restrictions, the university provides opportunities for students like me to gain experience in the real world. I am currently in an internship offered by UNIVERSITAS21 on Sustainability. It does not provide any stipend but definitely recommended for the experience.
Fees
I am an international student, and the fees for an international student are not affordable for everybody. For us, it was pretty expensive. The expenses of an international student are five times than that of a domestic one. The mode of fees payment is flywire which is like a third party that helps you pay the fees abroad.
Faculty
My course being engineering, it definitely is not easy. The curriculum and daily schedules are hectic, but if you are consistent, you can pull it off. You get to keep 3-4 courses in one semester, so it is pretty manageable. The faculty keeps on changing after a few weeks as the topics of the course progress. Each lecturer has been assigned a few topics that they teach and once that is finished, the teachers are switched. The first year is the common year so all the students in that course study together.
Campus Life
The campus facilities are actually the best. The sports and recreation centre, the library and the lecture halls are at the top of my list. The infrastructure is modern, and a few buildings are constructed just a month back for students to have the best experience. There are over two hundred clubs that organize events almost every week. There are inter-faculty sports events and balls that are the highlight of the year. The campus has a diverse variety of students. You can find people of all cultures. International students are usually in majority from India, China, Vietnam and Phillipines.
Hostel
I have a few relatives living in Auckland, so I would be living with them and not in the accommodations provided by the University. But the University has quite a range for all these like self-catered, catered, apartments, one student rooms, double student rooms. But the cost of all these accommodations is way too high. But the rooms are definitely really good and the food as well.
Other Applied Colleges
Auckland University of Technology | Mechatronics Engineering
It wasn't the best Institute in the area raking wise.
University of Canterbury | Bachelor of Engineering
Did not provide any online courses. Would not have been able to attend due to covid.