The University of Iowa partners with The University of Auckland to offer students the opportunity to study in Auckland, New Zealand.

Designed for all students this semester, academic-year or calendar-year program allows students to take courses in a variety of areas related to their fields of study, as well as gen eds and elective courses at the University of Auckland. Potential course offerings include classes in business, visual & performing arts and design, social science, STEM, humanities, international studies and much more. From environmental science to engineering, and indigenous studies to an internship, students can choose from over 100 subjects at New Zealand's leading university.

The University of Auckland is New Zealand's largest and most comprehensive university. They offer courses in over 100 subjects across eight faculties. Study abroad students can enroll in courses across different subject areas and levels. Academic Departments and Schools at the University of Auckland are divided into eight academic divisions: Faculty of Arts; Business School; National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries; Faculty of Education and Social Work; Faculty of Engineering; Faculty of Law; Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences; Faculty of Science. Students will enroll approximately two months prior to departure through the University of Auckland’s online system. Students will finalize their enrollment on-campus during the University of Auckland International Orientation.

Academic Program

The University of Auckland offers a wide range of courses for study abroad students.

To get familiar with your optoions, first take a look at Auckland's Academic Guide page. The Glossary of terms for Study Abroad and Exchange students section of that page will help you understand the terms they use to describe your course options.

When you're ready to explore Auckland's course options, take a look at their Course Options page. Note that some courses at Auckland are not available for study abroad students. Review the Course Restrictions section of that page before choosing courses.

You can find Auckland's full course catalog organized by department on their Curriculum Catalogue page.

Remember that New Zealand academic year begins in February and ends in November- Semester 1 takes place during Iowa's Spring semester, and Semester 2 takes place during Iowa's Fall semester. Ensure you select courses for the semester you plan to study abroad.

Flexibility Regarding Course Offerings

Foreign universities are typically unable to provide a final course catalog for the upcoming semester until shortly before the semester begins. Students usually do not know which specific classes they can take before arriving abroad, and they usually do not register for classes until they arrive in their host country- this means that there is no way to guarantee that you will be able to enroll in your preferred courses. Your final course schedule may not be finalized until you are already abroad.

Because of these differences, all students must meet with their academic advisor(s) before going abroad to discuss how the differences in course availability will affect their degree progress and graduation plans. It is important to develop a back-up plan in case your preferred courses are not available when you enroll in your courses abroad.

Auckland's Grading System

As a study abroad student, you are required to undertake the same form of assessment as the local students in order to earn credit for your work. The grading system at your host institution. is significantly different from the US system. Iowa is not able to 'translate' the marks you earn on this program to US letter grades. Instead, passing grades for this program will be recorded with a grade of R on the UI transcript. Students applying for further graduate or professional training may be asked to present an original transcript reflecting the actual marks received.

Transcripts

Transcripts for Iowa's Fall semester are typically available by November, and transcripts for Iowa's Spring semester are typically available by August. Transcripts are not automatically sent to Iowa by Auckland- you will need to request that your transcript is sent to Iowa in order to receive credit for your work. When your transcript is available, Auckland will contact you and you will need to use their secure system to ask that your Auckland transcript is sent to the University of Iowa. You can expect your credit to be applied to your UI degree around 2-3 months after you have your transcript sent to the University of Iowa.

Applying credit toward a UI degree

Unless UI Study Abroad has an approval on file for the courses you take abroad to be applied toward a specific major, minor, certificate, or general education requirement, you will receive general elective credit for your courses. The only exception to this is courses involving cooking or food/alcohol tasting- these courses are not eligible for credit at the University of Iowa.

If you plan to apply the credit you receive for your courses abroad to a major, minor, certificate, or general education requirement, contact your UI study abroad advisor for details on the process. 

Cultural Activities

This program will start with a week-long orientation where you have a chance to get to know the campus, meet other international students, and get to know the culture before your sources begin.

The university also offers a wide range of events and activities you can participate in, includeing workshops, sporting events, competitions, and more. Take a look at the University Events Calendar for the latest.

Auckland also offers clubs, societies, and associations that study abroad students can join. Visit clubs, societies, and associations page for more information on the opportunities available to you.

Program Dates

The University of Auckland's academic year begins in February and ends in November. Auckland's Semester 1 runs from February - June, and takes place during Iowa's Spring semester, and Auckland's Semester 2 runs from July - November, takes place during Iowa's Fall semester.

Each semester begins with a week-long orientation program before classes officially begin. You can the dates for the orientation and the regular semester/academic year on the most recent Fact Sheet, or contact your study abroad advisor.

Students should consider these dates tentative until they receive final dates for their session abroad from the host university prior to the start of the program. Contact your UI study abroad advisor for details on upcoming dates.

Arrival Date

Plan to arrive at your host university the day before official program activities begin. For example, if the program orientation starts on February 23, plan to arrive on February 22. Be sure to review the Travel Arrangements section for more information before purchasing your plane tickets.

Steps to Studying Abroad

1. Before initiating an application for this program, students must complete a Discover Study Abroad session at the University of Iowa.
2. After completing the Discover Abroad session, students will receive an email with their study abroad advisor assignment.
3. Once assigned, students must meet with their study abroad advisor to receive program application instructions.

Study Abroad
1111 University Capitol Centre
Iowa City, IA 52242

Phone: 319-335-0353
Email: study-abroad@uiowa.edu

University of Auckland

Founded in 1883, Auckland (Māori: Tāmaki Makaurau) is the country’s largest university with over 40,000 students. Waipapa Taumata Rau In 2021, the University of Auckland was gifted a new Māori name by the people of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei in an official gifting ceremony.

Auckland

A large urban city at the Northern-most point on New Zealand's North Island, Auckland is a young, vibrant, multicultural city. Auckland is New Zealand's largest city with a population of 1.6 million people, and is the center of the country's retail and commercial activities. As a harbor city, Auckland is famous for its fresh seafood offerings, but the city also embraces international flavors, with influences from Asia, Europe, and the Pacific Islands. The city's significant tourist attractions include national historic sites, festivals, performing arts, sports activities, and a variety of cultural institutions.

New Zealand

Whether you’re drawn to its natural beauty, adrenaline-inducing adventure activities, national sport of rugby or friendly people, New Zealand won’t disappoint. Surrounded by water, home to more animals than people, and featuring some of the most unique landscapes and natural wonders in the world, New Zealand is the place to be for environmental science and wildlife studies. Here students can jump right into what they’re studying with real-life examples and experiences all around them. Beyond the stunning scenery, this island nation is known for its progressive political history and being a champion of women’s rights, as well as having extensive dairy and tourism industries. Art and culture are also front and center thanks to Maori influences, a flourishing film scene, and one of the best design schools in the world.

US Department of State Country Information

The US Department of State provides safety and security information for every country of the world to help you assess for yourself the risks of travel. Each country information page contains a Travel Advisory, Alerts, and other important details specific to that country that could affect you.

Pay close attention to the entry and exit requirements, local laws and customs, health conditions, and other details to help decide whether traveling to any given country is right for you. Non-US citizen travelers may also wish to seek guidance from the embassy of their country of citizenship. The UI International Travel Policy for Students addresses restrictions on student travel to high-risk locations and engagement in high-risk activities abroad.

Living Arrangements

On-campus housing is included in the course fee. The University of Iowa arrange a room with the University of Auckland directly. You do not need to submit a separate accommodation application.

A room will be reserved for you in Carlaw Park Student Village . Your housing will be self-catered, so meals are not included in the course fee. The rooms typically come with a bed, a desk, a wardrobe, shelves, and a notice board, and you will need to provide your own linen and towels; however, a linen package can be purchased from the accommodation upon arrival.

Travel Arrangements

Students will receive instructions on making travel arrangements during a program-specific orientation session and will be able to arrange their own flights to Auckland. Upon arrival, ground transportation is available to take students to the program site. More information is available on the University of Auckland's Web site at UoA's Flights and Airport Pickup page.

Purchasing Plane Tickets

UI Study Abroad will not arrange a group flight to your study abroad destination. You will purchase plane tickets to your host country on your own, though UI Study Abroad can assist by providing advice regarding airline booking options.

You are advised not to purchase your plane tickets until:

1. You have received an official offer of acceptance from your host university, and have submitted confirmation materials to UI Study Abroad.
2. You have finalized your housing arrangements abroad.
3. You are aware of 1) the semester start date (including orientation programing) and 2) the move-in date for your accommodations abroad.
4. You have received your visa (if required- contact your study abroad advisor for more information).

If you are studying abroad during Iowa's fall semester or for the academic year, plan to purchase your plane tickets by April or May. If you are studying abroad during Iowa's spring semester, plan to purchase your plane tickets by early November.

Arrival Plans

Plan to arrive in your host country as early as possible the day before official program activities begin. To ensure that you meet your host country's immigration requirements and that you are covered by international health/travel insurance, do not arrive in your host country sooner than one day before the official start of program activities.

If you have questions about purchasing plane tickets, or would like to coordinate your travel with other UI students, please contact your UI study abroad advisor.

Local Transportation

One of the best ways to explore Auckland is on foot. The city center is compact; you can walk from one side to the other in under 30 minutes. Auckland has an excellent public transportation system, which is widely used by the locals.

Eligibility

This program is open to University of Iowa students who fulfill the following requirements:

• Good academic and disciplinary standing- Students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing at the University of Iowa. Students placed on either academic or disciplinary probation for any period of time overlapping with the study abroad program dates are ineligible to study abroad on a University of Iowa program. Academic and disciplinary history will also be considered when determining whether a student is prepared to represent the University of Iowa as part of this program. Students who are not in good standing at any point overlapping with the program dates will have their acceptance revoked, and will be responsible for the associated late withdrawal fees.
  
• Minimum 3.0 UI and Transfer GPA- Students must have a minimum 3.0 UI and Transfer GPA to participate in this program (transfer GPAs lower than 3.0 may be considered on a case-by-case basis).
  
• Sophomore, junior, or senior standing required: Students must have sophomore, junior, or senior standing at the time the program begins. First year students cannot participate in this program.
  
• Approval by UI study abroad advisor: A student’s application must be reviewed and approved by their University of Iowa study abroad advisor.
  
• Acceptance by host institution: Students must be accepted by their host institution as a temporary visiting student. Acceptance by the host institution is typically automatic for students that have been nominated by their study abroad advisor, but the final acceptance decision is made by the international student office and the sponsoring departments at the host institution based on their own internal requirements.
• Attendance at mandatory orientation programming: Students must attend all in-person and online pre-departure orientation programming presented by UI Study Abroad.
  
• Clear interest and commitment- Students must demonstrate a clear academic or personal interest in the program’s subject matter, and a commitment to engage responsibly in coursework abroad.
  
• Demonstrated preparedness and maturity- Students must demonstrate preparedness to take on the heightened responsibilities associated with international study and travel. Students must demonstrate a commitment to behave responsibly abroad while respecting cultural differences. Students are expected to obey both local laws and program directives conveyed to participants before and during the program. The University of Iowa Code of Student Life applies to all program participants while abroad.
  

Costs

Students will be responsible for paying many of their program costs through their University of Iowa U-Bill, while other costs will be out-of-pocket costs paid by the student directly to vendors before and after going abroad. Refer to the cost sheets below for details on the costs associated with this program.

The cost sheets outline the total estimated costs associated with participating in this program and can be used for financial aid purposes. They include fees charged on students’ U-Bill as well as out-of-pocket expenses. Actual out-of-pocket expenses will vary from individual to individual. Quoted estimates are conservatively high, yet realistic.

Costs for future sessions are usually similar to the current session, however students can expect a modest increase in overall costs each session. Final cost sheets for future sessions are typically available early in the semester before the session begins.

Cost Sheets

Cost Sheet- Iowa in New Zealand- University of Auckland- Spring 2026

The Course Fee included tuition and housing at the University of Auckland, as well as Auckland's Administrative Fee and Residential Service fee, and the comulsory international student insurance fee requried by the New Zealand government.

Calculating Fees

The cost sheets are based on the fees described below:

• University of Iowa Study Abroad Administrative Fees
• University of Iowa’s CISI health insurance
• Program course fees, housing, flight, and other costs of attendance

Cost sheets do not include the following optional costs:

Personal Travel Costs

Costs for personal travel are not included in the cost estimates provided on the cost sheet. If you plan to travel outside of your host city or country during or after your study abroad program, you will need to budget for additional funds to cover the cost of your personal travel.

Scholarships & Financial Aid

For more information about receiving financial aid while studying abroad, please review the following:UI Financial Aid Information

You can find more information about options for funding your study abroad experience including scholarships on Undergraduate Scholarships for Study Abroad.

How to Apply

This is a two-part process. First, you will submit an application to the University of Iowa. Then, if approved, you will submit a separate application to the host university abroad. The host university abroad makes the final acceptance decision.

• Meet with the appropriate study abroad advisor to discuss your study abroad plans well ahead of the application deadline. Your application will not be approved until you've completed this step. You can set up an appointment with your study abroad advisor through the Advising Appointment section of your MyUI account.
• Meet with your academic advisor(s) to discuss how this program will fit your graduation plans. Make a back-up plan in case your preferred courses are not available when you register for courses abroad (see the Flexibility Regarding Course Offerings section for more information.)
• If you and your academic advisor agree that the program is a good match for you, complete the UI Study Abroad application. Please note that the non-refundable $50 application fee will be charged to your U-Bill as part of this online application.
• If you are eligible to participate, you will be nominated to study at the host university by UI Study Abroad.
• Once nominated, you will receive details about how to complete the visiting student application for the host university abroad. Your application will be reviewed by the host university, and they will contact you with your final acceptance decision.
• Academic Year and Fall semester students can expect to receive their final acceptance decision from the host university by late spring, and Spring semester students can expect to receive their final acceptance decision from the host university by late November.

Post-Acceptance

Confirmation

If you are accepted to your program, you will be asked to commit to participating in your program by submitting the University of Iowa Confirmation of Participation form, and by completing requirements for your host university.

After you have formally confirmed your plans to participate, you will work both with UI Study Abroad and your host university. Follow instructions from both. Later in the semester, your UI study abroad advisor will contact you regarding orientation sessions, registration, and other required UI procedures and documentation.

Application Deadline

Applications for Iowa's Fall and Academic Year sessions are due on February 24.

Applications for the Spring session are due on September 24.

Health & Safety Planning

Students should carefully review the following materials starting at least two months prior to departure:

Prepare for Departure

Health and Safety

Iowa Regents CISI Health Insurance Information

Immigration/Visa

All program participants are required to complete immigration requirements to enter and study in your host country. UI Study Abroad and your program provider/host institution abroad will provide you with immigration instructions prior to departure.

Note that permission to enter and study in your host country is provided exclusively by the host country’s government based on that country's immigration requirements. Your host country’s immigration requirements may include considerations related to specific national origin, national heritage, criminal background status, and similar issues that can make it impossible to receive permission to enter the country in some cases. Contact your UI study abroad advisor for more information.

It is essential that you thoroughly review all of your immigration materials before you leave for your host country to ensure that they are absolutely complete and accurate. It is entirely your responsibility to ensure that all of your immigration materials are in order and fully accurate before you leave for your host country. If any of your immigration materials contain inaccurate information of any kind, contact your UI study abroad advisor immediately to discuss your options.

Do not take steps to complete your host country’s immigration requirements until you receive more information from UI Study Abroad.

Review the UI Study Abroad Travel Documentation website for further guidance on the immigration/visa process.

Orientation

In order to prepare for your time abroad, you are required by the University of Iowa to complete two orientations. These may be in addition to orientations provided by your on-site provider. See below for more information.

Online Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation

You are required to complete the International Programs ICON course "Education Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation" prior to departure. This orientation is mandatory for all students going abroad under the auspices of the University of Iowa. It covers many practical matters about living overseas, such as health and safety, communication, money, goals, and much more. You will be enrolled in this course by International Programs and an email will be sent to you once enrolled. If you have any questions, you can email safety-abroad@uiowa.edu.

Program-Specific Orientation

This orientation will be facilitated by your UI study abroad advisor and will cover content specific to your program and host country. It could be conducted in a group setting or one-on-one depending on your type of planned activity abroad. Your study abroad advisor will send you more information about this mandatory in-person session.