Victoria University of Wellington

Recent achievements and news from Victoria University of Wellington:

Experimental VR films showcased in national festival

Victoria University of Wellington filmmakers are behind two pioneering VR (virtual reality) films featured in national documentary festival, Doc Edge-a showcase of the best digital, interactive films from around the world. Minimum Mass is an award-winning VR narrative experience set in New Zealand and the speculative world of black holes. Embodied is an experimental VR documentary that shows a glimpse of the lives of people, such as musicians and circus artists, whose everyday work is highly physical.

One step closer to zero carbon

The university is working on attaining a level of zero carbon emissions by the year 2030. It is the first New Zealand university to have this target. It has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 20% in the last ten years, despite the university having grown in size.

Research successes

In 2020, Victoria University of Wellington-known as New Zealand's number 1 university for high-quality research-was awarded a fifth of grants from the Marsden Fund that focuses on visionary research. The grants, of more than NZD16 million, will enable the university's researchers to address environmental, social, health-related, technological, and economic issues.

For the latest updates on COVID - 19, please check on the details here.

Best and brightest

At Victoria University of Wellington, students will learn from academics who are among the best and brightest in their fields. More than 50 academics at the university rank in the top 2 percent of their disciplines in the world. (Stanford University, 2020).

Study options are varied across the university's faculties and schools, which include:

• Architecture and Design Innovation
• Education
• Engineering
• Graduate research
• Health
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Law
• Science
• Business and Government.

The university's learning and teaching practices encompass critical thinking, meet high international standards and reflect global trends. Staff are committed to helping students uncover their talents and passions.

Inclusive teaching

Victoria University of Wellington promotes the use of inclusive teaching to benefit its increasingly diverse community. Staff are provided with resources and development opportunities that give them strategies to use when they are teaching, designing assessments and communicating with students.

Innovative teaching

A number of the university's staff have won National Tertiary Teaching Excellence awards for innovative teaching. The most recent award winner was Senior Lecturer Dr Awanui Te Huia, who received the award for drawing on her students' life experiences to enhance the impact of her teaching.

Top in research

Students interested in postgraduate study have access to world-class facilities and expertise. Victoria University of Wellington is New Zealand's top university for research intensity. Most staff at the university have undertaken research at the highest levels, and all are encouraged to integrate their research into their teaching. The university has more than 850 staff actively involved in research.

Supportive environment

Most courses include tutoring in small groups where students can discuss their ideas, ask questions and get individual help. Students also have access to a range of academic resources and student learning services that will help them succeed at the university.

Victoria University of Wellington has a range of scholarships available to international students.

Tongarewa Scholarship

This NZD5,000 or NZD10,000 scholarship rewards academic excellence for international students entering their first year of study. Up to 19 scholarships are awarded each year.

New Zealand Scholarships programme

New Zealand Scholarships, offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and funded through the New Zealand Aid Programme, provide students from eligible partner countries fully funded study opportunities at the university.

Master's fees scholarships

International applicants who meet the entry requirements for select taught master's degrees, such as the Master of Conservation Biology, Master of Marine Conservation and Master of International Trade, are eligible for automatic NZD10,000 scholarships.

Faculty of Law International Students LLM Fee Scholarship

This NZD5,000 scholarship is available to eligible international students who opt for one year of full-time study in the Master of Laws. Students are required to have an excellent academic record and must be able to show financial need.

To study at Victoria University of Wellington, international students need:

• a good command of the English language
• a good record of academic achievement.

Entry requirements are provided under each programme. The university considers each student's academic and English-language background when assessing applications.

If a student doesn't meet the English-language requirements for their chosen course, they can enrol in the university's English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programme. This 12-week course is taught at the university and aims to develop a student's English language and academic skills for university study. It includes 10 weeks of teaching, orientation and testing. Students may need to take two or more consecutive courses to meet their study goal.

If a student doesn't meet the academic requirements for their undergraduate courses, they can enrol in the Foundation Studies programme. This flexible programme is taught by partner UP Education and offers successful students guaranteed entry to Victoria University of Wellington's undergraduate degrees.

International support

The university's dedicated international team is the first point of contact for international students. The team provides support and advice to students from application to graduation.

Support services include:

• help with international applications and admissions
• international student orientation and events
• airport arrival meeting service
• International Buddy Programme
• personal, cultural, and academic support and referral
• insurance claim support
• student visa renewal.

Accommodation

The university's halls of residence offer a variety of accommodation styles, including single rooms, studio rooms, shared rooms, and shared apartments or houses. Some halls provide meals, and others have kitchens for students to cater for themselves. All halls provide support for students and facilities for recreation and study. Living in a hall provides international students with the opportunity to make new friends and live alongside students from all over the world.

Learning support

Success at university requires independence and new skills. The university's Student Learning team can help with:

• transition to university
• workshops on academic writing, study skills, mathematics and statistics
• peer-assisted study sessions (PASS) groups
• specialist support for international students and students with disabilities.

The university also has a language learning centre, offering students advice on language learning and providing self-study resources spanning more than 60 different languages.

Health and wellbeing

Student Health offers a full range of affordable general practice medical services on campus. Highly trained counsellors are also available to confidentially discuss personal and academic issues that affect a student's general wellbeing or their learning.

Safety

Wellington is one of the safest cities in the world. In 2019, it was ranked the 5^th safest city in the world for personal safety (Safe Cities Index).

The university's Careers and Employment team helps students achieve their career goals. It offers professional advice on career planning, job exploration and career development. The team can help international students apply for jobs and internships, write their CVs and cover letters, and learn interview tips and career-related topics.

Students can find useful online resources as well as internships, work experience and job opportunities. Career expos and graduation recruitment events are held throughout the year and give students the opportunity to meet potential employers and find out about jobs and internships. The Alumni as Mentors programme matches final-year students with successful graduates who can offer valuable tips and advice for transitioning from study to a work environment.

Graduate profile

Victoria University of Wellington prepares its graduates to:

• specialise in their chosen field of study
• exhibit problem-solving, creative thinking and teamwork skills
• communicate accurately and effectively complex ideas in many contexts
• demonstrate independent thinking and being open to new ideas.

Of the graduates from Victoria University of Wellington who completed the 2019-20 Graduate Destinations Survey:

• 87 percent were in full-time employment
• 96 percent were employed prior to or within six months of completing their degree
• 60 percent were in full-time study and also worked either full time or part time.

International students in Wellington can also benefit from the WorkReady and mentor programmes provided by WellingtonNZ.