The University of Auckland, New Zealand

The city of Auckland, located on the northern island, has 1.7 million residents. The university, ranked best in New Zealand and among the top 75 universities of the world(QS World University Rankings 2025). The university is home to 35,000 students, 9,000 of which are international students. 

Auckland, known as the City of Sails, is located on the Hauraki Gulf and is often ranked as one of the 10 best cities in the world to call home. Though New Zealand's largest city it portrays a vibe and style more similar to a city half it's size, without losing any sense of culture or diversity. Students enjoy the fact that the university is in the heart of the city, a stone throw away from bustling Queen Street and Auckland Harbor.  If you enjoy outdoor activities, New Zealand is arguably one of the best places to visit in the world. The two small islands that comprise the country have everything from beaches to glaciers. All imaginable outdoor activities are at your fingertips and you will find a multitude of outdoor activities right in the Auckland region.

This is a one-semester program for the fall or the spring semester

• The fall program runs from early July through mid-November.
• The spring program runs from mid-February through the end of June.

• Consult the Office of International Programs as early as possible to get assistance on course selections at Loyola so that you are prepared for Auckland. Registration advising sessions are offered by our office prior to each registration day.
• Nearly all majors are served.
• Students take four 4-credit courses; they must have one free elective available to get credit for a fifth course on their degree audit.

*All grades from abroad are transferred and calculated into your Loyola GPA; no courses can be taken as pass/fail

• Group airline tickets booked
• 2 Loyola Sponsored trips
• Part-time coordinator on-site
• New Zealand Student Health Insurance
• Students are charged for a supplemental airline fee

Vivian Kent is a former sociology professor who will welcome the students when they arrive to Auckland and also coordinate group trips to different parts of New Zealand. Any additional support can be found in the local study abroad office on campus.

Courses vary between lectures and seminar based classes. Class size are typically larger than LUM size classes. 

• Loyola students will live on campus housing.
• Students stay in Carlaw Park. 
• Students live in single bedrooms within shared apartment-style suites. Bathrooms, living rooms, and kitchens are all shared. All units are co-ed.  
• There are Kiwi residents mixed with a large international population in the dorms.
• Most dorms are 10-15 minute walking distance from the main campus.

*Meal plans for this program are not available.

Loyola financial aid applies and students are eligible for consideration for all forms of federal, state, institutional and private sources of aid except the Federal Work Study Program. Students studying abroad for either a semester or full academic year will forfeit the value of a Federal Work-Study assignment. Students who receive GI bill funding or Veterans Benefits for tuition should reach out to SAS for additional steps in securing the ability to use these funds while abroad.

Students/parents pay to Loyola the following charges:

• Loyola Tuition
• Program fee
• Housing fee
• Airline supplemental fee

Students receive a local insurance which is also used as a primary insurance during their trip. 

Medical insurance is also provided for all students during the program term by Loyola University Maryland through Chubb Insurance. This insurance coverage includes medical evacuation and repatriation, as well as 24-hour support services for medical issues. This insurance functions as a primary insurance while abroad.

Students are required to submit a copy of their U.S. health insurance card/policy. Please be sure not to cancel your US insurance policy while abroad since the provided insurances only function while on program and outside of the US.

Once accepted into the program, students must call their bank and credit card carriers to tell them that they will be abroad for the semester. Students should carry debit or credit cards with them. Both Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted forms of payment, Discover and AmEx are less commonly accepted. Cash in Europe is also widely utilized. 

Students must apply for thier visa online after receiving their confirmation of enrollment document from the university. At this time, there are no costs associated with acquiring a visa to study in New Zealand*.

*subject to change

Loyola will arrange and pay for group travel to and from Auckland. Any change to the students booked itinerary is done at their own cost. Loyola does not pay for any flight deviations or tickets changes. Group flights are arranged for students traveling to Auckland. 

Students fly to Auckland Airport, where students are met by a representative of UOA on arrival.

Application Requirements 

Students must submit an online application AND a Course Planning form by 11:59 pm on the first Wednesday after Thanksgiving break of their sophomore year to study abroad in the fall or spring term of junior year. 

• Attend a Study Abroad 101 information session.
• Declare a major before applying to the study abroad program.
• Discuss with your major advisor the possible courses you could take abroad and see if there are any potential problems, he/she sees with your plans to study abroad; Students cannot be on disciplinary probation nor have a history of serious disciplinary problems.

Criteria for Acceptance

• Minimum cumulative CQPA average of 3.00
• Students who can find courses which fit their Loyola program and allow full-time participation and who are neither on disciplinary probation nor have a history of serious disciplinary problems.
• ROTC candidates can apply as freshman to study abroad in the spring of their sophomore year. 
• An academic interview with the program coordinator at Loyola University Maryland is required.