There will be orientation sessions once you arrive in Amsterdam. These sessions will allow you to meet other students in the program, review health and safety procedures, understand academic expectations, and get familiar with the campus and city of Amsterdam. Detailed information about housing, public transportation, culture, and other important topics are also covered. Beyond orientation sessions, you will have opportunities to explore the city before classes start in order to help you feel at home in your new environment. Feel prepared to begin classes with practical lessons and activities...

Ōtautahi Christchurch Field Trips & Events You can refer to the University of Canterbury Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha program page to peruse field trip offerings. Here is a list of potential field trips and events students could see throughout the semester: Welcome dinner Orientation overnight excursion First week catch-up lunch Regional excursions Attend a sporting or cultural event Optional mid-semester tropical holiday to Rarotonga (a student favorite!) Farewell dinner As listed above, students will have the opportunity to join the IES Abroad Ōtautahi Christchurch field trip to Rarotonga in...

About University of Canterbury Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Courses The University of Canterbury assigns a point value to each course. Courses at the University of Canterbury Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha are typically assigned either 15 or 30 points. You must carry a full load while studying abroad at University of Canterbury, which is the equivalent of 60 credit points (about 4 classes) and 16 IES Abroad credits for the semester. If you enroll in more than 60 points, you will need to go through an additional approval process. Please reach out to your IES Abroad Advisor for assistance and advice...

Housing Website http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/life/accommodation/halls/ilam-apartments/ Housing Population Kiwi and international students (more international students than Kiwis, as is common in NZ) Room Amenities Single room within a modern, multi-bedroom apartment Rooms furnished with a bed, study desk, chair, bookshelves, and a closet Each apartment has an equipped kitchen, bathroom, furnished lounge, and dining room This includes: TV and WiFi. And if you need instructions on how to use the convection oven, please contact Ilam staff. You may request a single-sex apartment You may request to...

Orientation helps ease the transition into Aotearoa New Zealand culture and is a great time to get to know other IES Abroad Ōtautahi Christchurch students! After picking you up from the airport, we will transport you to your IES Abroad semester housing. You will have some time to settle in before we go out for a welcome dinner. There will be an IES Abroad orientation where we will go over many aspects of the program, including but not exclusive to: Housing Field Trips Health and Safety Hints and tips about living well in Aotearoa New Zealand Success strategies for studying at the University of...

Storing Luggage in Ōtautahi Christchurch If you are looking for luggage storage, we recommend you research for available services prior to any travel plans. Luggage storage is available at the airport which costs approximately NZD$15/Day. For more information, visit the Christchurch Airport Travel Store website. IES Abroad does not endorse and cannot be held liable for any of these companies.

Arrival in Ōtautahi Christchurch Please book your international flight to arrive at the Christchurch Airport (CHC) between 8AM and 1PM on the arrival date. Be sure to keep in mind that when flying to Ōtautahi Christchurch you cross the International Date Line. This means that most flights leaving from the United States arrive in Aotearoa New Zealand two calendar days later (e.g., flights leaving the United States on Thursday night arrive in New Zealand on Saturday morning). Please note: You need to pick up your baggage and go through Customs and Immigration at your first point of entry into...

University Course Enrollment You will need to complete the first step of the VU Course Enrollment process by submitting your preferred courses or specialized track in your Study Plan Form available in your MyIESAbroad account. Please make sure that you have discussed your course options with your current college or university advisor to determine if the courses you will be taking are approved as transferable credits. Please be sure to include alternate choices, in case your first course choices are not available or there are time conflicts. Familiarize yourself with the course requirements as...

There are four main steps to enroll in courses at the UvA: You have already completed the first step by submitting your course preferences in your Academic Statement of Purpose as part of your application. You should meet with your academic advisor and study abroad coordinator to verify which courses will transfer back to your college or university. Go over alternative courses as well, in case your first choices are unavailable during registration. This is a very important step in receiving credit at your home college or university for the classes you take abroad. Submit your Study Plan. The...

As a Social Sciences & Humanities student, you will take 15-17 credits (a minimum of 30 ECTS) per semester at the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA) and IES Abroad Amsterdam. Create your own personal academic experience by selection from the following required and optional components: 1 IES Abroad course of your choice (required, 3 credits) 1-4 courses at the Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA) (at least one UvA course is required, credits vary, minimum of 6 UvA credits) Up to 2 other IES Abroad area studies course, depending on availability (optional, credits vary) Note that 2 ECTS credits (the...