What is student life in Auckland like?

[ExpressPacer]

Hi folks, gonna keep it simple, if you were to choose, where would you go to Uni - Auckland or somewhere else like London?

Would like to hear more from people living in NZ about the quality of life there and other things like recreational activity, nightlife, education, people, food, etc.

Something that turns me off however is the outrageously priced tickets to basically anywhere in the world from Auckland.

 

[shaz619]

[MENTION=132954]Aman[/MENTION] will be able to answer your questions on NZ but I imagine cost there in general must be high, from what I here though it is an extremely beautiful place to be.

London is costly too and too high paced for me, plus it doesn't set the world on fire for me but there are many places like that in the UK. There are many beautiful places to visit as well though and most things will be convinient, weather is crap however it's always raining and freezing cold.

Tbh though, I haven't really explored much lol am more of a live events guy, you will always have something going on regardless of whether you love theatre, music or sports which is great.

I'd say from an education stand point this is where UK takes the cake, higher education here is fantastic and there are so many reputable instituions, great variety, options and prospects. Plus the social side is decent to.

 

[ExpressPacer]

[MENTION=132954]Aman[/MENTION] will be able to answer your questions on NZ but I imagine cost there in general must be high, from what I here though it is an extremely beautiful place to be.

London is costly too and too high paced for me, plus it doesn't set the world on fire for me but there are many places like that in the UK. There are many beautiful places to visit as well though and most things will be convinient, weather is crap however it's always raining and freezing cold.

Tbh though, I haven't really explored much lol am more of a live events guy, you will always have something going on regardless of whether you love theatre, music or sports which is great.

I'd say from an education stand point this is where UK takes the cake, higher education here is fantastic and there are so many reputable instituions, great variety, options and prospects. Plus the social side is decent to.

Hey Shaz how you doin mate

Yes, you're actually spot on. I remember reading somewhere that Auckland has the highest housing costs in the world. And yes, indeed very beautiful.

I was considering the UK and while I'm not really cut out of for the top schools like Oxford, Cambridge, etc. I was looking towards Manchester, Sheffield and Queen Mary.

Have a lot of friends in the UK and there is obviously a massive Pakistani diaspora which would somewhat relieve me off the homesickness but I think NZ has quite a lot of things going for itself. The Uni I'm going to be applying to in Auckland is one of the most prestigious schools in the world so it really boils down to the city life.

 

[JaDed]

I had gotten admission into University of Auckland for Masters,but found it rather expensive and nothing great later on(imo) , two of my cousins also did their masters there but both are working in Australia now.

I would recommend contacting the alumni of your school, esp some Pakistanis, I find many desis going to these countries just because they are fed up with Desi system, so kindly do thorough research before paying their of fees and making such a huge decision, likewise for UK.

Nothing beats a master in USA still imo, and the future prospects are great as well.

 

[Itachi]

I just wonder. Do Pakistani go abroad for studies more than other desi nations ?

 

[Suleiman]

I just wonder. Do Pakistani go abroad for studies more than other desi nations ?

In the US at least you will see mostly masters students who come right after doing their bachelors in their country of origin, mostly are Indians followed by Pakistanis, and lastly Iranians.

But they don’t usually assimilate, they stick to other people who also came here directly from India/Pak for masters. There’s a cultural gap between desis raised here and desis who are more fobby ofc.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I just wonder. Do Pakistani go abroad for studies more than other desi nations ?

Im not sure. I can tell you one thing, from what I have seen and come to realise after looking at the costs, studying abroad is extremely expensive and only the elite can afford it. There a number of good options available in Pakistan but some people choose to study abroad owing to different reasons. Some want to escape Pakistan, some want independence and some, like me, just understand that my degree of choice has more prestigious schools abroad.

 

[hussain.r97]

I'm a student in Auckland, I'll get back to you when I've got some time to spare.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Im not sure. I can tell you one thing, from what I have seen and come to realise after looking at the costs, studying abroad is extremely expensive and only the elite can afford it. There a number of good options available in Pakistan but some people choose to study abroad owing to different reasons. Some want to escape Pakistan, some want independence and some, like me, just understand that my degree of choice has more prestigious schools abroad.

Why Auckland and what is your subject?

It's extremely expensive to study abroad once all the costs are added up. You maybe able to find part time work and mitigate some of it.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

I just wonder. Do Pakistani go abroad for studies more than other desi nations ?

Why did you go abroad for studies?.....

 

[gazza619]

I cant comment on Auckland but UK still has scope for students to study and work and save money. From what I have heard New Zealand is very expensive. I wouldnt go to such a place unless I have a relative or a close friend who lives there who can guide you through.

 

[Pakistanian]

New Zealand is too expensive, not as diverse as England and TOO FAR AWAY from everything. I'd suggest you choose London. New Zealand and Australia have the same distance the UK and Russia have.

 

[TM Riddle]

I just wonder. Do Pakistani go abroad for studies more than other desi nations ?

Don't judge Pakistanis based on your interactions with posters here. Most of them are strictly upper class thus could easily afford studying in expensive foreign universities.

 

[Pakistanian]

Don't judge Pakistanis based on your interactions with posters here. Most of them are strictly upper class thus could easily afford studying in expensive foreign universities.

I've noticed a lot of middle class or poor indians that study in America, how do they finance their education and don't have issues getting a visa since they have to convince the immigration officer they won't overstay?

 

[TM Riddle]

I've noticed a lot of middle class or poor indians that study in America, how do they finance their education and don't have issues getting a visa since they have to convince the immigration officer they won't overstay?

I think most of them are on some kind of scholarship programme. A decade or two ago only the somewhat well off ones could afford to go to places such as US and Europe for studies (apart from the IITians or doctors of course).

These days though even the middle class, lower middle class students are making the cut as well taking advantage of various scholarships offered by the foreign institutions. It helps that most of the middle class Indians are nerds and quite studious in general.

 

[Pakistanian]

I think most of them are on some kind of scholarship programme. A decade or two ago only the somewhat well off ones could afford to go to places such as US and Europe for studies (apart from the IITians or doctors of course).

These days though even the middle class, lower middle class students are making the cut as well taking advantage of various scholarships offered by the foreign institutions. It helps that most of the middle class Indians are nerds and quite studious in general.

yeah I've noticed a huge class difference between the Pakistani intl students and the indian ones.

 

[Itachi]

Why did you go abroad for studies?.....

i went because the cost was way less in ukraine than in india. (if you go by average, it was 1/5 of the price that of india). i could never pursue in india as i didn't have the financial needs but for ukraine, i could give a shot. It came with a price of quality but if you were good with the teachers and put own effort, you are in better hands.

I asked that question because i have met mostly pakistani student in airport transits.

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

Hi folks, gonna keep it simple, if you were to choose, where would you go to Uni - Auckland or somewhere else like London?

Would like to hear more from people living in NZ about the quality of life there and other things like recreational activity, nightlife, education, people, food, etc.

Something that turns me off however is the outrageously priced tickets to basically anywhere in the world from Auckland.

I don't know about Auckland but I'm doing BEng in Melbourne.

I came here for 2 main reasons. Firstly, I wanted to settle here permanently. Secondly, the quality of education here is great and worth every penny even though it is expensive. I can't imagine getting the same quality of education elsewhere at this cost. I had offers from University of Manchester and others in the UK but my main concern there was lack of earning opportunities for students and low prospects of settling there. Like I can manage to earn half of my fees during my summer break here doing odd jobs and I'm pretty sure its not possible in other places.

However, balancing everything is one hell of a headache. It takes a toll on you and sometimes you wonder why'd you even bother coming here while you're friends are enjoying at NUST for 10 times lower costs but then you quickly realise the high quality of life, facilities and education that you're getting is worth it and Melbourne is among the most livable cities in the world for a reason. Yeah the huge costs to get back to family is a turn off but I can compromise on that.

I don't know if its just me but I often get happy vibes just by walking around in Melbourne CBD. Maybe its the extremely hospitable and cheerful people or the innumerable talented street performers or just the general vibe there. Living costs are ok-ish like my monthly budget is approx. AU$1000 (including fuel, rent etc)

Desi and halal food is readily available but honestly, I can cook better than most of these places. Nightlife is only active in the CBD and I don't drink so I don't know much about it. Recreational activities are just waiting to be explored. From the hiking clubs at Uni to cricket clubs in almost every suburb to the beautiful parks and lakes to the beaches in the south and south-west of Melbourne. You can't ever run out of places to explore in Melbourne.

Overall I'm pretty happy but I must say that if you're going to be contributing to your uni fees then be ready for any kind of work and you may struggle for a bit but eventually you'll get used to it.

 

[ExpressPacer]

I don't know about Auckland but I'm doing BEng in Melbourne.

I came here for 2 main reasons. Firstly, I wanted to settle here permanently. Secondly, the quality of education here is great and worth every penny even though it is expensive. I can't imagine getting the same quality of education elsewhere at this cost. I had offers from University of Manchester and others in the UK but my main concern there was lack of earning opportunities for students and low prospects of settling there. Like I can manage to earn half of my fees during my summer break here doing odd jobs and I'm pretty sure its not possible in other places.

However, balancing everything is one hell of a headache. It takes a toll on you and sometimes you wonder why'd you even bother coming here while you're friends are enjoying at NUST for 10 times lower costs but then you quickly realise the high quality of life, facilities and education that you're getting is worth it and Melbourne is among the most livable cities in the world for a reason. Yeah the huge costs to get back to family is a turn off but I can compromise on that.

I don't know if its just me but I often get happy vibes just by walking around in Melbourne CBD. Maybe its the extremely hospitable and cheerful people or the innumerable talented street performers or just the general vibe there. Living costs are ok-ish like my monthly budget is approx. AU$1000 (including fuel, rent etc)

Desi and halal food is readily available but honestly, I can cook better than most of these places. Nightlife is only active in the CBD and I don't drink so I don't know much about it. Recreational activities are just waiting to be explored. From the hiking clubs at Uni to cricket clubs in almost every suburb to the beautiful parks and lakes to the beaches in the south and south-west of Melbourne. You can't ever run out of places to explore in Melbourne.

Overall I'm pretty happy but I must say that if you're going to be contributing to your uni fees then be ready for any kind of work and you may struggle for a bit but eventually you'll get used to it.

Heeelllooo mate how you doin how's everything been

Alright, thank you sooooo much, that was extremely helpful. So yeah, I think I'm kind of inclined towards the prospects of settling in New Zealand, it being a welfare state and a growing economy, job prospects and overall quality of life is secure.

Thanks and overall a helpful post. But maaaan, 8 years is a looooong time. 3 years of Uni and 4 years of residence. I think I'm just gonna head back after my graduation and look for a job.

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

Heeelllooo mate how you doin how's everything been

Alright, thank you sooooo much, that was extremely helpful. So yeah, I think I'm kind of inclined towards the prospects of settling in New Zealand, it being a welfare state and a growing economy, job prospects and overall quality of life is secure.

Thanks and overall a helpful post. But maaaan, 8 years is a looooong time. 3 years of Uni and 4 years of residence. I think I'm just gonna head back after my graduation and look for a job.

I'm doing alright bro. All good. How's everything at your end?

And yeah NZ, AUS, Canada are great choices for immigrants/students nowadays. Can't go wrong with either.

Btw, it's 4 yrs uni in my case and just one year on PR (permanent residency) and you'd be eligible for nationality.

 

[hussain.r97]

I'm doing my BEng from the University of Auckland (I assume that's the uni you plan to attend?)

I have lived in Auckland almost my whole life, so I can't give a solid comparison to Pakistan, however, I definitely recommend coming to Auckland. The quality of education is great, you won't get a much better quality of life anywhere outside of New Zealand, and it is a great place to settle down, a lot of potential here.

I personally live with my parents, however I have a lot of friends living alone, and you are absolutely correct in saying that Auckland is one of the most expensive cities to live. The university lodging and anything else in the CBD are extremely convenient for students, but will most likely be too expensive, the majority of my friends who live alone do flatting in one of the central suburbs around the CBD, or a little further away if the public transport connection works out. Bear in mind that driving to uni is not feasable at all, so public transport connection should be a big factor in deciding where you stay. Even though Auckland is expensive, in my opinion the amount of money you spend to live here is absolutely worth it, especially if you plan on settling down here.

There are a lot of clubs you can join at uni (and outside) uni, including things like cricket, hiking, gaming, etc. Auckland is great for recration, especially in summer. There are great beaches all around Auckland, awesome hikes, and a lot of parks and reserves. NZ is a fairly small country, so the main tourist destinations are not out of reach other. Some big North Island attractions such as Rotorua, Coromandel Peninsulia, Tongariro, and Bay of Islands are within 2-4 hours from Auckland. Halal food is also very readily available due to the fact that NZ exports to the Middle East, and therefore the majority of places serve meat that is halal even if they are not certified. Regarding nightlife, I am not really an expert on this because I don't really party, but nightlife is mainly in the CBD, where there are a few clubs, and there are also parties organized by university clubs/student bodies. Auckland Uni is not really all that known for it's nightlife/party life, The University of Otago (in Dunedin) is considered to by NZ's party university.

There are modest amount of Pakistani students in Auckland too. I strongly recommend you join Pakistan Facebook groups such as Pakistanis in Auckland, Pakistanis in New Zealand, Pakistani Students in New Zealand as they are often helpful for new people here, and you often get good arrangements for flatting, buying cars, etc on there.

Feel free to ask anything else

 

[ExpressPacer]

I'm doing my BEng from the University of Auckland (I assume that's the uni you plan to attend?)

I have lived in Auckland almost my whole life, so I can't give a solid comparison to Pakistan, however, I definitely recommend coming to Auckland. The quality of education is great, you won't get a much better quality of life anywhere outside of New Zealand, and it is a great place to settle down, a lot of potential here.

I personally live with my parents, however I have a lot of friends living alone, and you are absolutely correct in saying that Auckland is one of the most expensive cities to live. The university lodging and anything else in the CBD are extremely convenient for students, but will most likely be too expensive, the majority of my friends who live alone do flatting in one of the central suburbs around the CBD, or a little further away if the public transport connection works out. Bear in mind that driving to uni is not feasable at all, so public transport connection should be a big factor in deciding where you stay. Even though Auckland is expensive, in my opinion the amount of money you spend to live here is absolutely worth it, especially if you plan on settling down here.

There are a lot of clubs you can join at uni (and outside) uni, including things like cricket, hiking, gaming, etc. Auckland is great for recration, especially in summer. There are great beaches all around Auckland, awesome hikes, and a lot of parks and reserves. NZ is a fairly small country, so the main tourist destinations are not out of reach other. Some big North Island attractions such as Rotorua, Coromandel Peninsulia, Tongariro, and Bay of Islands are within 2-4 hours from Auckland. Halal food is also very readily available due to the fact that NZ exports to the Middle East, and therefore the majority of places serve meat that is halal even if they are not certified. Regarding nightlife, I am not really an expert on this because I don't really party, but nightlife is mainly in the CBD, where there are a few clubs, and there are also parties organized by university clubs/student bodies. Auckland Uni is not really all that known for it's nightlife/party life, The University of Otago (in Dunedin) is considered to by NZ's party university.

There are modest amount of Pakistani students in Auckland too. I strongly recommend you join Pakistan Facebook groups such as Pakistanis in Auckland, Pakistanis in New Zealand, Pakistani Students in New Zealand as they are often helpful for new people here, and you often get good arrangements for flatting, buying cars, etc on there.

Feel free to ask anything else

Hey mate, that was super helpful and fantastic, especially coming from a momin brother like yourself and [MENTION=139075]Hadi Rizvi[/MENTION]. Yes, I do plan on going to University of Auckland, my application has been submitted and as of now, I'm just hoping I get in. University of Auckland is in the top 100 in the world and top 50 for Law so I know it's a great place.

What is the environment at the Uni like? I'm sure it must be super welcoming, engaging and helpful.

And yeah, if I do end up coming to Auckland, I'm not really sure as to where to stay. The dorms seem like a good option considering their proximity to the University but I agree, it's also going to be expensive. About renting your own flat; now the thing is, I don't want to end up being lonely in a foreign country ) is it a good option, what do you think?

 

[ExpressPacer]

I'm doing alright bro. All good. How's everything at your end?

And yeah NZ, AUS, Canada are great choices for immigrants/students nowadays. Can't go wrong with either.

Btw, it's 4 yrs uni in my case and just one year on PR (permanent residency) and you'd be eligible for nationality.

Thanks man. That was helpful, especially the last bit. Going to look more into Australia as well.

Thank you bud, I'm doing alright. Moving out can stressful and so just paranoid haha

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

Thanks man. That was helpful, especially the last bit. Going to look more into Australia as well.

Thank you bud, I'm doing alright. Moving out can stressful and so just paranoid haha

No worries at all bro.

Honestly, NZ residents are treated just like Australian residents in Australia. Same goes for Australian residents in NZ. And I'm talking officially as well. Often the jobs posted here for locals only also accept NZ residents/citizens.

So as far as settling down is concerned, you can't go wrong with either. Its only a matter of where you think your future prospects are better.

And yeah moving out is stressful indeed and it's always a blessing to know someone beforehand in the place where you're attempting to settle.