hi there guys. i have been doing research about NZ and i'm gonna explode from information overload.

so i would like a very simple and direct question from any of you guys who got the expertise or knowledge. which university is good for studies related to mass communication in NZ?

i'm currently looking into UNITEC and AUT, any other options that i can look into? is it difficult to gain a position to study in the unis there? it's intimidating to read about their 'limited places', you see. i will be using my TARC diploma to attempt a credit transfer, which some counselors told me is a pretty good move, but i don't know as i choose to leave a little bit of doubt to myself when i'm talking to those counselor fellas.

and for UNITEC and AUT, are they well known in the industrial world?

This post has been edited by sE_vIxEn: Sep 28 2008, 09:05 PM

what about UNITEC? it is well known? internationally recognised? the website says so, but i dunno about the real world.

thanks for the tip.

problem is, i'm a credit transfer student, and when i went to JMECC that day they say that there hasn't been a case where a student transfer over to UNITEC / AUT via a diploma. so a bit worried, he he.

may i know what difference does that make? as in, costs, recognition?

can you give a rough description of the distance between these two institutes? are they really that far apart?

i know it isn't officially recognised as a university, but i am seeking a practical approach to studying communication, and not just by books and papers. so far AUT and UNITEC are the ones that interest me.

UNITEC's so-called 'park-like' campus sounds appealing to me btw.

communication in public relations. anyway i've figured out the distance, thanks for trying to help yeah. appreciate it.

i've sent over my credit transfer application to UNITEC because AUT demands a pretty exorbitant amount of money to have my credits processed. so i'll see how many years i get to exempt and see whether i wanna consider AUT later on.

hi guys. i have sent in my application to UNITEC New Zealand. hope everything goes well. at first i wanted to send in to AUT as well, but they got some sort of surcharge to get my credits evaluated. waiting for my final results now. anyone of you seen or heard about UNITEC campus?

hi there! are you living nearby? please do tell me more! the internet can only tell you so much... those Google Earth pics are so enticing man!


i am coming to NZ to study mass communication. public relations to be exact. i think it's UNITEC and AUT's expertise, right? anyway, it wasn't a forced decision based on how much surchage i needed to pay. i chose UNITEC because it sounds promising, what with the different education approach and more practical based education. however i'd love to hear feedback from someone who experienced it firsthand, if you please?

when you say some people, are you referring to the local NZers themselves, or are you talking about Malaysians? i know Malaysians definitely have something against anything lower than a 'uni', what with the superiority mindset bred into our brains since young (ie. Taylors offer better than cheap colleges like TARC etc), but i tend to think that NZers shouldn't have anything against polytechnic graduates, or do they? i've read several articles by their national publication, they say that UNITEC has a unique standing on it's own in the hearts of the Kiwis. i can't be sure how to translate that, being an outsider who has yet to experience nuts.

thanks for voicing out my exact concern, as per bolded above. actually i believe all institutions are capable of producing good students. which is why i am not fussed over the whole 'who is the best' title. (wouldn't mind if someone knows and wants to share though! )

it's really the whole 'poly' and 'uni' thing that bothers me. but i consistently reminded myself that UNITEC is offering me a degree from a valid tertiary institution, and that's what matters most.

and you're right, it was an abandoned hospital and i know AUT is based on several high rises. the views of UNITEC Google Earth has to offer took my breath away.

i'm extremely grateful that someone who has already experienced NZ himself willing to share with me his views (constructive ones, that is). thanks so much wornbook.

i have a lecturer whose wife is teaching in Taylors and they did some comparisons. turns out Taylors have spanking new and clean facilities whilst TARC ones are worn out and old. which i don't really mind. most of my mates work on their own laptops and i think what TARC offered is decent enough. except for the horrendous toilets!

happy belated birthday dude! thanks for having the heart to reply!

did you just mention you have friends studying in UNITEC? omg i would love their contacts and chat up a little on the place. is that possible? NZ is very unlike Australia, where you can get firsthand experience from any Tom d*** Harry. 8/10 of people consider Australia without even thinking! i wonder why... it really feels like the entire Malaysian population is crazy about Australia. in fact, i was one myself, before my friend told me about the place, and i finally gave some serious thought about it.


hey dude please do ramble on, i really do appreciate talking with you all.

i agree about the less competition part. i heard Kiwis are very laid back, much unlike the rest of the world, fighting to be the first, competing relentlessly... it can get a bit tiresome to be honest. but it's funny, though. i have come across several hate sites for NZ where the locals themselves condemn the place. wtf?

i have already experienced the so-called academic approach that TARC offered. my school has been trying very hard to fight for 60% coursework - 40% exams scale, but unfortunately the old hags in TARC have too much dignity up in their noses to consider it since they think exams are always the most important. in the end, students like us work very hard for our assignments, and only left with little time to study up for exams that always seem impossible to score. it's easy to pass but never easy to excel as a mass communication student. you need to stand out - not provide the most 'accurate' answer in exams. and how do you prove you're outstanding in an exam where there is no definite answer and no room to show off your creativity?

so it's a little challenge for myself to try out a polytechnic after the things i've been through in an academic-focused learning environment.

i am also relieved to hear about the job prospects issue. frankly Malaysians have gone a bit too far with the elitist mindset that all the jobs we dy eem 'low class' are all now handled by immigrants, which are now causing problems to our country. our own people have too much dignity to do anything lower than what they have studied for. there was a brief whirlwind regarding the overwhelming amount of immigrants we have in the Malaysian news, isn't it?

i'd definitely try and expand my horizons in NZ, have plans to stay there... make full use of the 2 year visa they offer to students after they graduate...

and to answer you, University of Auckland, Massey University, University of Canterbury, AUT, UNITEC, and some other lesser known polytechnics.

reason why i didn't consider the first 3 is because they do not offer Public Relations. and frankly, the course syllabus is so dead-on academic, i already can feel a wave of nausea sink in. they'll be forcing you to read 1000001 year-old scholarly articles by some old fart, which i don't think will help much in the creative industry.

again, dude, thanks so much for the advice!

cool, same here. no 'Y'.

i nearly broke down when i went through a forum that had all Kiwis themselves cursing their tiny island to bits. at that point i was nearly on the verge of canceling my plans till i was able to think with a level-head. just like this forum, which Malaysian would praise their own country? we're full of complaints ourselves, so i guess Kiwis and M'sians are equal on this matter. i shall rest my case and not judge NZ by that dreadful forum. *makes a mental note not to be overly creative with using Google*

thanks for the praise, but i think hold on to that first. i seriously dunno what i'm expecting there, not much back-up support or word-of-mouth from people's experiences of the place (which is very unlike Australia *pouts*) other than bright flashy websites illustrating how beautiful NZ is. like i haven't heard of that before! lol. guess what i can do now is just to take the plunge and have fun! so now that i've made my decision (just emailed over my final bit of results to the agent), i should really work down a list of 'to-dos' and get myself prepared. but you said don't expect too much... i certainly hope NZ wouldn't fall below my expected standard...

now! some info about you, where did you get your law degree from? are you still in NZ or are you back here already? and i can really relate the the marking scheme thing... sometimes these things are just too subjective to be determined just by a 'score' given by a lecturer. and it's your luck! if you meet with an old windbag, be sure your originality will go to the drain... they tend to abide by strict codes and ethics.

i've did a bit of scouring this thread, seems that you mentioned the job prospect there sucks? and we should be prepared to do low-waged jobs like flipping burgers before hopping onto something more rewarding? i don't mind flipping burgers while studying but if i were to continue that 2 years after i graduate, that'd be dreadful. i have my sights on the beauty industry... NZ is no NYC nor London nor Italy, but i believe this sort of industry thrives on everywhere that has modern and fashion-conscious people. or any vain women in short.

some sorta expat exposed or something. didn't bother bookmarking something so dreadful. try googling 'New Zealand sucks'. was trying to dig out some raw bad perspective about the place from real people hence the stupid keywords.

haha, you know which website i'm talking about huh. i think it's really time to just throw back and anticipate adventure. am never going to step into that website to mess up my mind again! as for the good and bad, well i guess you can't have everything, and you never know anything till you've really experienced it. it's a good head start though, after talking to you, at least i know what to expect and brace myself.

as of now, i'm waiting for final confirmation from UNITEC, then that'll decide whether i'm really going to NZ or not. do keep your fingers crossed for me!

thanks for all the advice, it's really good to talk to someone experienced like you.

yes me, early next year. i still need my IELTS to get my position in UNITEC confirmed.

hi guys! can anyone recommend a good agent / website that sells KL > NZ flight tickets at a good rate? price surveyed ranges from 2k to 2.5k... gosh i hope AirAsia makes their NZ flight a reality soon...

true i'm not 80 but it's my first flight over and my family doesn't encourage me to take the transit.
not practical for first timers.
i'll take transits only when i've settled down over there.
gotten a pretty okay deal after signing up for the ISIC card btw.

thanks, really much prefer settling down before going for transit.
planning to establish long-term relationship with NZ so i guess i'll be traveling frequently.
plus 13th is like the only ideal date (and the only available choice) to fly for me, right after reunion dinner with my whole family, which i hardly meet due to geographical differences.


i've checked, transit flights are all full and i've considered going to Australia before landing on NZ.
but not practical for me lah the time, coz i really wanna cherish the time with full family that i don't get to see everyday.
transits are a sure way to go after we've settled down and don't need to bring SOS items (FOOD and crap) to barricade ourselves lol.

i'm going to Unitec NZ, Auckland.

the Mount Albert one. i hope it's a nice place~

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Added on November 30, 2009, 1:36 pmafter reading through the thread, apparently Vodafone has somewhat become the exclusive choice for international students?

i just looked through the prices of their phones... typical monthly cost is NZD39.95 and you can get a lauyah phone for free. i doubt i'm gonna use that much monthly.

so is it really worth to get their phone plus the plan, or just get in Malaysia and use a prepaid card? i hope their prepaid system is identical to here lol.


This post has been edited by sE_vIxEn: Nov 30 2009, 01:36 PM

the lowest rate i found was NZD40 for Vodafone plans, and you're tied down 24 months. maybe for the locals it's a bargain, but i guess i'll need to hunt down a phone now. my 5 year old W800i is dying.

thanks!

noted, Emperor. thank you so much for your feedback!

any particular reason why Vodafone 'monopolized' the international student market?