Victoria University of Wellington

Promoted in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee celebrations, this ancient university has metamorphosed into New Zealand’s most prestigious institution of higher education Situated down under in Lord of the Rings country, the Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) is one of New Zealand’s oldest and most prestigious universities. Promoted in 1897 by an Act of Parliament to commemorate Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee celebrations, VUW was recently awarded the Trade New Zealand export award for excellence and innovation. This ancient varsity boasts five faculties which offer over 80 bachelors, 20 specialist Masters besides several diploma and certificate study programmes. It hosts 19,000 students, with over 2,600 international students from 70 countries instructed by 1,500 faculty. “Victoria University has been the academic heart of the region for over 100 years and it continues to produce high quality graduates that provide the next generation of scholars, inventors, entrepreneurs, business and civic leaders. Our teaching and research with staff who are world leaders in their fields, is built on a proud tradition of academic excellence over the past century and is geared to meet the challenges of the current millennium,” says Prof. Stuart McCutcheon, vice-chancellor of VUW. Wellington. Perched on the southern tip of New Zealand’s north island, Wellington (pop. 400,000) is the nation’s political, financial and cultural capital. It’s also this picturesque country’s new information technology (IT) capital, with over 1,000 new IT jobs created last year. Moreover it boasts many of this island nation’s national institutions — the National Library, the National Archives, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Parliament, government departments and the General Assembly library. And with 2,500 live cultural and entertainment performances in the city, there’s always something going on in Wellington. The city hosts 40 art and cultural festivals every year, including the biannual International Festival of the Arts — one of the top six art festivals in the world. The Wellington region also offers numerous recreational and sporting activities such as water sports, hill and bush walking, tennis and fishing, with the ski slopes only a four hour drive away. With its mild, temperate climate with temperatures averaging 25oC in summer and 12oC in winter, it has more restaurants and cafés per capita than New York. Campus facilities. Victoria University’s four campuses span the compact city centre. The Kelburn campus nestles on a hillside overlooking the stunningly picturesque Wellington harbour. The city or Pipitea campus is in the heart of Wellington’s commercial sector. It comprises beautifully restored historic government buildings on Lambton Quay, which hosts the faculty of law, while the adjacent 13-storey Rutherford House, hosts the faculties of commerce and administration and the centre for continuing education. The Te Aro or architecture and design campus is situated across town in an award-winning landmark building in the city’s artistic hub. The Kaori campus is the site of the Wellington College of Education and Foundation Studies programme. All campuses are within easy walking distance of each other and close to a range of student accommodation options. The university has a large…