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Student Life

Student Life

Life New Zealand

New Zealand is a stunning country with a multicultural population of over 5 million people. The nation has a thriving cultural scene, with a diverse population of Europeans, Māori, Pacific Island, Asians, and others.

The people of New Zealand, commonly known as Kiwis, are known for their friendly and laid-back nature. They enjoy meeting individuals from various cultures and embody the essence of manaakitanga, which is hospitality.

New Zealand is an English-speaking country with a British heritage, but it doesn’t have the regional accents and dialects of Britain or the USA. New Zealand English spelling and grammar are almost identical to the British with some vocabulary similarities to that of the United States. One of the things that enriches the vocabulary of New Zealand English different from other varieties of English is its incorporation of words from Māori, especially for flora, fauna and natural and cultural features. Our education system is highly respected worldwide. If you’re looking for a safe country to study in and meet friendly people, New Zealand is the perfect option for you.

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Student Life

Life in Auckland

ICL Graduate Business School, Auckland English Academy and Bridge International College are all located in Auckland City. Auckland is New Zealand’s biggest and most diverse city, with a population of approximately 1.5 million people.

Living in Auckland, you are never more than 20 minutes away from one of the many beautiful beaches. ICL Education campus is located right in the heart of it all in the central CBD. Buses, trains and ferries are a short walk from the campus, making it easy to explore the city. You’ll never be stuck for things to do while in Auckland. The City Centre is by the amazing waterfront with thousands of boats which is why Auckland is called ‘The City of Sails’. Auckland has more boats per capita than any other city in the world! Auckland is the commercial heart of New Zealand, with a wide range of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. In the Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking 2023 , Auckland claims third place, emphasising its exceptional quality of living. The city provides residents with a high standard of living, robust healthcare, and a dynamic cultural scene. The Auckland City  offers a good insight into all the things you can do in our wonderful city, on any budget. School staff will be happy to help you with your travelling plans.

Currency

New Zealand’s unit of currency is the dollar (NZD$), often called the ‘Kiwi’, as the $1 coin depicts the kiwi bird that New Zealand is often associated with. Residents and tourists get a fairly good exchange rate and this further gives them high purchasing power.

The New Zealand Dollar has consistently been one of the top 10 most-traded currencies in the world.

Culture

With a patchwork history of Māori, European, Pacific Island and Asian influences, New Zealand is a melting pot of cultures. People from different countries can reside here and maintain their culture and religion as New Zealand law guarantees the freedom of worship.

New Zealanders share a set of values that arise from Māori cultural influences, early pioneering spirit, and a love of sports and the outdoors.

As members of a unique and multicultural society, many Kiwis have wholeheartedly embraced urban living, café culture and an appreciation for new culinary tastes, fashion and the arts. Kiwis are as likely to visit an Asian restaurant or modern art gallery as they are to attend a local rugby game.

Transportation

New Zealand has a modern and forefront transportation system. When a student or tourist arrives, they can easily hire a cab/rideshare service or use the rail and bus services. There are regular flights to different cities from the major airports. The air, rail, and bus fares are considerably affordable.

In cities like Auckland, using public transport such as bus, train and ferry is an easy, safe and affordable way to get around. Transport is well integrated with the infrastructure and supports the use of sustainable transport activities; walking, cycling, scooting, etc.

Education Sector

Auckland is considered the education hub of New Zealand, with internationally acclaimed universities, research centres, top secondary schools, and a legion of world-class language schools. Auckland region alone has about 50% of total international students that reside in New Zealand.

Business Sectors

New Zealand’s diverse and modern economy features a wide range of business sectors – many with strengths and advantages found nowhere else in the world – Besides the prosperous primary industries, many other sectors are thriving such as education, transportation, food and beverage, renewable energy, tech and innovation, tourism and logistics.

Only the Auckland region attracted more than $300 million in overseas investment in the past few years, most of the jobs in the creative, business, and tech sectors can be found here. Auckland has a robust infrastructure that easily caters the current and future business needs.

Student Life

Accommodation Recommended by ICL

ICL recommends two types of accommodation:
  • Homestay
  • Student Dormitory
  • Flatting

    • Homestay

    We do our best to find a suitable homestay family for our students if requested. The advantages of a homestay are the cultural benefits, the support and comfort of family life and the additional language support. A homestay is an excellent way to learn about New Zealand culture, make friends and practise your English while living in New Zealand. New Zealand families are typically kind, honest, and friendly and enjoy meeting people from other cultures.

    All our homestay families are regularly inspected. The inspector visits the family homes, interviews the family members, and ensures that they are suitable for our students. Students who require accommodation should request their homestay accommodation at least two weeks before starting their programme.

    The average time for students to commute from homestay to school is around 30 to 45 minutes.

    If the school arranges homestay accommodation for you, with a minimum period of four weeks. The homestay fee for this period and the placement fee are non-refundable.

    Homestay means that you will get the following:

    • The chance to speak English every day.
    • Two meals a day: breakfast and dinner, with lunch on the weekends.
    • Your washing will be done.

    Homestay families will do their best to give you a ‘home away from home’.

    You are expected to:

    • Obey the “house rules” set by your homestay parents.
    • Discuss these rules with your homestay family and be sure you understand them.
    • Do NOT smoke or drink alcohol unless permission is given.
    • Be home by 7:30 PM on weeknights unless your homestay family has agreed to other arrangements. Call your homestay family if you are going to be late home.
    • Sleep at home on weeknights.
    • Do NOT have visitors to sleep over during the week.
    • Check and get the agreement of your homestay parents if you want to ask your friends to sleep on a weekend.
    • NEVER have friends of the opposite sex sleeping in your room.
    • Be home by 10:00 PM at weekends if you do not have another prior agreement with your homestay.
    • Do NOT sleep over at a friend’s place, until you have informed your homestay family of your whereabouts and provided a phone number.

    When leaving:

    • You should give two weeks’ notice, before leaving your host family.
    • If you need to leave your homestay family because of an emergency, you must contact your counsellor or homestay coordinator immediately.

    Student Dormitory

    A student dormitory is a housing facility that is specifically designed for students to provide them with a safe and peaceful environment to reside in during their academic studies. These dormitories consist of individual or shared rooms, communal areas, as well as shared facilities like bathrooms and kitchens.

    ICL recommends Rocklands, an ideal student dormitory nestled in the heart of Epsom consisting of 150 rooms, one of Auckland’s largest accommodations specialising in single long-term accommodation. The residence offers a tranquil and secure environment, perfect for students seeking a peaceful place to live and study. Rocklands is centrally located with easy access to public transport and near to shops, it provides convenience for both school and city exploration.

    With a minimum 6-week stay, Rocklands ensures a stable and supportive home. Rent includes utilities, eliminating monthly bill concerns. Embrace community living by sharing facilities with fellow students, creating a balanced and collaborative environment.

    Key Features:

    • Safe and Secure: Live-in caretaker, CCTV monitoring, security doors, night-time security.
    • Central Location: 5km to the City Center, walking distance to Newmarket/Mount Eden shops, doctors and transportation.
    • Easy Management: 6-week minimum stay, utilities included.
    • Facilities: communal kitchen, lounge, shared bathrooms, garden and BBQ area, laundry room, broadband internet, gym, secure parking.

    Flatting

    After a few weeks or months of homestay, you may decide that you can manage on your own to share a flat or house with others. You should try and share with people who do NOT speak your language so that you can practise English! Check the cost of rent, food and transport and make sure you can afford to change your living arrangements. The advantage of an apartment is that it can be much closer to school and gives you independence. To search options for a flat to share go to Flatmates Wanted.