Academic learning is the key to success, but learning outside the classroom is equally valuable. We encourage our students to make friends, have fun and fully embrace all aspects of New Zealand or Australian life.
We encourage you to develop good study habits and we offer personalised support to help you reach your goals. Each student is assigned a tutor to supervise the study and provide individual guidance, meeting regularly to check progress, celebrate success and overcome challenges.
Parents and caregivers are kept up to date with student progress via a web-based portal. A unique login and password gives access to personal information, including on accommodation, daily timetables, attendance records and academic reports, as well as details of medical and travel insurance policies and student visas. The portal also has information on programmes, schedules and events.
Our Orientation programme helps you settle in when you first arrive. You’ll receive an information handbook that includes homestay and accommodation guidelines. Foundation Studies students and those enrolled at UP International College for English Studies are given a free iPad for the duration of the course to access digital course materials.
Offering a level of care that sets us apart, UP Education provides help and support to all international students from the moment they contact us, to arriving in New Zealand and throughout their studies. We’re here to help ensure life in New Zealand is happy and rewarding.
Transport and practical support
UP Education is on hand to provide students with the very best care and support. On arrival at the airport students will be greeted by an UP representative, who will deliver them to their accommodation. Those moving into a city apartment will be shown how to walk to the campus. For those booked into a homestay, the host family will ensure students know how to get to college, and help them buy tickets for public transport. On the first day of the course, support staff will be on hand to help organise banking, insurance, bus tickets and more.
International students must have comprehensive medical and travel insurance. Up Education has teamed up with New Zealand’s largest insurer, Southern Cross, to offer an excellent policy which covers students during their journeys to and from New Zealand and during their stay here.
On each campus, we have staff trained and registered with Red Cross or an on-campus nurse for minor health and wellbeing issues. If students need further medical treatment, a doctor is available by appointment.
Click here if you would like more information about medical support in New Zealand
Personal wellbeing is essential for academic and personal achievement, especially when studying in a new country. At UP Education we do everything we can to support and care for our international students.
Our caring and dedicated staff are experienced in looking after international students’ educational, practical and social needs. The New Zealand Ministry of Education’s Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students is a requirement we take very seriously.
We ensure a very high standard of care for international students studying with us. We are reviewed by NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority) or the Education Review Office (on behalf of NZQA) who audit education providers on a regular basis.
Adjusting to a new culture takes time. Our homestay families, tutors, welfare and pastoral care staff are always on hand to offer guidance and support. Students can also choose from a range of social, sporting, cultural and religious groups, which may help with emotional and spiritual health.
We create a link between personal wellbeing and academic studies, supporting students to achieve their full learning potential.
Our International Centre assists students with practical and personal challenges, as well as immigration matters, visas, insurance, accommodation, and banking. It’s a great place for students to access information about living and studying in New Zealand.
We have partnered with Sonder, a 24/7 personal safety and wellbeing service, to support all our international students. The Sonder app is for personal devices and has a number of features, like “Track My Journey” and “Check On Me”, that will help students live and study in New Zealand with confidence – if you are walking alone at night, going on a first date, or meeting up with a stranger to buy or sell goods, for example.
Additionally, if you are feeling stressed, anxious, lonely or simply don’t know who to turn to, you can speak to Sonder’s multilingual support team anytime via live chat or phone, and they can even send in-person assistance if you need it. Students can activate their account starting the week before their start date at be.sondersafe.com/up. Students receive an activation email or text shortly before Orientation, where more information will be given.
New experiences, new people
Our exciting range of social activities help students have fun, meet new people, and expand their interests. There’s more to life than study. At UP International College there are lots of opportunities to have fun outside the classroom – from sports, competitions and excursions to craft clubs and cooking groups.
The Student Learning Centre and common room
The social hub of our campus – students gather here to watch movies, play board games and Xbox, use the computers, study and socialise.
Open Hours:
Monday to Friday – until 8:00pm
Saturday – 11:00am until 3:00pm
Basketball and badminton are run after school at the YMCA gym, close to to UP International College. We also offer classes in photography, yoga, and cooking. Class numbers are limited, and students may need to pay a small charge for some activities.
UP international College runs a student video competition, a chess tournament, movie nights and special theatre visits. Students choose from a range of activities including tramping, craft groups and cultural activities. We also offer group excursions to local attractions.
Foundation and English studies students will also be given an iPad to use for the duration of their studies. This gives them access to course materials, an email account, announcements and news bulletins, and provides a platform for sharing ideas and working off-campus using Blackboard – the UP Education Learning Management System.
345 Queen St
Auckland, New Zealand
Postal address
PO Box 78-359
Grey Lynn, Auckland 1245
Level 3, West wing
Wellington Railway Station
2 Bunny St
Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Following the Government announcement, New Zealand has now moved to Alert Level 4 in response to COVID-19. This means all UP Education campuses are closed for face to face delivery of education from Tuesday 24 March 2020 for four weeks minimum. While our campuses aren’t physically open, we will be continuing the education of our students via virtual/online modes of delivery. Our absolute priority is the safety of our students and staff during these challenging and unprecedented times. For further information head to our parent company, UP Education for further information