Massey University
Spread across three city campuses in the North Island of New Zealand, Massey University has grown from a simple agricultural college to a leader in a variety of fields, in addition to providing the country's widest use of technology and digital teaching.
Massey is one of the only universities to offer an elite Global Athlete training program to exchange students. It also boasts New Zealand's largest business school and only trading room, plus a number of unique majors and study areas. It is ranked 3rd in the country for employability, top 100 globally for Development Studies, and among the top 6 institutions in New Zealand (QS 2020).
This excellence and innovation in academics have been big factors in Massey's consistent reports of high student satisfaction. Every year, Massey welcomes about 4,000 international students from more than 100 countries to enjoy the student life of Northern New Zealand.
Key information
Application information
Click on the image to launch a video playlist introducing Massey's 3 campuses! (Picture is of Nga Huruhuru Rangatira, a sculpture by Maori Visual Arts professor Robert Jahnke)
Geoff McKay
Program details
Areas of Study: Massey offers a wide variety of subjects, including Art, Art History, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Communications, Computer Science, Development Studies, Earth Science, Ecology, Economics, Engineering (Computer, Electronic, Mechanical, Software), English, Fashion, Geography, Greek & Roman Studies (Classics), Health Science, History, Māori Studies, Math, Military Studies, Museum Studies, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Social Work, Sport & Exercise Science, Statistics, Zoology and more.
Use their course search to help find courses (click here). Note, if you select advanced search, you can filter by campus.
Global Student Athlete Program: Palmerston North Campus (about 2 hrs North of Wellington) offers a unique program for athletes from any sport providing a range of training and conditioning services, in addition to specialized services for Rugby, Equestrian, Golf, and Cricket players. See FAQ for more info and details on funding for the GSA Program.
Communication Internship: This is available on all three Massey campuses during both semesters. Placements are available in media companies, for-profit businesses, community arts agencies, sports organizations, government departments, global non-profits, and with our team in Massey’s Office of Global Engagement. Details here.
Course restrictions: Fine Arts and Design courses have limited class sizes, so flexibility is necessary. Some Photography courses are not available to exchange students.
Course requirements: Exchange students are expected to take 45-60 credits per semester. Sometimes you may see Massey courses referred to interchangeably as "courses" and "papers".
The academic year is divided into 2 semesters.
- Semester One runs from mid-February to late June.
- Semester Two runs from early July to mid-November.
Students can start in either semester, however full-year students must start in February.
-
Costs
Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider.
It is recommended that students budget around NZ$8500-10000 per semester to pay for accommodation and living expenses.
Estimated expenses per semester:
Albany (Auckland) / Palmerston North / WellingtonAccommodations & utilities: $6300 / $5500 / $5600
Supermarket food: $1200 / $1200 / $1200
Personal Expenses: $1600 / $1600 / $1600
Bus Transport: $800 / Free / $500
Textbooks & Supplies: $500 / $500 / $500Estimated totals: $10400 / $8800 / $9500 NZD
Cost of living is typically higher in Auckland than Wellington or Palmerston North.
Cost comparisons vs. Calgary: Palmerston North - Auckland - Wellington
Also, remember to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations, etc. in your budget planning. Typically students who are in New Zealand for 6 months or less cannot open a local bank account.
A note about Mandatory Insurance: All enrolled international students are required to have approved health and travel insurance for the duration of their visa or until they depart New Zealand, whichever comes first. Each New Zealand university has its own preferred insurance policy; details about this policy will be sent to students prior to enrolment. Students who have alternate insurance may submit it for approval, but if it is not approved, they will be required to pay for the university policy. New Zealand insurance fees vary year to year but are typically about $400 NZD for one semester.
-
Funding
Did you know that you can take your UCalgary funding with you on exchange? Since you remain a degree-seeking student at UCalgary while on exchange, you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (based on a funding-first model where students apply prior to committing to a global learning program) and the Global Learning Award (students apply after being accepted to a global learning program; the amount varies year-to-year as the money is split among chosen recipients). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
Exchange students to Massey are guaranteed housing. Each campus provides a range of options. Students wishing to stay on-campus may apply for a private room in a residence hall or to share an apartment with 3 or 4 other students; mature students may instead apply for a private studio. On-campus accommodation offers students to choose from meal plans or self-catering. Alternatively, students may wish to live off-campus and can apply for a homestay with a local family. All host families have been approved by the university and will provide a room and three meals per day for students. Because of the range of housing types and meal packages, rental fees can vary greatly. Students are encouraged to look into the detailed information provided for their desired campus.
This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at UCalgary, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 (B-).
Attention UCalgary Dinos!
Want to keep up your athletics while on exchange? Massey's Global Student Athlete program at the Palmerston North Campus can keep you on track athletically while you study in New Zealand - one of the first "Athlete Friendly" exchange programs! Accommodation and courses can be arranged around your schedule within the GSA program.
The GSA program has several options for exchange students. "Strength & Conditioning" is offered every year and can be tailored towards your own sport. There are also usually a couple specialized sport options which vary each year, such as rugby, cricket, golf, equestrian, etc.
Note there is an additional cost to this program (e.g. "Strength & Conditioning" is estimated at $1,700 NZD per semester). All applicants to the GSA program are automatically considered for a scholarship valued up to $750 NZD.
What's special about Massey?
Massey University has three campuses: Manawatū (located in Palmerston North), Albany/Ōtehā (located in Auckland), and Wellington.
- Manawatū campus is Massey's original campus, located in the inland city of Palmerston North (about 2 hrs North of Wellington), with heritage buildings and large park-like grounds and fields - the Massey university grounds are listed as a New Zealand Botanical Garden! Palmerston North is New Zealand's 7th largest city, and has a large student population (over 40% of the population are studying, and 30% are between 15-30 years old!). Transit is also free within the city for students.
- Albany/Ōtehā campus is located on the northern boundary of Auckland, a peaceful, forested region only a short walk or bus-ride away from the cosmopolitan atmosphere of New Zealand's largest city.
- Wellington campus is located in the heart of New Zealand's capital city, Wellington, tucked among numerous parks and the arts district. It's known as the "Creative Campus" due to its facilities and resources for Art, Film, Fashion, and Design students.
Massey has a smoke-free campus policy. Smoking on campus is not permitted.
What resources are available for new students?
Massey offers an Orientation Programme each semester to introduce students to their new campus and unique aspects of the Kiwi lifestyle.
What supports or services are available at Massey?
Massey's Disability Services centre offers comprehensive academic support for students with disabilities.
Have questions?
The exchange advisor for this program is: Kathryn Bauer
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.