University of Wisconsin - Stout

A Study Abroad Experience in Wanganui, New Zealand

Courses offered in Art & Design, Apparel Design & Development

Program Cost (per semester): $8,315
Fall Dates: July – November, 2007
Spring Dates: February- June, 2008
Deadline for Fall: February 15, 2008
Deadline for Spring: October 1, 2008
Number of Positions: 10-15
Updated: November 29, 2007

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Program Description

University of Wisconsin-Stout students have an opportunity to gain international experience studying and traveling in New Zealand while earning credit toward their degree program. The Wanganui School of Design, part of the Universal College of Learning, offers courses work for any focus area of the Art and Design program and the Apparel Design and Development program. The school emerged in the late 1980s and soon gained an international reputation for experimental work in new media and graphic design. Today, they are a creditable and distinctive voice in design education. The Wanganui School of Design occupies its own multi storey building in central Wanganui. Spacious studio environments attract highly motivated students and staff from many parts of the world. Instruction focuses on working through a process of creative collaboration and extending the boundaries of talent towards fulfilling personal potential. Computer suites are among the best in the Pacific Rim, with state of the art technology for multimedia authoring, graphic design exploration and digital imaging.

For more information, visit the Wanganui School of Design website.

Wanganui, New Zealand

Wanganui is the gateway to the North Island National Parks and ski fields. It is also close to Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. Wanganui has a pleasant climate- summers are warm and dry with temperatures ranging between 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are mild with temperatures ranging between 35 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Wanganui is culturally rich with an excellent art gallery, museum, opera house, community arts centre, library, and a cinema with three movie theatres. Wanganui offers a wide range of cultural and sporting opportunities as well as parks and historical places of interest.

Cooks Gardens is one of New Zealand’s leading outdoor sports venues. This venue attracts world class athletes and riders to the city. Representative rugby games are played at Cooks Gardens during the winter months. The Wanganui River provides a source for recreation such as rowing, waterskiing, jetboating, canoeing, windsurfing and jet skiing. The paddle steamer ‘Waimarie’ travels daily up the river

Courses

Students, with the approval of their program director, choose 3-4 classes from about 45 different courses that can be used to meet degree requirements.  The method of instruction is similar to that in the U.S., but students are typically expected to do more independent work outside of class. Grades are typically based more on written work and a large exam at the end of the semester rather than on periodic quizzes. In general students studying in New Zealand need to be a mature, self-directed, and have excellent writing and thinking skills to have a good learning experience abroad.

Estimated Costs

Students will pay a program fee to UW-Stout to cover the cost of tuition, health insurance, service and contingency fees, and laptop fees. All other expenses, including housing, personal expenses, visa fees, meals and travel are paid directly by students. Eligible students can use their financial aid to help pay these expenses. Costs are subject to change and can vary due to exchange rates, host institution increases, travel to, from and within the host country, and personal spending habits.

Estimated Program Cost: $8,315

Estimated Housing Costs: $1,410

Estimated Personal Expenses: $4,667

Total Estimated Costs: $14,392

For further breakdown of all estimated costs, please contact the Office of International Education (below).

Eligibility

This study abroad program is open to Art and Design and Apparel Design and Development students who can use the courses at Wanganui School of Design to meet degree requirements at Stout. Students must be at least a sophomore and must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher to participate. Applicants will also need the approval of their program director, one letter of reference from a faculty member and a portfolio review to be approved for the program.

Housing and Meals

The International Office at Wanganui School of Design houses students in fully furnished flats.  Students have private bedrooms but share the bathroom, kitchen and lounge with four to six other students. Students prepare most meals at their accommodation.

Passport/Visa

Students make their own travel arrangements to New Zealand. Depending on the starting and ending date of the term, students may have the option of traveling in New Zealand before as well as after the end of the program. Students will need to have a passport and visa to study in New Zealand. Students will receive a “offer of a place” form upon acceptance to Wanganui.  That form is needed to apply for the visa.  There is no charge for the NZ visa.  The Office of International Education can provide more information on travel and immigration requirements.

Application Procedures

Please make an appointment with the Office of International Education (OIE), 400 Bowman Hall, to review and receive the application materials.  Completed forms are returned to OIE.  A $100 nonrefundable application fee is paid to the Student Business Services Office located in the Administration Building at time of application. Once accepted by UW-Stout, a $200 nonrefundable service fee will be required to hold a place in the program.

For detailed instructions on the application process, please see how to apply.

For More Information