Academics

Fields of Study

Based in Tauranga, this 6-week short course for science students provides an exciting, hands on opportunity to explore marine conservation in a New Zealand context. Students will learn from expert researchers through a combination of field trips, laboratories, and seminars examining marine conservation issues from ecological, economic, and cultural perspectives.

Unique Study Opportunities

  • Complete an interdisciplinary project of relevance to the community in the theme of marine conservation and underwater sound.
  • Visit an area of a newly established Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Bay of Plenty and engage with the community and stakeholders such as the regional council, Department of Conservation, and Maori tribes and clans.
  • Watch this video to learn more about the program. 

Language

Language of Instruction: English

Language Study: None

Courses and Credit

Requirements While Abroad

To successfully complete this program:

  • Take two mandatory courses for a total of 12 quarter/8 semester UC units:
    • Marine Conservation and Spatial Planning
      • Students will get an overview of marine conservation science to support spatial management. The overarching objective is to equip students with a scientific understanding of the principles of marine conservation and relevant  quantitative skills to support ecosystem-based management of the marine estate.  
    • Marine Protection, Human Noise and Underwater Noise (Capstone)
      • Students will complete an interdisciplinary project of relevance to the community, in the theme of marine conservation and underwater sound. They will visit an area of a newly established Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Bay of Plenty and will engage with the community and stakeholders such as the regional council, Department of Conservation and iwi/hapu.
  • Both courses must be taken for a letter grade. 

Catalogs and Resources

  • Campus Credit Abroad: Learn the types of credit (major, minor, general education, elective) students from your campus received at this location. If the course you want to take is not listed here, that does not mean you can't earn major, minor, general education or elective credit for it, as the database is not fully updated and does not list all courses, even if a UCEAP student has taken it before and has earned major credit for it. Let this database help you if it's able to, but don't let it detour you. It's ultimately up to your major advisor to determine the type of UC credit you'll earn for your classes abroad. 

Academic Culture

To help you acclimate to New Zealand campus life and culture, there are a few key differences and similarities with UC to be aware of:

  • Students address local lecturers and tutors informally by their first name.
  • Similar to UC, the main forms of teaching are lectures (50-500+ students), tutorials (10-25 students), seminars (30+ students; half lecture, half tutorial), and labs/practicals.
  • All lectures are recorded—beware of waiting until the last minute to watch them. In New Zealand, students are expected to be independent and show initiative. Instructors won't chase you up if you miss classes or assignments.
  • Assignments tend to require heavy research and critical analysis.
  • You’ll need to use New Zealand English for assignments.

Grades

You will earn direct UC credit and grades for all coursework.

Grades will be available in October. Requests for early grades cannot be accommodated.