Ly-ly chose to study at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington partly because of how helpful the advisers were when she came in to discuss course options. “The lecturers and tutors are very supportive—they want you to succeed.”

“I always knew what was expected of me in terms of assessments, and this minimised the amount of stress. Using the free student support services services, such as Student Learning, has been a big part of my university study. Having someone proofread your essay not only gives you assurance when you hand it in you are on the right track, but also helps you learn how to improve your writing in the future.”

Ly-ly found the University buildings modern and easy to navigate. She was also struck by the views of Wellington Harbour from the Kelburn library—“So beautiful to look at as you study.

“Wellington in general has a lot to offer with cute cafes and unique bars making it a great place to be a student.”

I developed a passion for Spanish during high school. I was determined to study languages at university and I’m glad to have chosen Victoria University of Wellington because studying here has enriched my passion for foreign languages.

Pursuing the subjects I love, while connecting with enthusiastic lecturers and like-minded students, has been an amazing experience. Not only have my linguistic abilities improved, I have also gained so much cultural knowledge, which I’m sure will benefit me in the future.

Being a multicultural city, Wellington is an ideal place for language students. There are so many opportunities to further language learning, both in the University and in the city. I am very excited to see where my future years of study will take me, and feel that the University has set me up well to pursue a career where I can further develop my skills.

I chose Victoria University of Wellington because of its amazing reputation for humanities and law—there was nowhere else I wanted to study for my conjoint degree. It suited my passion for law and brought an international element with the languages I chose to study. Language learning has been such a highlight of my time at the University. I have benefited hugely from the talented staff and immersive class environment.

The calibre of the School of Languages and Cultures pushed me to achieve my dream of studying at Sciences Po University in Paris on exchange last year. Having the background in languages also equips me perfectly for my work as the student representative of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, where I organise events to help students gain more awareness of international affairs.

Other great opportunities I have had include roles as a research assistant, and work on various publications including the New Zealand International Review, the Victoria University of Wellington Law Review and the New Zealand Journal of Public and International Law. Wellington is a brilliant place to study and live because it's such a welcoming city. It has so many opportunities if you're interested in performing arts as I am; it really is the cultural capital of New Zealand.

I’ve always been passionate about languages, but I was never sure exactly what I could do with them until I came here and started exploring the possibilities. Languages open doors and not just for your career prospects—they change your world view.

Each language is another perspective on the way things work and provides valuable insight into how other people and societies see the world. In our increasingly connected world, this understanding is important. Communication is an invaluable skill to have, and studying languages and cultures are a great way to get there.

Studying languages at Victoria University of Wellington is great because the lecturers are world-class and take great pride in what they teach. They genuinely care about the students and want us to do our best. Wellington itself is such an inspiring and livable city with so many people from different backgrounds and cultures—what better place to study languages? Overall, I think that studying languages here is one of the best choices I’ve ever made.

I love working with languages because they connect you with so many more people and their literature, art, politics and debates. French, in particular, is spoken by large populations on every continent and is the most widely-spoken language in Wellington after English.

My research looks at the way people—writers, but also medical doctors, philosophers and ordinary people—relate to a sense of being at home. I’ve published on a deadly form of homesickness, originally called nostalgia, that was a major health crisis in early 19th-century France, and on poetry about feeling lost in one’s own city.

I’ve been a student in four countries and presented research in six (so far). Most recently, I’ve co-organised a conference with scholars and writers in Haiti.