I chose Victoria University of Wellington because it seemed to be an accessible, vibrant place to study. I was impressed with the diverse range of academic and social opportunities offered. I’ve had amazing opportunities here to meet like-minded people who share similar worldviews, while also being encouraged to develop the skills to think critically.

Gender and Sexuality Studies is great because the courses are so engaging and relevant to everyday life. I’ve learnt to consider gender, identify inequalities that exist in society and apply the theories and concepts I learnt to imagine new ways to address these issues.

The staff here are approachable, supportive and genuinely interested in providing you with the best academic opportunities. I am involved with clubs and leadership programmes, such as the Sociology Society, Victoria International Leadership Programme and the Victoria University Tramping Club. I also had the opportunity to go an exchange to the University of Copenhagen.

I love studying and living in Wellington because it provides everything you need for a wonderful university experience. It has a thriving arts scene, many places to eat and fantastic bookshops. Wherever you are in the city, you’ll never be more than a 20-minute walk away from the sea, forest or hills.

I chose the Sociology programme because I’ve always been very passionate about societal issues and was interested in learning more. In my final year of high school, my Social Studies class were participants in a sociological study about political engagement in youth, and I realised that was something I wanted to do.

When considering universities, I choose Victoria University of Wellington because I knew it had a strong focus on the humanities and social sciences, and I thought that living and studying in the capital would offer unique opportunities. I was right. For people interested in politics, there is no better place to be than Wellington—there are opportunities here to become involved in whatever cause you’re passionate about. For those who aren’t, Wellington is a wonderfully diverse city that offers a wide scope for sociological analysis. This is reflected in the Sociology programme at the University, where the teaching staff have such a wide array of interests that there’s bound to be courses that appeal to you. Studying Sociology at the University has been a great experience and I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested.

Since leaving Victoria University of Wellington, I have been working for the Ministry of Social Development, doing what I can every day to help those who need it. During my degree in Sociology, I studied why and how people in society may be disadvantaged, and now I am in a position where I can try and help those same people.

The University really helped me in my career by challenging me to question everything, and to think outside of the box. I learned how to both question cleverly and write intelligently, which will be fundamental skills in my developing career.

I loved studying at Victoria University of Wellington because I was able to study my passions with the unvarying encouragement of my supervisors—even when I wanted to take on challenging or unusual projects. For example, I did my Honours thesis about internet dating—not many people can say that!

Wellington was a great place to study because there are so many opportunities for students here, especially those who want to work in government. You are at the centre of it all and your opportunities are limitless.

Sociology attracts a great group of students and is home to a diverse group of people with common interests. Students and staff interact and engage with serious cultural and social issues that really matter in both global and more personal terms.

This subject covers a wide range of topics. Current students are covering a variety of topics including politics, health and illness, micro-sociology, social movements, and health and equality. Staff encourage students to pick an area that interests them and immerse themselves.

Studying Sociology helps students to develop and foster skills sought after in a variety of fields. It helps students to strengthen practical skills in researching, thinking, and problem-solving. Many of the frameworks learned through this course of study can be put into practice in everyday life. One of the most practical and translatable skills this subject offers is critical thinking. It is a highly important and adaptable skill in this course and is transferable to any other area of study and to the workplace.

The University boasts many resources within the school, such as lecturers and tutors that help instigate and facilitate social and intellectual stimulation as well as an engaging and thought-provoking culture.

Students can expect great supervision for their research projects, and the internship offered at Honours level gives them workplace experience. The skills and experience gained through practical working environments set our students up for many career options post-graduation.