Learning online
Some of our courses can be taken without coming to campus. These courses can be found on our on-line course finder.
Read our advice to set yourself up to succeed in an online learning and teaching environment.
Recommended devices
If purchasing a new computer or laptop, we suggest the following specification or higher:
- i5 (or equivalent AMD) Processor (Quad Core, 6M Cache, 1.6 GHz)
- 14.0” FHD (1920 x 1080) Non-Touch LCD with Mic/Camera, Wireless e
- 8GB (1X8GB) DDR4
- Intel® Integrated HD Graphics 620
- 256GB Solid State Drive.
There are many laptops available at a lower price and specification, but they may not be suitable for your needs. Wherever possible we recommend purchasing a higher specification (as above) as this will last longer and be able to handle more applications. If in doubt of the specification you need, we recommend talking with a friend who knows about computers or taking advice from staff at electronics shops. There are also many articles on the internet providing advice on what laptop to buy for university distance learning.
Internet connections
Broadband Compare can help you to select a suitable option for your internet provider.
Skinny Jump is a programme designed to help more New Zealanders gain access to affordable broadband at home, providing heavily subsidised connectivity to thousands of households at risk of being digitally excluded due to cost.
Support
Contact Digital Solutions on 04 463 5050, servicedesk@vuw.ac.nz, or via webchat. Our opening hours are:
- Monday to Thursday 7.30 am–8 pm
- Friday 7.30 am–5 pm
- Saturday 8 am–4 pm.
Te Taiako | Student Learning
Learning online is great for flexibility—you can study anywhere and anytime you want. However there are different challenges with online learning compared to face-to-face classes. Te Taiako—Student Learning have developed modules you can complete at your own pace to develop skills for online learning.
Studying from outside New Zealand
Students studying from outside New Zealand will need access to Nuku, which is your virtual campus and the online learning environment for all your courses.
Find out more about using Nuku.
Outside New Zealand, the connection works best with a VPN (virtual private network) on any device, or if you don’t have a VPN, on a Windows operating system.
If you have technical issues, you can get in touch with the Digital Solutions service desk by phone +64 4 463 5050, email servicedesk@vuw.ac.nz, or via webchat.
Inclusive learning tools
You can access additional inclusive learning tools on University computers and your personal devices.
Software programmes Read&Write and EquatIO are digital tools intended to help students and staff work and study more efficiently, accurately, and quickly by making online and numerical information more accessible.
The software is particularly useful for people with specific learning disabilities, people with English as a second language, and oral learners. The tools also offer benefits to all students in the online learning and teaching environment.
Read&Write is a software toolbar that makes documents, web pages, and office applications more accessible. This includes scanning text, having information read to you or converted to an MP3 file, proof-reading lengthy reports, and other helpful tools for writing and research tasks. Watch a quick introduction to Read&Write.
EquatIO is the maths and chemical formula equivalent and can create equations, formulae, and graphs using natural written or spoken language, and place them into your documents or work directly with LaTeX, a software system for document preparation.
Further information on how to use and access the software is on the Te Amaru—Disability Services website.