Checklist for new students

Get ready for your uni experience with this essential checklist covering enrolment, accounts, and Welcome week. International students can find additional support for visas and banking.

Before you start checklist

  • Ensure you have set up your student account, including the Multi Factor Authorisation (MFA) — you will need this to access your papers in Moodle.
  • Submit a photo for your student ID card.
  • Get to know what Health and Wellbeing services are available and complete any registrations needed, for our on-site gym Unirec at the Hamilton campus or the Student Health Service.
  • Attend Welcome to Waikato activities — for first year students:
    • Welcome to Waikato is the week before classes start (previously called Academic Orientation)
    • Orientation is full of activities hosted by WSU during the first week of classes. Check the WSU Facebook and Tauranga WSU pages for more information.

    • Kick-Ons is all about social sports and making connections. Hosted by the Waikato Students’ Union.

  • Familiarise yourself with the Library services and the different study spaces available in Te Manawa – The Student Centre (M Block).
  • If your 100-level papers haven’t been approved, please contact our Student Centre team, you can find on:
  • If your 200-level or above papers haven’t been approved, please contact your Division, Faculty or School.
  • Check your Timetable in MyWaikato. Note: tutorials, labs and workshops typically start in week two, and you will sign up for these through Moodle in your first week. In some instances, these start in week one, but this information is in the Paper Outline and on Moodle.
  • Familiarise yourself with Moodle — this will be where you find everything relating to each paper you’re taking. Note: it can take up to 24 hours after completing enrolment to get Moodle access.
  • Familiarise yourself with the different Student Tools — Moodle, MyWaikato, MyWIL, Student Homepage and Resource Booker.
  • Ensure you are fully enrolled. You may need to bring in original or verified documents to complete your enrolment or to satisfy police vetting checks (Teaching and Nursing students).
  • Require Accessibility support? Register with our Accessibility Team.
  • If you are a Māori or Pacific student, familiarise yourself with the Māori ki Waikato and Pacific at Waikato support services available to you.

  • Need a Bee Card for using the Public Transport around the Waikato, Tauranga, or Te Huia train to Auckland? You can order one online or purchase one from the Te Manawa – The Student Centre on the Hamilton Campus. Cards are $5.00, with a minimum top-up amount of $5.00. Once your card has been registered, you can apply for a student concession.

International students

In addition to the other items on the Before You Start checklist:

  • If you need proof of address to open a bank account, please ensure you have updated your contact address to your New Zealand address before you complete your enrolment. You will then be able to download your tuition fees receipt from your Finance tab in MyWaikato which will have your address on it and can be used for this purpose.
  • To schedule a meeting with the International Student Support team, email internationalsupport@waikato.ac.nz as appointments are required during peak periods.
  • Have a question about your visa? Please email visa@waikato.ac.nz with information about your situation. Our team will arrange a meeting with you if appropriate.
  • If you want to change your qualification after you have arrived, you need to submit an application for the new qualification, then apply to Immigration New Zealand for a Visa Variation. This process can take some time.