Global Experiences for Waikato students
Globalise your degree and boost your career with a student exchange, a global internship, or a short-term experience - all while completing your Waikato degree.
Learn Global. Think Global.
University of Waikato students can spend a trimester or two abroad at one of our international partners on a student exchange, build valuable job skills with a global internship, or take the first step to global citizenship with a short-term experience.
From increased confidence and independence to new perspectives, global networks, and career-ready skills, the benefits of a global experience extend far beyond the classroom.
Independent research supports this: having a global experience can help you get better grades, earn more when you start your career, and pick up skills that help you stand out in the job market.
Discover your options
Learn more about studying overseas on a student exchange, boosting your employability with an internship, and taking a first step towards becoming a global citizen with short-term experiences.
Funding a global experience
Students frequently tell us that the cost of a global experience is one of their biggest concerns. Having a global experience is without a doubt life-changing, but we understand that the financial element can be overwhelming. Find out how StudyLink can support you while abroad, see the scholarship opportunities you can apply for, and get some fundraising tips on our StudyLink, Scholarships, and Fundraising page.
More information
Information sessions
Come along to an information or drop-in session to learn about your options and plan your global experience.
Explore experiences
Use our global experiences portal to filter programmes by subject, destination, and duration to find your perfect fit.
Student stories
Get the real story in students' own words — read their stories about life on exchange, a global internship, or a short-term experience.
Frequently asked questions
A global experience lets you gain international experience as part of your University of Waikato degree. You can choose from a student exchange (one or two trimesters abroad), a global internship (working overseas in Asia, Europe, the Americas, or the Pacific), or a short-term experience (cultural, academic, or volunteer programmes ranging from 2-8 weeks). All are designed to enhance your University of Waikato degree and boost your employability after graduation.
Yes! Our global experiences are designed to fit into your University of Waikato degree, without adding any extra time to your study. On a student exchange, the points you earn overseas are credited towards your degree, year level, and academic requirements. Global internships and short-term experiences are structured to fit around the standard academic trimesters. The best time to go will depend on your degree, so we recommend attending an information session to plan your timing.
Employers increasingly look for graduates who can work across cultures, adapt to unfamiliar environments, and communicate effectively with international colleagues. A global experience develops all these skills in a way that classroom study simply can't replicate. Whether you study, work, or volunteer overseas, you'll return with a stronger CV, a broader professional network, and a clearer sense of direction, which makes a real difference when you enter the job market.
Eligibility varies by programme type. For a student exchange, you need to have studied at the University of Waikato for at least one year and achieved at least a B grade average. Global internships have varying eligibility requirements depending on the provider and funding source. Short-term experiences generally have the most flexible entry requirements, although some programmes require New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency. We recommend attending a Waikato Global Experiences 101 information session to find out which programme is the right fit for you.
It depends on the type of programme. For a student exchange, you continue paying University of Waikato tuition fees, so tuition costs are the same as staying in New Zealand. You will need to budget separately for flights, accommodation, visa costs, and living expenses, which we estimate at around $15,000–$17,000 NZD for one trimester, depending on destination. Global internships involve a programme fee paid directly to the internship provider, which varies by location and length. Some short-term experiences and internships are fully or partially funded. Visit our StudyLink, Scholarships and Funding page for a full overview of what financial support is available.
The best starting point is a Waikato Global Experiences 101 information session, a free session run by our team that walks you through all the options, helps you think about timing within your degree, and answers your questions. You can also explore specific programmes through our Global Experiences portal, which lets you filter by subject area, duration, language, and destination. If you already have a sense of which programme interests you, a 102 information session goes deeper into academic planning and applications.