Arts and Society student stories

Paying homage
“I chose to study at the University of Auckland to pay homage to those who have sacrificed a lot to get me to where I am today. It is important to recognise that I not only have my aspirations, but I also carry the dreams of my family who moved across the Pacific Ocean in search of a better life.”

Representation
“Representation is such an important aspect of academia, and it is amazing to have an entire school (Te Wānanga o Waipapa) dedicated to preserving and sharing Indigenous knowledge. By learning how to better understand myself, I can use that knowledge to create positive changes in the community.”

Blending Western and Indigenous knowledge
“My current majors, Sociology and Pacific Studies, go very well together because they are skilled disciplines that highlight both Western and Indigenous knowledges respectively. I believe that analysing both of these knowledge systems can help me to understand society more effectively, especially in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

The future
“I’ve always wanted to pursue a career in social development, particularly in Pacific communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. I would like to work in a position at a government organisation where I could advise on how policies can affect the wellbeing of Pacific peoples in our community. And I would like to further study the complexities of Pacific queer identities in the diaspora.

“It’s okay to be unsure about the future. Not everyone has a set plan, and many different factors can influence how your pathway will go. I would advise everyone to embrace the unknown and to take advantage of the many opportunities available to you at the University of Auckland.”
 

Aiming for the music industry
"I aim to work in the music industry, in live performance technology or with a creative direction. I am interested in all things entertainment, including film and TV, and I also hope to work in Korea someday."

Learning a language
"I wanted to study something that I enjoy and that would complement and contribute to my creative industry aspirations. Learning a language is something I’ve always wanted to do, and it opens many opportunities to work abroad in the future."

Adding a conjoint
"I added the Fine Arts conjoint after my first year, and it provided me with more hands-on aspects, and combined with my interest in media perfectly."
 

“Studying for a Bachelor of Arts really set me up for a career of critical thinking and creativity. I was taught to see the world through many different lenses and to approach things with an open, creative mind-set. This has helped me reach my potential as a writer and content producer.”

From school in the rural south…

“Growing up in rural Otago, I was ready to experience life in a big city, and the excitement of Auckland really appealed to me. The Bachelor of Arts offered subject choices far beyond what I’d studied at high school.”

“Media, Film and Television gave me invaluable skills for understanding different forms of media and thinking critically about the messages they portray. The lecturers’ passion for teaching in this field really cemented my love for the subject. Because an Arts degree is so flexible, I was also able to pick courses outside of my majors in history, English, politics and marketing. Everything I studied hugely enriched my education.”

… To my current role

“In my role at the Child Cancer Foundation, I am responsible for the copywriting, communications, content for our website, social media, donor communications and media relations. I also work closely with our Family Support Team to connect with and tell the stories of families at different stages of their journey with childhood cancer.”

My role
“I help make court information more accessible for victims. This can range from explaining legal and court terms to putting victims in touch with community-based safety support.
“It’s essential to communicate ideas and complex processes with often tight deadlines, especially with people from all walks of life.

My studies
“During my study, I had the opportunity to debate, present, and work in a team and individually in a safe and supportive environment. This helped me develop key skills like interpersonal communication, analytical thinking, and time management.”
 

Why Auckland
“I chose the University of Auckland as it offers a very wide variety of Arts subjects, including Art History, which is not provided by many other New Zealand universities. I also found the Communications department to be welcoming, engaging and innovative.”

Why Arts
“Studying at the Faculty of Arts is a creative and entertaining experience. The department is filled with a wide range of welcoming individuals who aren’t afraid to express and share their passions. There is always a sense of eagerness to learn and explore new interests with others, creating an environment where inclusivity and innovation are prioritised.

“My advice is to give every opportunity a go, even if it scares you. By pushing yourself and trying new things at the university, you will open doors academically, socially, and professionally that you would never have thought were possible.”

My future
“Once I graduate, I intend to follow my love of arts into a career at either an art gallery or art dealership. This would allow me to make use of the skills and knowledge I have gained through both my Art History and Communication majors.”
 

Do what you love
“Do what you love and love what you do. In the long run you’ll be glad you chose something you can see yourself doing for the rest of your life.
“I chose a Bachelor of Arts because I have always loved the Arts subjects in general. Doing something I enjoy and love is a must in what I pursue.”

Māori Studies
“I am Māori; my first language and the one I am most comfortable speaking is te reo. Māori Studies keeps me in check with my Te Ao Māori and it also allows me to showcase the beauty of what makes me me.

“I am in the Māori Students’ Association. There isn’t a better feeling than being surrounded by people who understand your struggle as well as your humour. They helped me adapt to University so I would encourage finding a student club that you feel connected to.”

My future
“Once I graduate I would like to get into media as a reporter or a presenter both in te reo and English. I have always been fascinated with what goes on in front of, around and behind a camera. I realise the lack of Māori representation in that industry, and I wish to change that.”
 

You get out what you put in
“You get out what you put into university. I’m very grateful I decided to push and involve myself as much as I have – the memories are unforgettable.

“I’ve always found politics a fascinating subject area. Since I was a child, my parents engaged in discussions with me to teach me about the value of democracy and civic engagement.

My favourite class
“My favourite Communication class is political marketing. I love learning about campaign work at every level of operation. The interactive tutorials are as engaging as they are informative, giving us the chance to engage in dialogue and learn from our peers.

My past and future
“When I left school, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, but because these degrees can be as broad as you want, I’ve been able to study incredibly far-reaching subjects to discover my passions.

“I’m hoping to pursue postgraduate study in either Psychology or Politics and International Relations, however I am still making decisions about my future. I think it’s important to emphasise that you don’t need to have your entire life worked out in your early 20s. University has been an incredible part of my journey thus far and I’m confident I’m prepared to go on and lead a successful life.”

Open to learning
“The most important thing that the BA teaches is to be open to learning. I use the skills of picking up new information, applying new ideas, and interrogating different points of view every day.”

My current role
“As a Graduate Analyst I work on a range of projects. My main role is as a vote analyst, so I am partially responsible for the Government’s Budget. I meet regularly with Inland Revenue to discuss their spending decisions. I also help to write advice to the Government on tax policy issues.

“Being part of such a significant undertaking makes the job fulfilling. My work helps to ensure we raise sufficient tax revenue in a fair and efficient way. That enables the Government to spend approximately $100bn a year on services that help New Zealanders to live better lives.”

Variety of study
“There is so much that you can learn about under the umbrella of Arts – I took courses in Politics, History, Geography, Economics and Sociology, and I loved talking with friends about the courses they were taking. I would recommend taking courses in multiple subjects. This way you will build a wider understanding of the world and become more comfortable adopting different ways of thinking.”
 

Why Communication?
“I have always wanted to learn how interpersonal and mass communication affect our daily lives, and how important communication is in every sector of the world.

“In my study, I have focused particularly on how leaders communicate and how this influences positions of leadership.”

Why Auckland?
“I chose to study at Auckland as I had heard wonderful things about the different programmes, how amazing the professors are, and how a student is able to get the best education for their choice of degree.”

My favourite papers
“One of my favourite papers was Comms 100. We had to create videos about a topic we are passionate about, which developed my practical skills and allowed me to enjoy creative freedom. I also took a Philosophy course this semester, and it has been so interesting to think about situations from different perspectives. It also helps me to navigate different situations in life.”

The future
“I love how all my subjects are in line with what I want to do in the future. I would like to work in public relations or brand marketing. I think it would be quite cool and hands-on to work with different brands.”

Clubs
“University is very welcoming and friendly! I have joined clubs, including the student association, so I can make friends with other students who are studying similar degrees. One club I am part of is the Marketing and Design Club, which has organised networking events with marketing experts – I really enjoyed those! Being a member of a club has also expanded my social circle with the other events they host.”
 

Variety of topics
“I love the variety of topics that are covered in my courses, from social change and research methods to Māori and Pacific worlds; they centred on very different topics but we looked at them from a communications perspective.”

Family history
“My family has a history of standing up for our beliefs in historical protests, and I have always wanted my future career to be one that can help make a positive change.”

My future
“I would love to enter the digital communication field for a charity, specifically around women’s rights, disability rights or sustainability. I am also open to working for a non-profit or community organisation as those would be fulfilling careers for me.”

Events on campus
“Beyond classes, there is often something happening on campus. I’ve made friends in lectures, and we go to events hosted by the faculty and different clubs. You can also often find something that’s going on just by wandering around the campus!”

Why Auckland?
“I chose the University of Auckland because the degree felt contemporary. My major allows me to study some fascinating forms of social change movements along with interesting social change communication, alongside the modern technologies we learn to use.

Why Communication?
“The Bachelor of Communication is theory-based, but what I love about it is the practical element and applying what I’ve learnt and learning how to respond to issues. There are also many different opportunities for creativity and fun, while learning to use modern technologies.

“I was drawn to my major because I’ve always been interested in being a social change maker; I’ve always been very passionate about helping people, activism, and looking out for others, so social change just felt right.”

Māori and Pacific worlds
“I’ve learned much about New Zealand through my degree. We get to do quite a few papers specifically on communicating in Māori and Pacific worlds, and as tauiwi, I think it is important that’s something I learn. I feel like it’s shifted my worldview and has highlighted the importance of learning to communicate in indigenous spaces.”

Career opportunities
“My degree has helped prepare me for career opportunities, especially in diplomacy and working somewhere like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. My study’s emphasis on positionality has taught me much about my unique place in the world, what it means to be me, and how that influences how I approach issues.”
 

Why Science and Communication?
“I’m passionate about technology and computing, but also have a noticeable artistic and humanities side. To combine my interests in these two relatively distinct fields, I decided to do a conjoint.

“A degree in Computer Science had been pretty set for me for a few years, but what drew me to the new Bachelor of Communication was the range of possibilities in its courses, plus the widely-applicable nature of communication as a whole.”

Great assignments
“In my BC I’ve already had opportunities in assignments to make data visualisations, animated presentations, play a video game, and even make memes – yes, I’m serious – on top of the usual academic essays that you might expect.”

Variety
“There’s definitely a wide range of different topics across my two degrees – I can walk from a lecture on set theory in Computer Science to a tutorial discussing Māori protest movements in Communication – but there’s also plenty of complementary knowledge too! For example, the Bachelor of Communication’s teaching on the impacts of digital media, data, and computer technology is crucial for putting the technical learnings from my Computer Science side into a practical context.”

My future
“I’d probably like to work in a field that combines the best parts of both technology and communication – technology like web or app development, graphic design, or content creation.”
 

“Communication has become my real passion. I love learning more about news media, the relationship between advertising and audience, digital media, and political analysis. I also really enjoy the practical side of the degree. You get to create campaign strategies and complete visual media projects. It’s a really hands-on degree.”

My internship experience

“For my Communication internship, I worked at New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME). My main task was to create a social media campaign strategy to launch an NZME careers profile on TikTok. This included conducting a lot of independent research into their brand, TikTok as a platform, and the relationship between workplace and entertainment on a social media app. This then translated into creating the social media strategy.”

My future

“The practical course is super helpful. You learn how to create a great CV and you gain real-world interview skills. Essentially you learn how to market yourself to employers.

“My degree has taught me so much that is relevant and useful in the workplace, but particularly the ability to be creative and think outside the box. It’s also taught me to strive for excellence in everything I do; to work hard for what I want; and to believe that I can do whatever I put my mind to. I would love to go into Public Relations or brand management – and now I know I have the skills to succeed in this field.”

Why International Relations?
“I chose International Relations as my major because of its breadth. You will study economics, international trade and politics courses, so you develop a wide range of skills. I had a keen interest in trade, and I thought it would be a great combination with my specialisation in Chinese.

“When I graduate, I would like to work in the public sector as a financial adviser or in a non-governmental organisation.”

Our study community
“The best part of being a Global Studies student is being part of a community where everyone is included and accepted. The people you meet along the way are really kind and sweet, so you develop long-lasting friendships.”
 

How we flourish as people
"When I think about social justice, I think about te reo Māori words like mauri, mauriora, and their meaning in terms of how we flourish as people along with the flourishing of our environment and our communities.

"By studying the Bachelor of Social Justice Studies, you will develop knowledge and understanding of social issues and skills to implement social change. This is on top of what it is you bring to the University."

The voice of our communities
"We know it’s the voice of our communities that are the most important and this degree is a great platform for bringing that voice into the academic setting. It’s the perfect foundation for creating change in society and going on to further postgraduate study and research."

A blend of theory and real-world practice
"It’s a degree with a strong blend of theory and real-world practice and will position you in good stead to be able to take a critical lens to what’s happening within your communities and partner that with other disciplines to enable you to really make a difference."

Into a brighter future
"Social justice is truly a part of every sphere of our society, and I am excited about how this programme will support students in their efforts to mobilise their communities to move forward into a brighter future."
 

A call to action
“This degree isn’t just an education – it’s a call to action, an invitation to be part of a community that we hope to see make a tangible difference to communities in Aotearoa and the broader region of Te Moananui-ā- Kiwa. Join us at the forefront of meaningful, systemic change.”

A tailored programme
“The Bachelor of Social Justice Studies, crafted by our Faculty of Education and Social Work, allows students to tailor their educational journey around their interests. This empowers students to focus on areas they are genuinely passionate about – whether that’s addressing climate change, combatting gender-based violence, or understanding income or housing inequality.”

High demand
“With the rising awareness of social inequalities and injustices in Aotearoa and internationally, there is a palpable demand for individuals who not only understand these imbalances but are equipped to address them.”