Engineering student stories

Looking for something new
“I was originally based in Wellington, but I wanted to go somewhere new. I wanted to enjoy a bigger city, and the University of Auckland has so many options available it felt like a natural choice.

My favourite projects
“My favourite project was my Final Year Project, which was computationally modelling cardiac cells. I was trying to investigate certain channels that may or may not contribute to heart failure andcreate a clinical link between them.

“I really enjoy the balance between everything here; the labs, the lectures, socialising, and other interactions. I enjoy the community that we have in Engineering. It’s so big. You have so many options to find your passion and you have a lot of support behind you to help you do what you want and do it well.

“One of my favourite things we did was called Systems Week. It’s a one-week event where our regular classes are postponed, and we instead work with 35 different students from other specialisations to tackle a nationwide problem. I really enjoyed talking to everyone from all the different specialisations, getting to know one another, and working together to solve a complicated real-world problem."

Mānawa Mai
“I attended Mānawa Mai Open Day in Year 13 and learnt about Biomedical Engineering. The people there were really helpful. They introduced me to this new area of study, and it really interested me. I went through pre-med initially, however I missed the physics and maths aspect. When I realised I could transfer straight into second year Biomedical Engineering, I took the opportunity through Summer School and haven’t looked back since.”

Unleashing potential
“The opportunities here helped me unleash my potential, and I feel empowered to make a difference. The University has one of the best entrepreneurial environments in the world, including its own maker space, free for anyone to use, so who knows what’s possible even before I graduate!”

Why Biomedical Engineering
“I’ve been a STEM fanatic my entire life, so my mind and heart were set on Biomedical Engineering even before I set foot on campus. It was the most intellectually fascinating subject I had ever come across. I saw it as a testament to a life of continuous learning for the betterment of humanity, melding the human body and machine together to not only improve the lives of millions across the world but also to transcend our physical and biological capabilities with mind-bending technologies. Who doesn’t want to be a part of that?”

A variety of disciplines
“What I love about this specialisation is getting to take courses from various disciplines, from neurobiology and programming to materials chemistry and computer graphics. For a long time, I thought Biomedical Engineering was going to lead me into building medical devices or prosthetics but it’s a lot more than that. I get to integrate seemingly unrelated concepts in new and exciting ways. I’ve learned that there’s a whole host of ‘sub-specialisations’ within the specialisation itself.”

A family-like environment
“Engineering here is widely known for its family-like environment, and you will never feel alone when you can make friends at hundreds of student-run clubs. There is also personalised support from caring staff, and the students want to see each other succeed at university and beyond. Our lecturers provide valuable study resources and they are always happy to answer any questions.”
 

SPIES
“I would describe the support I received from SPIES, the South Pacific Indigenous Engineering Students network, as energetic, kind, and heartfelt. The encouragement from my peers and members of SPIES provides a safe and social space for learning and interaction with others. It is an excellent way to build confidence and make lifelong friends.

The Great Waka Ama Race
“I participated in the University’s interfaculty Great Waka Ama Race as an Engineering Eagles team member. We came first, so we got to travel to Hawai‘i to represent the University at the Queen Lili‘uokalani Canoe Race. Being out on the water is refreshing, taking in the sea breeze and connecting to my roots.

“My ancestors were voyagers, and I could feel their presence guiding me. I will save those memories and keep them close to me. Taking these opportunities and having more experiences are what makes life so colourful."

My Law conjoint
“Studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Bachelor of Laws conjoint programme, I gained insight from the interpretations, the experimentations, and the hard work put into both degrees.

My future
“Once I graduate, the plan is to return back home to the Cook Islands and use the knowledge and abilities I’ve gained to help develop the country further, and positively impact their sustainability and environment.”

Why Chemical and Materials Engineering?
“I was interested in engineering from a young age. I always wanted to know how things worked. Chemical and Materials Engineering allowed me to discover this from an atomic and microscopic point of view. I learned the way in which materials are created and processed and the reasons different materials have the properties that they do.”

Our lecturers
“We are taught by industry leaders with decades of experience. Our lecturers aren’t afraid of doing things differently and like to have relevant, intelligent class discussions rather than just talking through a set of slides. I enjoyed my Part IV project, as I got to pitch my own project which brought with it its own set of challenges. It was very self-driven, which I loved. I want to be a leader of my own company one day so being able to practice leadership by leading myself was very rewarding for me.”

Sense of community
“What I really enjoy about uni life is the sense of community. City campus really is like its own little city made up of like-minded individuals. Whatever your interest may be, there is something for you. In the very rare instance that there is nothing that piques your interest you can even establish a new club.”

A strong interest in business
“I’ve also always been interested in business and how businesses can effect change. I didn’t want to be just an engineer or just a business person – I wanted to be something unique. It was a no brainer to pick a conjoint degree. To be able to take the best of both degrees and use this to shape my views and aspirations has been greatly rewarding. Having the right circumstances to follow your dreams is very rare so I feel honoured to be in this position.”
 

The highlight
“My Part IV project was definitely the highlight of my degree. After two years of learning specialised theories and developing the engineering mindset, it was rewarding to see it all come together in a very practical manner. The satisfaction of observing patterns in the data and calculating results with equations learnt in the classroom is an amazing feeling and one I will never forget.”

Open Day
“When I attended the open day on campus, I listened to Professors explaining how their work and studies were changing lives. They were creating artificial hip joints or making sure clean water was accessible to people. This inspired me to pursue an engineering degree and gain the skills and knowledge required to make a positive change in the world.”

Friendships
“What I enjoy most about university life is meeting new people and making life-long friendships. There are also so many clubs and organisations on campus where you can meet people who share similar views and interests.”

Why Auckland?
“I chose the University of Auckland because the Engineering degree is highly ranked on the global scale and each specialisation is known to have a high-quality of teaching. In addition to this, the University of Auckland offers the option to do a conjoint degree between Engineering and Music. This allows me to pursue my passions while challenging the creative and analytical parts of my brain.”
 

Why Civil Engineering?
“In my first year of Engineering, I was unsure of which specialisation to select, I felt overwhelmed with choice! But eventually, I chose Civil Engineering because it is a jack of all trades. It includes the water sector, civil infrastructure, transport, environmental, and geotechnical. I like that Civil Engineering is broad and there’s so much to explore."

Student life
“The best thing about the student life here at the University of Auckland is meeting new people – not just from my Civil Engineering specialisation, but from all over campus. It’s so exciting to share our love for engineering."

10/10
"The support I’ve received while studying here has been 10/10, especially in first year which was quite a daunting experience. Making the transition from high school to university life, I remember there were peer mentors available five days a week. That was so helpful."

The Engineering Info Evening
"I remember as a Year 13 student I went to all of the University’s information events available. The Engineering Info Evening was my first trip to the Engineering grounds. It was really exciting seeing a lecture theatre and just the whole space. I was quite overwhelmed but I’m so glad I went. It was a great experience.”

Why Civil Engineering?
“I’m interested in transportation issues. I’d like to work on things that would enable people to get around easier, with less commuting time, less traffic, and less pollution too.

“I wanted to study Engineering because I really like problem solving and maths. I’m also interested in sustainability as it plays a big part in what my generation has to do for the future. Civil Engineering was a blend of those three things. It presents the opportunity to go into environmental work. There’s a lot of construction that can be improved with sustainability practice.”

Sports events
“I decided to go to Auckland because it’s got a really good reputation. I play field hockey for the University, and I’m also in CESA, the Civil Engineering Student Association. I organise sport events for Civil Engineering students too. We have dodgeball tournaments, industry events, and more. On the side I help coach rowing for Takapuna Grammar and love sailing over the summer.”

The future
“Ultimately, I’d like to end up working on projects like the City Rail Link, where they’re currently improving sustainability processes on construction by reusing materials and minimizing emissions.”
 

Why Civil Engineering?
“The amount of support that the Faculty of Engineering provides is amazing, and the Civil Engineering courses are interactive and fun.”

Why Auckland?
“I knew about the University of Auckland in my final year of high school. UoA had an outreach team that visited my school. The selling point for me was the University ranking and the support provided for the Pacific community within the University. I wanted to be at a university that was going to be a home-away-from-home for me as living away from home was something I wasn’t looking forward to.”

SPIES
“One of my favourite groups is SPIES, the South Pacific and Indigenous Engineering Students programme. It is a lot of fun. Not only are we given support through SPIES, we also provide support for other, younger students.

“SPIES also has outreach programmes where we go out to the less privileged schools and promote engineering. This was fun because we were able to promote STEM education in these schools and let kids know about engineering. I tutor for the Pacific Academy and Study Fono which is run by the University of Auckland. Helping others succeed, especially kids that are of Pacific and Māori descent, gives me joy.”

The future
“After I graduate I intend to do further research, then go back to Tonga and give back to my country as a Civil Engineer.”
 

Why Computer Systems Engineering?
"I chose Computer Systems because I enjoy both software and hardware, and this specialisation captures them perfectly. There’s a lot of space within the specialisation. I found it very freeing. You get to tackle something new every day, and it’s always exciting to solve a new problem in various ways."

The Engineering Info Evening
"I attended the Engineering Info Evening. It was a really informative event that allowed me to see different perspectives of engineering life at the University, including both academia and student lifestyle. Hearing about various experiences in social clubs from current students was insightful. I definitely recommend attending these events."

The Engineering Review
"I’m also a part of the Engineering Revue. It’s a stage show entirely run by engineers! The actors, the dancers, the band, even the people backstage and the tech crew too. It’s a group of Engineering students that bring a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, have a good time and put on an amazing show for the people."

Give it a go
"It may sound daunting to give Engineering a go. There’s a misconception that it’s really difficult, but the same could be said for any degree. If you are interested in making peoples’ lives better, have a knack for solving problems, or you’re just keen to see what engineering is about, look into it further – because it is a rewarding degree you won’t regret."

Why Computer Systems Engineering?
“Before coming to the University of Auckland, I thought I wanted to do Software Engineering. In your first year you get to do all these different courses and specialisations. I did ELECTENG 101 and really enjoyed it. It was by far my favourite course of the year and I knew I wanted to somehow incorporate that into my degree. Computer Systems is sort of the intersection between software engineering and electrical engineering, and I really enjoy that combination.”

“Moving into my second year, I did ELECTENG 291 which makes you rethink what you learnt in first year and look at things in different ways. We spend 9 weeks in the course doing things one way, and then the lecturer shows us an alternative way which makes it easier and more accessible.”

The Web Development Consulting Club
“I’m a project member of the Web Development Consulting Club. We have been working on a web platform for the NZ Physics and Maths competition. Through the club I’ve been part of a team where I’ve learnt about web development. I’ve learnt about things that don’t get covered in class, but actually get used in industry. It pairs greatly with my degree and it’s really interesting to learn about.”

The future
“I want to do postgraduate study and go into research and development. I really like playing with new technologies and find it exciting.”
 

Why Computer Systems Engineering?
“At the end of first year I liked the electrical, coding and maths side of Engineering. That is why I picked Computer Systems Engineering, it allowed me to integrate all of these aspects into one degree.”

Why Auckland?
“The university of Auckland offered many experiences when leaving high school like the Genesis programme for engineering, which works towards energy sustainability, and Whakapiki aki, which promotes health as a career in secondary education and kura. These allowed me to explore my options and welcomed me into a learning environment where I knew I would have guidance and help if needed.”

Highlights
“I enjoyed getting involved more within the faculty and helping out, as well as getting to know the students and the lecturers around the campus.

“What I like best about Computer Systems Engineering is the maths involved. The content which we learn in classes is also super neat and interesting which I enjoy."

Multiple pathways
“I love that there are multiple pathways available in Engineering. You can combine any or all of hardware, software or electrical papers.”
 

Changing the future
"Electrical and Electronic Engineering encourages curiosity and creativity in exploring technological findings. In the courses, your passion for understanding how things work and all things technology bring you on an exciting journey. By solving problems and puzzles applied to real-life situations, you can potentially change the future with your innovations.

"Studying Engineering at the University of Auckland, in the ‘City of Sails’, has presented a myriad of exciting opportunities and adventures."

Where theory becomes real life
"ELECTENG 310 is the first design course in our third year. I learned essential skills such as working in a team and building on my technical skills. The project allows you to design for a client with some freedom in design choices along with client specifications. This course is where theory starts becoming real-life. You begin to see and understand that there’s so much more than just what’s on paper."

Women in Engineering
"The Women in Engineering Network has been a huge support and really helped me cope with the transition from high school to university. There are a lot of exciting, fun events to participate in, such as painting evenings, lunches, volunteering outreach programmes and the MET gala dinner. There are also plenty of career-development opportunities, which include speed networking, internship meet and greets, and guidance through each year.

"After I complete my degree, my career goals include using my skill set and passion for a clean environment to progress renewable energy sources and improve energy storage efficiency."
 

Why Electrical Engineering?
“Electrical engineering is versatile so it gives you the knowledge to apply to many fields. I just really want to do something that improves people’s quality of life.

“Maths and programming were my favourite subjects in high school, so it was a natural pathway to engineering.

“Last year, the Electrical Engineering class was my favourite subject. I liked how math-based Electrical was. Our cohort is very small, about 30 or 40 students. It’s a tightknit cohort.”

Our first big project
“We’re designing a voltmeter right now. This is our first big project so we’re finally on our way to being engineers. We’re not just doing theory, we’re putting it into practice.

“The lecturers are really passionate about emphasising understanding over memorisation. In my classes they started with the basics, and I was able to understand what I was learning.”

The future
“Mostly in New Zealand, electrical engineers go into power systems or research. I’d like to go into research and development, where I can help design and develop new technologies. I’d like to work in healthcare on medical devices.”

Women in Engineering
“I came into Electrical not knowing many people but the Women in Engineering network made it easy to make friends.”
 

My Final Year Project
"I really enjoyed my Final Year Project. It involved using analytics, optimisation, and data to model the borrowing of Te Reo Māori words into English, which is something I didn't think you would even be able to do with an Engineering degree."

Why Engineering Science?
"Engineering Science stood out to me because it wasn’t confined to one area or industry. The elective courses allow you to tailor the programme to your interests. I was particularly interested in technology and the data analysis side of Engineering Science."

SPIES
"This year I’m the Vice President of SPIES, the South Pacific Indigenous Engineering Students network. Our events aim to support students culturally, academically, and socially. My favourite part of my role is being in a position of influence and creating events that nurture these areas. It’s been an incredibly rewarding role that has helped me gain leadership experience and develop professionally."

My internship
"Through my internship with Tetra Tech Coffey, I worked in the Environmental and Social Advisory team, primarily on Environmental and Social Impact Assessments and Environmental and Social Management Plans for various projects around the world. I loved the range of projects and being able to learn about the different environmental and social impacts that must be considered, as well as the different measures to manage these."

Making a positive impact
"I’d like to make a positive impact on communities through my career and prioritise sustainability and environmental concerns. I hope to include more of the technical skills that I’ve developed, and learn new software and programs used in the industry."

Why Engineering
“I always knew I wanted to do Engineering since I liked Maths and Physics. I had some uncles who were engineers too, so I knew about the career path from a young age. I never had any doubts about it, and didn’t think about studying anything else.

“I went to the Open Day for the University of Auckland and it was really impressive. From what I could see it looked like a really good school, and that’s nothing far from the truth.”

Creative freedom and problem solving
“In my second year we worked on a project where they gave us a real life problem. I really enjoyed it because they didn’t tell us how to do it. They gave us hints, but we had the license to unleash our creative freedom. They teach us problem solving skills, and give us the opportunities to apply them to open ended problems which is really satisfying.”

My classmates
“One of my favourite things about studying Engineering here is that everyone is really friendly, especially in Engineering Science. We go on a field trip at the start of the year so you get to meet new people early in your degree. You’re surrounded by intelligent and great people, which has a great influence on you.”

Study/life balance
“It’s really important to prioritise free time to do what you want to do. It’s a misconception in Engineering that you spend all your time studying. That is just not true. You can easily study Engineering and still have time to do things you enjoy.”

A passion for sustainability
"I’ve always been passionate about the environment and sustainability. Almost everyone on this planet uses electricity, so I’m interested in the Energy Industry as a sector where changes can have maximum impact."

Women in Engineering
"My journey began at Open Day. The Women in Engineering (WEN) presentation was the decision point for me. It was exciting to know that I’d be part of an empowering and inspiring community of women.

"I feel great doing anything WEN! Last year I was chair of the Part 1 Team. We organised events for first years, helping them to meet new people and feel supported. This year I’m a content creator lead, and we’ve really expanded into social media."

The workplace
"I’ve worked every summer as an intern, for PWC in Sydney, Tesla, and others. I’ve gained priceless experience in many aspects of the energy sector and have recently accepted a permanent position with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)."
 

Why Engineering?
"In Year 13 I went to Enginuity Day, which is run by the Women in Engineering Network. That was when I saw where I could go with my high school physics and calculus classes. Getting to see and experience what students do helped solidify engineering as my place to be.

"I grew up in Auckland, so it was nice to have the support of my family and friends, and some familiarity as I branched out on this new chapter. It’s been really nice getting to see another part of town and be a part of this community here in the city."

Design focus
"I love the design focus and creative freedom Mechanical Engineering offers. I’ve always liked to understand how tangible systems move and work.

"As Mechanical Engineering students, we do a lot of physical design projects in groups, which I think is good because in industry you’re always working in teams. It’s interesting to hear other people’s perspectives, and to collaborate so that we come up with the best possible solution to a problem."

Women in Engineering
"I joined the Women in Engineering Network’s executive committee as a leader for the Part I team. I love being able to give back to the community and the faculty by welcoming our first-year students into university life – and I always enjoy their passion, energy, and open minds.

"If you’re curious about the world in general, then engineering will give you the answers you’re looking for. Once you’re able to understand how maths and science fit into what you see and experience around you, life becomes all the more fascinating!"
 

Why Engineering?
“In high school, I was set on being a doctor. But then I realised that wasn’t my thing when I did the Rotary Science at Technology camp at the University of Auckland and learned about engineering.

“They took us out to the Newmarket campus and explained to us the difference between science and engineering. They told us science was the acquisition of new knowledge, and engineering is the application of that knowledge. They said it was all about problem solving, and I was sold. I realised I had the creativity and freedom within engineering that I wouldn’t get anywhere else.”

My dream
“It’s my dream to work in humanitarian development internationally. I love that mechanical engineering is so broad and covers everything that moves. I love the idea that the things I design will be accessible to everyone in the whole world. I like to look at engineering from a holistic, social perspective. Engineering helps me solve those problems.

“I’d like to design technologies that can provide communities with cheap access to power and water in a way that’s sustainable environmentally and for the community. I feel like mechanical engineering ties into this really well.”

In my spare time
“I also play netball on the weekends and I’m doing an outdoor first aid course with the tramping club.”
 

The robotics and automation revolution
"I was excited about the idea of being a part of the robotics and automation evolution, positioning me at the forefront of the developing technological world. My degree in Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Auckland really helps me to realise my ambition to achieve that. I hope to actively contribute to high-impact projects that can make a positive difference."

Making choices
"When I left high school, I was very close to pursuing a degree in medicine, given that both of my parents were involved in this field. I ended up choosing engineering with the ambition to combine medicine and engineering through the likes of intelligent and robotic prosthetics. I have always enjoyed understanding how things work, tinkering, and dismantling and reassembling items, especially with technology evolving so fast.

"University is the perfect time to explore all your options and get a taste of everything. Within my degree I’ve done process engineering, product development, engineering project management and more. I have loved Mechatronics Engineering as it’s such a broad specialisation that encompasses so many aspects. It allows you to end up anywhere. I’m not sure where I’ll end up and that’s exciting."

Halls of Residence
"I would recommend halls of residence to anyone, especially in first year – it’s the best start to your university life. You meet so many people and you make friends for life there. Throughout my degree I’ve made close friends that have continued to push me to study, keep active, and achieve highly; it’s been a close support network. We’ve all worked collaboratively to motivate and encourage each other."
 

Why Mechatronics?
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do until Year 11 and 12. I had a great physics teacher who told me Engineering involved a bit more applied knowledge than a physics degree, which appealed to me. I was always playing with legos, building things in games, and really enjoy coding, so I chose mechatronics.”

Great moments
“Once I specialised in mechatronics, it was so much fun. The first time the thing you designed does what you want it to do, it’s such a good feeling.

“I like mechatronics because you use sensors, actuators, and read real-world data. The robot can see where it’s looking and how far it’s gone. I love it.

“I had one of the most satisfying moments the other day. We had a hardware issue with a robot, and spent two lab sessions of four hours each trying to make the robot work. The other day I spent two hours fine-tuning the control system, and the robot did exactly what I needed it to. The first time it worked I almost cried. It was amazing.”

Internships
“I worked with Downer over the summer on their automation team. This year I’d like to try a start-up, because there’s so many companies making cool things.”

Music
“I also love music. I was in the Auckland Youth Choir, I play guitar and clarinet. I also love working on cars, too. The mechatronics degree helps you understand how cars work. I know how turbochargers work now, and I think that’s really cool.”
 

Why Engineering?
“Engineering was always the right choice for me, even if it wasn’t glaringly obvious at the time. When I discovered Engineering was all about design, creation and solving problems, it wasn’t a hard decision. The beauty of Mechatronics Engineering lies in its multidisciplinary nature — it’s more than just robots! With fundamentals in multiple disciplines, what you create is up to your imagination.”

More than maths and physics
“One of the misunderstandings I held in high school about engineering was thinking it was just maths and physics. I’ve never been happier to be proven wrong – it’s so much more than that! Engineering is a whole world of problem solving, creativity and innovation just waiting for keen minds to tackle.”

Extra-curriculars
“A lot of my university highlights can be attributed to various clubs, committees, projects and extra-curriculars I’ve been part of. Particularly, the Auckland Programme for Space Systems – I didn’t think I’d get to work on satellites and rockets during my time in university! Another would be the Warman Design and Build Competition: building a robot from scratch using design, manufacturing, innovation and programming skills.”

WEN
“I also discovered the tight-knit community of Women in Engineering, WEN, something I wanted to be part of.”
 

Stability and variety
"The job stability was something that attracted me. Out of all the Engineering specialisations, software was the one that stood out to me the most because I found that there’s so much variety in the work that you can do. I really enjoyed the first-year courses and from there I got to know about the different areas of tech. I always knew I wanted to be in the tech sector, and what better specialisation to choose than Software Engineering."

Applying my knowledge
"I started studying Engineering because I always knew that I wanted to do something a bit technical. Growing up, I enjoyed maths and science. But I also wanted something that wasn’t purely theory. I wanted to actually apply my learning, and Software Engineering is where technical knowledge is applied. It’s a form of problem solving for technology."

Women in Engineering
"I went to a Women in Engineering event, Enginuity Day, when I was in high school. We got to walk around the university, and I thought it was quite interesting as well as the activities we did. The facilities were really cool. Being able to walk around before actually being in the university was great because I could envision myself studying here.

"I’m also part of the Software Engineering Student Association, where I was Secretary this year. It’s where we help Software Engineering students navigate their way around the industry, through essential skills they might need, social events, and overall building of a community."

Why Engineering?
"Structural Engineering involves hands-on work. I’ll get to design and witness my creations being built, which will bring me pride and a deep sense of satisfaction.

"I’m 29 – so a bit older than everybody else in my cohort. I was studying engineering back home in Brazil. I came to New Zealand and decided to continue my undergraduate studies at the University of Auckland after gaining some work experience and receiving my residency. One of the main reasons I chose to study here is because the BE(Hons) programme has the Washington Accord recognition, which is outstanding when compared to other universities."

Why Structural Engineering?
"Structural Engineering serves society as a whole. Everyone needs structures, everyone needs water, everyone needs roading. These things are essential in every country, and this aligns with my aspirations to do humanitarian work. With Structural Engineering, I know I have broad opportunities. Also I really enjoy the fact that it’s both creative and technical."

The Dean's Leadership Programme
"I took part in the Dean’s Leadership Programme (DLP). It was great to have that recognition from the University and to know that they saw I had potential to be a leader. The most important takeaway was that leadership centres around people. It’s not merely about task completion but involves understanding the team and oneself to effectively manage tasks and address various situations."

Hands-on learning
“I love that the UoA Engineering programme is very hands-on, with laboratory sessions that enrich our understanding of what we learn in lectures. We had one lab session this year where each group had to design and build a small beam. It was really exciting to have this opportunity to implement what we have learned in lectures.”

The Civil Engineering Students’ Association (CESA)
“My favourite part of uni life is the social aspect. I’ve found that the Engineering faculty has a very strong sense of community – there are lots of opportunities to socialise outside of classes with many clubs that cater to different interests.

“I’ve really enjoyed the CESA events this year – some highlights were the Social Mixer at Shadows Bar, and the Industry Mentoring programme, which helped me get a summer internship!”

The future
“After I graduate it would be interesting to look at what opportunities there are to integrate what I learn in my conjoint degree, Computer Science, with Structural Engineering.”
 

My journey to Planning
"I have always been interested in how communities can be improved, especially living in one of Auckland’s vulnerable neighbourhoods. This passion stems from enjoying geography and statistics in high school and trying to understand better how people and place play a role in shaping cities.

"Statistics and geography paved the way for my passion for urban planning. I was surprised by the range of topics we studied in the degree, such as law, economics, design, sustainability and ecology, to name a few. You can follow many career pathways with a planning degree!"

My internship with Arup
"I started my internship with Arup in 2019–2020 as part of the TupuToa Internship Programme. I was initially nervous because it was my first corporate urban planning job, but I really enjoyed the experience and exposure.

"The University of Auckland is the best place in New Zealand to study Urban Planning. My mother, sisters and cousins also studied here, so it felt like I was holding onto that tradition."
 

A gateway to knowledge
"I’d always wanted a better understanding of the world, country, and system I live in. This degree is a gateway to that knowledge. It offers study in a broad variety of areas, such as environmental planning, heritage planning, transportation planning, economic development and much more."

Policies, regulations and laws
"Every course has deepened my knowledge of central and local government – and the many policies, regulations, and laws that dictate how our country will plan and develop over time.

"I’ve built understanding through very engaging discussions, lectures and assignments based around planning and cultural theory and their implications on the planning field. I now appreciate the varied social, economic, and environmental problems that affect the world around us. I’m also learning how to strategically apply this understanding to achieve better outcomes in the future."

Broad skills and interests
"Most people are a little unsure about what to study at university. It’s difficult to commit yourself when you don’t really understand what you’re getting into. I found that Urban Planning enabled me to develop a variety of skills, along with a broad understanding of law, policy, economics, politics and design. It allowed me to pursue many interests, and this gives me the flexibility to follow a variety of career paths."

Social atmosphere
"The social atmosphere is great due to smaller class sizes and the spaces provided for both work and relaxation. This fosters a friendly, interactive environment – and a lot of fun nights out!"

A varied programme with friendly classmates
"I liked the idea of an interdisciplinary degree that incorporates social sciences, environmental sciences, economics and design. No day is ever boring. The courses are very relevant to current social issues, and they offer avenues for creativity and collaboration.

"My lecturers were very approachable and also considerate of our workload and wellbeing. I got to know my classmates well, as we stayed together throughout the four years. Having familiar faces in my classes really helped."

Industry mentoring
"In my final year, I took part in the NZPI Emerging Planners Mentoring Programme and was partnered with a principal planner at Auckland Council. It was great to connect with professionals in the field and apply the knowledge I’d gained to real situations.

"As a resource consent planner, a large part of my role is ensuring that residential development proposals reflect the intended vision for Auckland’s urban form and adequately manage adverse effects arising from the proposed activity."

The art of Urban design
"Being involved in planning is like influencing the brushstrokes in a painting. You can either make a mess or an artwork. Similarly, with the city, you can positively influence its direction and growth, creating solutions for the present and the future."

Watch Charlie talk about his experience as a Bachelor of Urban Planning (Honours) student. In particular, he describes how his studies with us made him highly employable.