Plan your Orientation week

Orientation week is your welcome to the University, an introduction to how key systems and services work, and an opportunity to make friends and have fun.

Nau mai, haere mai, welcome! Join us from Tuesday 30 June to Friday 3 July (the week before Trimester 2 classes start) for heaps of activities, events, workshops, and tours to help you get settled in and have a smooth transition to university life and study.

Online timetable tips

You can build your own Orientation schedule using the online timetable. Set filters to narrow down the types of session you want to attend, the programme or programmes that are relevant to you, and your preferred campus. You'll then see a list of matching sessions for each day of the Orientation week.

You can add sessions to a list that will be saved in your web browser. Use the calendar view to identify clashing sessions. If you need to transfer your list to your phone or another device, email it to yourself. Open the message on the second device and click on the custom link to load your list. Print the email if you want a hard copy of your saved sessions.

You can also add sessions directly to your own calendar.

View timetable

What to do

Get started with campus tours, find out how to use our online learning platform Nuku, and get some advice on managing your time and money. To set yourself up for a great year of study, head along to the UNI101 session, and brush up on your academic and study skills at sessions run by our Te Taiako—Student Learning team.

Orientation week is also a great opportunity to get involved in your student community, meet new people, and have some fun. Throughout the week, our friendly student ambassadors will be on hand to show you around, share handy tips and tricks, and answer any questions you may have.

New Students’ Orientation is for all new students, and everybody is invited to attend the sessions in the all students' programme. There are also additional sessions for international students, Māori students, Pasifika students, and postgraduate students.

Where to go

Most Orientation sessions take place on our Kelburn campus. Visit the find your way page for a list of key locations, such as the Hub mezzanine level (Level 2), you'll find a Get Sorted hub and an info table staffed by student ambassadors. It's also the meeting point for campus tours led by student ambassadors.

International students' orientation

Sessions tagged 'international' are specially designed for you, and you're also welcome to attend all the sessions in the 'All students' programme (Tuesday 30 June to Friday 3 July). As an international student starting your first trimester, you need to attend four compulsory sessions on Tuesday 30 June and Wednesday 1 July. We highly recommend that you also attend some or all of the optional sessions in the international students' programme. The official pōhiri—a traditional Māori welcome to mark the beginning of your journey—for international students is on Tuesday 30 June.

More about International Orientation International students' programme

Māori students’ orientation

Māori Students’ orientation is an opportunity for you and your whānau to connect with the korowai of support at the University. Come to Te Herenga Waka marae on Kelburn Parade for sessions on Wednesday 1 July that will help you transition into tertiary studies, navigate our campuses, and meet students and key staff. You can also drop in on Thursday 2 July to get some help getting sorted for university. Plus you're welcome to attend any or all of the sessions in the 'All students' programme (Tuesday to Friday).

Māori at Te Herenga Waka Maōri students' programme

Pasifika students' orientation

The Pasifika orientation day on Wednesday 1 July is the beginning of finding your place, your ʻaiga, and your community, and the perfect opportunity to begin university surrounded by encouragement, guidance, and the warmth of your Pasifika family. You are, of course, also welcome to attend all the sessions in the 'All students' programme (Tuesday to Friday).

Pasifika at the University Pasifika students' programme

Postgraduate students' orientation

We're running sessions specifically for postgraduate students on Thursday 2 July. These sessions include academic preparation, using the Library, and preparing for postgraduate research. Many of the sessions in the 'All students' programme will also be relevant to you (Tuesday to Friday).

Postgraduate students' programme

UNI101 programme

The UNI101 programme is for all first-year undergraduate students. It's a great way to start your university journey, meet other new students, and pick up insider tips for study, campus life, and everything in between. It's also an opportunity to get to know our Student Success teams, who support your throughout your studies.

More about UNI101

Get Sorted hub

Not sure where to start? Come along to our Get Sorted hub at Kelburn campus—located at on the mezzanine (Level 2) of the Hub, just outside the Library entrance.

You'll find student services, maps, and student ambassadors ready to help you get sorted during Orientation week. The services will include Digital Solutions (for IT support), Justices of the Peace (for document verification), members of our Careers and Employment team, and advisers from Student Learning, Student Finance, and StudyLink. They'll be able to help you get settled in and answer your questions.

Student ambassadors

Student ambassadors are current students who are on hand to help you transition into university life. You'll find them at Get Sorted hubs during Orientation week, and stationed around campus. They can help you decide which sessions to attend, supply you with a campus map, and answer your questions.

Five smiling students wearing T-shirts saying