First step—Te kuhunga ki te ara poutama
Get some help and advice for navigating your way through your first year at the Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation.
Kuhunga: To enable you to visualise the start of your academic and creative journey with us. We use this word to emphasise your ‘first steps’.
Ara means ‘path’ and Poutama speaks to the many exciting learning ‘pathways’ you will undertake towards a successful and creative journey.
Find us on
Welcome to Architecture
Read a welcome message from the Architecture First Year Coordinator, José Nunez Collado.
Read José's messageWelcome to Design Innovation
Read a welcome message from Jessica Freire, the Programme Lead for First Year Design.
Read Jessica's message
What you need to know
First-year workshop
This workshop supports physical model making using hand tools and some basic machinery.
Software and computer needs
This is all about the computer software and hardware you’ll need to get started in your architectural or design studies.
Materials and equipment
Ngā rauemi. Find out about the materials and equipment you'll need when you start your studies in architecture and design.
Tautoko ā-tauira—Support
Support
Find out about the different kinds of support available to help you enjoy a healthy and successful time at the University.
Māori student success
Āwhina is a university whānau dedicated to the success of Tauira Māori, or students of Māori descent
Pasifika student success
Find out about all the extra support available to you as a Pasifika student at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Online learning
Get helpful tips to prepare you for learning online
International students
Staff in our International Student Experience team are here to help with all international students' needs including academic, health and wellbeing support.
Helpful tips
Ngā tohutohu āwhina. Information to help you navigate your first weeks at the Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation.