International PhD student Wei Lou shares her experience of studying media at the University of Waikato, in Hamilton, New Zealand.
“Immigrants and overseas students bring their own cultures to New Zealand, which makes my overseas experience in Hamilton very interesting," Wei Lou says.
Originally from China, Wei Lou is currently completing a PhD in Screen and Media Studies at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. The city she's based in, Hamilton, has a population of 120,000 – a big difference from the more than 20 million people who live in her home city of Shanghai.
An 'ideal' country
"New Zealand is an ideal country to study and travel in. It has a gorgeous landscape and a well-protected natural environment. Here, overseas students can have an international standard of education, enjoy lots of outdoor activities and make many friends from different countries."
Wei Lou hopes her PhD will propel her into a career in film-making. She’s chosen to study in a country where the film industry is growing – movies like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, King Kong, and the Chronicles of Narnia have put New Zealand firmly on the movie director's list.
Yet despite this growing industry, there are only four free to air TV channels in New Zealand, and Wei Lou says the popular media hasn’t been as exciting as she had expected.
That hasn’t stopped her from becoming a member of the Hamilton Film Society, watching films with a group of art house movie lovers in the city, or participating in the annual international film festival, which has been "one of the most exciting events to be involved in".
She’s also made the most of her time at the university by joining the kendo and drumming clubs.
Costs and lifestyle
Wei Lou says the largest part of her monthly living cost is spent on accommodation, which is between NZ$80-$120 per week. “I found my accommodation through local newspapers and information sheets provided by the accommodation service on campus, but there are also plenty of advertisements on billboards around campus and on New Zealand’s most popular online trading website TradeMe.”
Food costs Wei Lou about NZ$30 a week. She cooks at home most nights, to save money, but also enjoys visiting the city's many delicious Asian restaurants and food courts.
When not behind a camera in the studio, she may be found visiting the Hamilton Gardens and Hamilton Lake.
“Hamilton is a great place for studying and living," she concludes. "It has an easy lifestyle, a good public transport system, relatively low living costs and a good location. It is also convenient to travel to many famous tourist spots and to the South Island.”