Our campuses
From our biggest campus in Mt Albert to the Northern campus in Albany, Unitec’s three campuses are all quite different.
Mt Albert is green and spacious, with lots of carparking, sports facilities and cafes to catch up with friends. It’s a 10-minute drive to the city, and a short walk to the nearest shops, bus stops and train station. You can use the free shuttle bus to get across campus and if you don’t want to commute, you can live at the Unitec Residential Village.
Out west, there’s Waitakere with its modern teaching facilities and public library that Unitec shares with the community. You can spend time with your children in the whānau room, relax in the landscaped plaza outside or take a quick walk to the many shops and cafes of central Henderson. View View programmes offered at Waitakere campus.
Our Northern campus is our newest and most modern campus. Based in Albany it’s easy to reach from all parts of the North Shore and the northwest and parking is free! View programmes offered at Northern campus.
All our campuses are 100% smokefree and they constantly buzz with students of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds. Whichever campus you’re based at, you’ll find there’s always something going on – from social events on campus to action-packed trips out of Auckland with the Experience NZ programme.
How we teach
Whatever you’re studying, to make it in the workplace you need more than a good understanding of your textbooks. That’s why work experience and hands-on projects are a key part of our programmes.
Industry involvement
We work closely with industry, which means visits from guest lecturers and programmes that are up-to-date with the latest knowledge. Many of our tutors are experts in their field and you’ll benefit from their professional experience and industry connections.
From certificates through to postgraduate courses, more than 90% of our programmes include Industry Based Learning. It’s your opportunity to put theory into practice by working with a host organisation. You’ll develop relevant industry skills and knowledge, confidence and self-discipline so that when you graduate you can hit the ground running.
Industry experience is a big bonus when you’re applying for jobs. You might even meet your future employer through your work placement or at one of the industry events each year.
Hands on learning
Work experience, industry placements and hands-on practice at our campus facilities are part of the curriculum.
We make sure you graduate with the professional and vocational skills that employers need in New Zealand and overseas.
Here are just some of the ways you could get hands-on experience:
- Accounting and finance, and management and marketing students take part in Industry Based Learning.
- Bachelor of Computing Systems students undertake a work project for an organisation of their choice.
- Bachelor of Construction students can work in the construction industry in their last two years.
- Bachelor of Social Practice students apply what they’ve learnt during internships with community organisations.
- Carpentry, and plumbing and gasfitting students build relocatable houses that are sold to the public.
- Music students perform original works at live concerts, and acting and screen arts students perform at our on-campus theatre and make films all year round.
- Landscape students work on designs for real clients to develop public and private spaces.
- Medical imaging students spend two days a week in a radiology department.
- Early childhood education students work in an early childhood education centre.
- Natural sciences students work at the Department of Conservation, SPCA or at zoos around New Zealand.
- Nursing students get hands-on experience in the Simulation Centre at Waitakere Hospital.
- Veterinary nursing students work on real cases at the Unitec Veterinary Clinic.
Flexible study
Whether you’re returning to study after a break, have young children to look after, or you’re working full-time, we offer different study options so you can fit it all in.
Unitec students come from all walks of life. Some are starting tertiary study for the first time and others are changing careers. That’s why we offer study programmes from certificate to postgraduate level. You can join at the level that suits your experience or previous qualifications and progress from there.
We also offer part-time, full-time, distance and online learning options, so you can fit your studies around your life. Many of our programmes take place over evenings and weekends. And if you’re a parent, just bring your little ones to one of our early childcare centres, or to Te Puna Reo o Wairaka, our Māori language early childhood centre on the Mt Albert campus.
Life on campus
Life at Unitec isn’t all about study. There are lots of events, activities and clubs to get involved in. It’s a great way to make friends and take a well deserved break from your studies.
The year starts with the epic six-week Orientation programme featuring a huge Street Festival and a Kids’ Day Out. In between there are film nights, sports tournaments, BBQs, parties and comedy nights to keep you entertained throughout the year.
You can join one of the many clubs or societies at Unitec or even start your own one. And if you’re after some culture, there are regular plays and dance performances by performing arts students, as well as design and visual arts exhibitions at the Mt Albert campus galleries.
Into sport and fitness? Then make use of the gym, playing fields and NZ National Squash Centre. You can even get low-cost osteopathy care at our student clinic.
Take some time out at the beautiful Te Noho Kotahitanga marae, or relax with friends at Carrington’s bar.
And if you want to see more of New Zealand, join one of the action-packed trips brought to you by Experience NZ.
