Master’s studies in Auckland: experience at ICL Graduate Business School
Alexandra moved to New Zealand from Indonesia and is currently studying at ICL Graduate Business School in Auckland in the Master of Management program.
In this article, she shares her personal experience of studying, adapting to a new country, and living in New Zealand.
Why did you choose New Zealand
We were choosing between Australia and New Zealand, considering education opportunities for children, the ability for us to work, and financial factors. The programs in New Zealand seemed more interesting and more welcoming.
First impression of New Zealand
It felt like I was allowed back into my student youth again — wandering through beautiful streets, enjoying the cool breeze, almost breathless from pure excitement and the anticipation of something incredibly happy.
Every single detail hit me right in the gut, straight back to childhood: the smell of warm pine on the ground, acorns under an oak tree, the taste of a drink grabbed on the go from a shop — just to sip it on the way home. It’s all completely subjective, but impossible to resist. Auckland has everything I loved in the cities I’ve been to or lived in before (there aren’t many, but they’re all dear to me).
I know, I know this is a “honeymoon phase” (in fact, it’s already the third one and still just as intense), but I feel so good that I have no intention of snapping out of it or returning to reality.
Life in New Zealand now
Absolute happiness, a level of trust in this place turned up to the maximum (which is not typical for me at all), and complete calm — even though we haven’t found a job yet, which is, objectively, a reason to worry. But for the first time in many years, I feel at peace.
It feels right here for me, for my husband, and for my children. The decision was the right one. And if things have worked out before, they will work out again.
Impressions of the university and program after starting studies
Better than I expected. I came in with the mindset that it was basically a deal: visas in exchange for money, so I didn’t expect much. Most of the lectures aren’t particularly impressive, that’s true (though it’s only the first semester), but the written assignments are really engaging. You naturally connect them to your own interests and dive deep into research. Your brain is buzzing, new connections are forming — and you just sit there feeling proud of yourself.
Alexandra noted that overall the study process turned out to be easier than she expected.
“It’s very convenient that classes are in the evenings and you only need to come to the university twice a week. The rest is online. I enjoy both going and not going — it feels balanced.”She hasn’t had a part-time job yet – everything is just getting started.
- It’s not as scary as it seems from the other side. Easy? No. But it’s a very engaging quest. It builds a lot of skills at once.
