13 July 2026
Gleb moved from Israel to Christchurch with his family and is currently studying for a Master of Engineering Studies at the University of Canterbury. In his story, he talks about studying, adapting and his first impressions of life in New Zealand.
Why We Chose New Zealand
We considered several different options. Ultimately, it was probably the easy access to incredible nature and the comfortable range of temperatures that led us to choose New Zealand.
First Impressions and Adaptation
Videos about New Zealand helped us understand what to expect in terms of everyday life, prices and other practical matters. There were no major surprises — for the most part, everything matched our expectations.
“At the moment, we like everything. Small difficulties come up, and we deal with them. We are adapting at our own pace, and it is different for every member of the family.”
Studying at the University of Canterbury
Yes, I can definitely say that the programme matched my expectations. What surprised me was how open and easy it is to communicate with the lecturers, while they still maintain a high level of professionalism and academic expectations.
Sometimes there are certain quirks. For example, an exam might be structured unevenly, and you only realise this five minutes before it ends. Or you might not be given a formula sheet during an exam and have to work things out as best you can.
In terms of difficulty, the programme has been about as challenging as I expected.
How the Study Process Works
The workload is heavy. Sometimes, when deadlines are approaching, you surprise yourself with what you are capable of.
The support of my family makes a huge difference. They do everything they can to give me the time and space to sit down and study.
The university is great. The programme is very well organised: the dates, times and locations of the exams are known from the very first day.
Part-Time Work and Job Search
I am not working while I study at the moment.
Most roles in my profession are full-time. I do not see much point in taking unrelated part-time work, and I do not currently need to.
The employment stage is still ahead of me — I am continuing my studies for now.
What You Should Know Before Moving
You need to start planning and dreaming well in advance.
After that, you should decide on a profession or programme and work out whether you have enough money to manage without a part-time job.
The larger your financial buffer, the more calmly you will be able to adapt.
My Experience with Kiwi Education
We were very happy with the service. From the very first conversation, everything was explained clearly and honestly, without hidden conditions or unexpected fees.
Even after the formal support period had ended, the team continued answering our questions. During our first few days after the move, we had someone we could contact, and that helped enormously.
