TESTIMONIALS

‘Inspirational’ would be a good way to describle Felix Nguyen, who came to Northcote College from Ho Chi Minh City to build his English before going to university.

Felix made the most of every opportunity – and excelled. He decided to learn Chinese – his third language – and did so well that he won 2^nd place in the New Zealand-wide Chinese Bridge competition in 2024, and  travelled to Wellington to accept the role of a Language Ambassador in New Zealand, and met the Prime Minister.

He won multiple academic awards at Northcote – in Chinese, Maths, Physics, Biology, and Statistics, and was named 2025 International Student of the Year. Felix also gained a prestigious 2025 New Zealand Scholarship in Mathematics Calculus, which puts him in the top 3% of students across New Zealand

 ‘I think Northcote College is a wonderful destination for students coming to New Zealand for the first time,’ says Felix. ‘The teachers here are incredibly friendly, they genuinely care about you, and they’ll give you many opportunities – and open up many future pathways that I’d never thought of when I was still in Vietnam.’

Apple Sun is another our the many international students who have loved their time at Northcote College.

Apple, from China, shares her highlights of life at Northcote College. From a great curriculum, a welcoming school culture, and choice of sports ... she says it’s been a journey to remember.

We love seeing our students thrive and make lifelong memories!

Anton has joined us from Munich, Germany, for a year-long exchange, and quickly found his rhythm here in Auckland.

For Anton, Northcote College offers the perfect balance. ‘New Zealand is a very beautiful country, but it’s just a 10-minute bus ride to the city.’

‘There’s a wide, wide selection of subjects you can choose from, and the teachers are also very nice.’ Anton says it’s also been really easy to make new friends here.

One of his biggest highlights has been getting out on the football field. After a tough start to the season, the team turned it around to win every single game in the second half.

Yuwa travelled from Japan to Northcote College with a clear goal: to challenge herself in a brand-new environment. For Yuwa, Northcote has been the perfect place to study.

In the classroom, Yuwa has discovered a passion for painting, and enjoys spending time with friends and studying in the library. A highlight of her time so far was the School Ball. She and her friends had a great time preparing for it – and the event itself was a lot of fun.

‘I recommend studying abroad to all kinds of students. I think Northcote College is a great place for those who want to discover what they want to do, and want to feel free to do it.’

For Dafne, studying abroad was a long-time dream that finally became a reality this year. ‘I chose Northcote College because it offers a wide ranges of subjects to take,’ she says, ‘and I discovered my my favourite subject is, in fact, fashion’.

When she isn’t in the classroom, she’s feeling right at home with what she calls ‘the best host family ever’.

Dafne’s advice for other students? "Enjoy every single moment, because the experience ends very quickly!"

‘I chose Northcote College because it’s close to the city, has a great vibe, and the people here are so friendly,’ says Chonlachita. ‘Plus, I love the uniform!’

She dreams of being a chef one day, so it’s no surprise that the particularly loves her Hospitality class, and she also enjoys trying out new sports and activities in her PE class.

The support for international students has been great, and it’s been easy to make new friends, and ‘I feel like I’m truly part of my host family’.

Chonlachita says: ‘Every day’s been special. To anyone thinking about coming here – don’t be afraid! Everyone is super supportive and kind. If you want to try new activities and experiences you can’t find in Thailand, you should definitely come and see for yourself.

Anton Koch is here from Germany for a full year, and has already been making the most of the Auckland lifestyle.

From the huge subject selection at Northcote College to the "warm" atmosphere of the city, Anton is loving his new home. His favourite subject so far? Hospitality!  His favourite food? The delicious dinners at his host family’s house. The School Ball was a “really, really cool” highlight, and he’s proved to be a talented player in a school football team, and highlight so far was definitely the School Ball—an experience he says was "really, really cool."

‘Hey, if you’re thinking about coming on exchange, especially to Northcote College – don’t think twice. Just come. Come because it’s incredible. You’ll have a wonderful time.’

Check out more about why Emi loves Northcote College, and thinks other international students will too.