Success stories

"One Sunday I was skimming through the newspaper when I noticed an article about the New Start programme. Tertiary study was a must for my children, but never something I had considered for myself. Yet the article struck a chord and after weeks of procrastination and the support of my family I enrolled in New Start.

"The experience was life changing; New Start was personally challenging but it also gave me a chance to dream new aspirations. It gave me the encouragement, strength and realisation that I was more than just a wife, mother or office worker, but that I still had something to offer society. New Start offered me a range of different subjects, a sampler of university life and a taste of personal achievement. It helped me to know my strengths, my interests and has set me on a pathway that I previously discounted for myself.

"Thirty years after leaving school, I am now near the end of my second year of studying for a Bachelor of Arts majoring in History and Sociology, and next year I hope to graduate alongside my youngest son. New Start has shown me that you are never too old to learn or dream."

"My life had reached a crisis. My marriage was over and I was left with two children to provide for and needed to re-build the rest of my life. A friend suggested New Start.

"New Start was wonderful as it not only helped me with practical things like essays but showed me I had the ability to succeed. I recently graduated as a social worker and have a wonderful job and a future I am looking forward to. I would like to thank New Start for showing me my abilities, WINZ for supporting me during my course and all my friends for helping and cheering me on. If I can do it, you can do it. Sign up for New Start now!

"From the Sociology topic in New Start, I was inspired to take a degree in social work. This not only enabled me to find a new career but empowered me to take control of my future life and inspire those who been through my life crisis situation."

"Three years ago I was unhappy in my retail management job. Having achieved no recognised qualification, my opportunities for a different career were limited. I realised that in order for me to find a different job that was going to satisfy what I wanted out of life, I needed to up-skill and gain an appropriate tertiary qualification.

"As I did not meet the required entry standards for the Auckland University Business School, New Start gave me an opportunity to meet those standards. The New Start experience proved to be invaluable to my University study. Not only did I enter my first year of study with the confidence of knowing that I had the required knowledge and understanding, I had also formed some solid friendships through the experience as well.

"I am currently in the second year towards a Bachelor of Property. The experience thus far has been one that I cannot rate highly enough. I look forward to entering a career in property that I would not have been able to achieve without New Start."

"My return to university studies after 12 years was because of New Start. I had been so busy with life and looking after my young son.

"Being part of New Start and getting to know the people involved is an honour. Being able to be a better professional, better thinker and more active in life is a plus that I will never get tired of.

"I see so many young and bright faces carrying their papers and talking passionately about their intellectual concerns, giving me hope for a prosperous future. I don't know of anything that gives me greater pleasure than walking around the campus on a sunny day."

"After migrating to New Zealand with my husband, I was inspired to continue with my formal learning. The day I decided to browse The University of Auckland website will remain etched in my mind after discovering New Start.

"I had been away from formal tertiary learning for a while and envisaged that New Start was perfect for me. I enrolled in 2008 semester one and completed the programme in the same year. The programme stood me in good stead for the challenges ahead. I did not hesitate to enrol for the Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Finance and International Business.

"My aspirations are now to complete my degree and make a mark in the finance realm. I will always remain indebted to New Start and implore prospective students to grab the opportunity of enrolling in this reputable and rewarding programme."

"I completed my Masters in Film, Television and Media Studies at The University of Auckland in 2002. I’d always known I wanted to carry on beyond my masters but didn’t feel I was ‘academic material’ and didn’t know what to do next towards a PhD.

"No one in my family has ever pursued an academic career before. After graduation I worked in various jobs in Auckland, Wellington and Melbourne learning many skills, but always knew I wanted to do more study at some stage. One of those jobs was as an image archivist at the New Zealand Herald newspaper (and a paper archivist at KPMG in Melbourne). Eighteen months ago I began working as a general (non academic) staff member at the University. The idea kept returning to me that I wanted to study part-time, and a topic related to archiving had occurred to me.

"So I came to a two-day programme over a couple of weekends last summer organised by the New Start team. There I learned about my study options, who to talk to about my specific area, what scholarships and grants might be available, library resources, supervisory relationships and more. I also found there were many new resources available I didn’t know about.

"I felt excited by the experience, and the team was happy for my husband to sit in on some of the talks so he knew what I would be undertaking if I began to study again. I enrolled part-time in my PhD in Film, Telecision and Media Studies in March, and have since received my first funding grant (which will enable me to carry out research in Wellington), been invited to speak at an international conference on my work and learned loads!

"I don’t find PhD study easy  but I know I’ve got lots of support from family, friends and the University. My department and my supervisors have been very supportive and always available to discuss my work."