Planning your summer
There’s so much to experience at Summer Start. Check out what taking part in the programme could look like for you.

Summer Start is a six-week programme for eligible* school leavers that will help you make the transition to university with confidence. Balancing learning with social activities, connecting with friends and family, and keeping active will set you up to succeed and thrive ahead of Semester One 2023.
During the programme, you should plan to be able to attend lectures, tutorials or labs at times from Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm.
Each paper has differing hours of study. As a general rule, an undergraduate paper in Summer School will usually involve around 20 hours of study per week, including lecture and tutorial times. In comparison, a paper during Semester One or Two is expected to have approximately 10 hours of study per week. You should also plan for approximately one hour per week for university administration, such as attending meetings, keeping up with emails and learning new systems.
Summer Start will also have a range of additional study, workshop and social opportunities for you to take part in.
The timetables below show what your Summer Start experience could look like. Please note that they are an example only and lecture times may be different.
*The Summer Start programme is free for New Zealand school leaver students who meet the eligibility requirements of the New Zealand government’s Fees Free tertiary education initiative.
Example one:
Monday | Lecture: 10am – 12pm Lunch at Summer Start Hub Tutorial: 2pm – 3pm Basketball pick up game: 3pm – 4pm |
Tuesday | Lecture: 10am – 12pm Critical Thinking Workshop: 1pm – 2pm Part time job: 4pm – 9pm |
Wednesday | Study: 9am – 12pm Lunch with Summer Start Leader: 1pm – 2pm Tutorial: 2pm – 3pm |
Thursday | Lecture: 10am -12pm Study – 1pm – 4pm Badminton tournament: 4pm – 5pm |
Friday | Breakfast and games at Summer Start Hub: 9am – 10am Lecture: 10am -12pm Tutorial: 2pm – 3pm Quiz event: 4pm – 6pm |
Saturday | Trip to Marine Centre: 10am – 1pm Study 3pm – 5pm |
Sunday | Part time job: 9am – 4pm |
Example two:
Monday | Study: 9am – 12pm Vinyl Cut Workshop: 1pm – 2.30pm Lecture: 3pm – 5pm Accommodation floor dinner: 6pm – 7pm |
Tuesday | Gym: 9am – 10am Lecture: 3pm – 5pm |
Wednesday | Lab: 10am – 11am Lunch at Summer Start Hub: 12pm – 1pm Study: 2pm – 4pm |
Thursday | Study: 1pm – 3pm Lecture 3pm – 5pm Group fitness class: 5pm – 6pm |
Friday | Lab: 10am – 11am Lecture: 3pm – 5pm Karaoke night: 5pm – 6pm |
Saturday | Mt Eden Walk: 11pm – 1pm Study: 2pm – 4pm |
Sunday | Study: 1pm – 2pm Auckland City Dumpling Tour: 4pm – 7pm |