Winter 2028
Application Deadline
Feb 1, 2027 3 Months
3 Weeks
2 Days
Linguistics FSP Auckland & Polynesia
Auckland, New ZealandRarotonga, Cook IslandsProgram At a Glance
Terms Offered
WinterLanguage
Classes In
Lodging
Dormitory
Department
Linguistics
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
The Dartmouth Dept. of Linguistics offers a foreign study program in Auckland, New Zealand (Aotearoa) and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands every winter term, which corresponds with the summer season in New Zealand and the South Pacific. The portion in Auckland is in coordination with the Dartmouth Dept. of Anthropology FSP. Linguistics students take classes in the Dept. of Māori Studies at the University of Auckland. Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand, with a culturally diverse population of 1.5 million people. The University of Auckland is an internationally recognized center for the study of Pacific and Māori linguistics and anthropology. It is also a leading institution in the comparative study of indigeneity.
For seven weeks in Auckland, students take 3 classes: a class on Māori language, a course that serves as an introduction to Māori society and culture titled "Te Ao Māori: The Māori World," and a course preparing students for linguistics field research taught by the Dartmouth Linguistics FSP faculty director. The time in Auckland includes field trips to Māori communities and significant historical sites near Auckland. Students live in University of Auckland campus dormitories with a cafeteria on site.
Students spend the final 3 weeks in Rarotonga participating in a linguistics field research project on Cook Islands Māori led by the Linguistics FSP faculty director documenting Cook Islands Māori. The portion of the FSP in Rarotonga is hosted by the University of the South Pacific, Cook Islands campus. Students share a house together in Rarotonga and cook meals together.
Enrollment Information
About 10 students are selected for the program. Committed students will also submit an application to the University of Auckland.
For more information about applying for this program, see our webpage on How to Apply & our FAQs under section 2 (How to Apply: Application)
THE STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Faculty Director
Rolando Coto Solano Assistant Professor Faculty Director
David A. Peterson Associate Professor of Linguistics STUDENT LIFE
Highlights of the program in Auckland typically include excursions to places relevant to Māori history and culture. This usually includes a weekend-long visit to a Māori marae on Waiheke Island. Students live in a University of Auckland campus dormitory with a cafeteria on site. Students share a house together in Rarotonga and cook meals together.
Both portions of the FSP involve frequent opportunities to participate in water-related activities and sports. In order to participate in these activities, students must pass swimming tests both in Auckland and in Rarotonga.
For more information, see our department website.
Student Accessibility Services
We encourage students to engage with their SAS advisors and program faculty/staff during the exploratory, pre-application phase to discuss how disability-related accommodations and access needs can be supported in an off-campus environment. If you currently have approved accommodations at Hanover, SAS will review them to determine which can be provided at your off-campus location and what alternatives may be needed. On-campus and off-campus accommodations may differ depending on each program location's resources and accessibility features. We recommend beginning this discussion with SAS as soon as you are accepted and no later than at least one whole quarter before your program start date.
For next steps, review the Off-Campus Program Accommodations page on the SAS website.
Financing Your Program
Tuition and Fees
The fees charged by the College for a Dartmouth-sponsored off-campus term of study include regular tuition charges for a term at Dartmouth, service fees, as well as the specific costs established for each off-campus study locale. In many programs, the room and board costs tend to be higher than for a term in Hanover. You can view a budget sheet for each program by clicking on the appropriate term under "Financing Your Program". The cost of transportation to and from the site is the responsibility of the student.
Financial Aid
In order that all qualified Dartmouth undergraduate students may have the opportunity to take part in off-campus programs, the College endeavors to adjust its normal financial aid awards for students already receiving aid. Tuition and expected family contribution for Dartmouth's off-campus programs are the same as for an on-campus term.
All costs, including airfare and spending money, are considered when determining the cost of an off-campus program. Any costs more than a typical term in Hanover are met with additional Dartmouth Scholarship Funds. If you have a work expectation for the term, this will be replaced by scholarship funding for programs that span the entire term.
Students are responsible for purchasing their own plane tickets and, in many cases, meals. Often, families find that they owe less for billable items for study away terms but will instead use more of their expected family contribution towards indirect costs such as the flight and meals. For help sorting out who pays what and how, contacting the Financial Aid office is often advisable.
Financing your program | Financial Aid | Scholarships | Budgeting & Costs
