Bachelor of Commerce.
International student Jessica Lucas initially came to Dunedin to improve her English, but she enjoyed living here so much that she decided to enrol at Otago. When choosing subjects, a double major in Tourism and Management offered the perfect combination.
“I have always loved travelling, and I am lucky enough to have visited every continent. I have found getting to know different cultures fascinating, and there is so much more out there to explore. I like the idea of helping to provide people with an unforgettable and meaningful experience.”
“As for management, I think it is highly beneficial to have background knowledge and skills in managing people and companies. It not only helps you to understand the corporate world in which tourism operates, but it also assists in daily tasks and situations in life.”
The global reputation of the University of Otago, and the Department of Tourism, were also important for Jessica.
“Especially as I was studying tourism, I wanted a university that is known worldwide and offers good partnerships with other world-known universities, such as Duke.”
“Ultimately I chose Otago as, in my opinion, it has the best tourism programme in New Zealand – it's ranked 14th in the world.”
Studying at Otago exceeded Jessica's high expectations.
“I was very impressed by the amount of support students receive from lecturers and other staff members. I knew most of my tourism lecturers well as they all made time to answer questions and help out despite having busy schedules.”
Otago's famous student culture and the Dunedin lifestyle also played a large role in Jessica's experience.
“I think it is great that there is a so-called 'Studentsville', which is the area in which most students live. This helps build a fantastic student community and allows for easy socialising and making friends.”
“I absolutely loved being so close to the beach and being able to drive out after a busy day of lectures and just relax. Also, I love skiing and the closest mountains are only a three-and-a-half hour drive away, which enables you to do weekend trips. You get the best of both worlds when studying at Otago!”
