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Experience the Real Fiji - 21 Days - Village Life
Culture, Community, & Adventure. This is community immersion at its very best. An experience like no other that connects you deeply with Fiji, its people, and its culture.
Join a team, be welcomed like family into a traditional Fijian community, learn age-old skills, live daily village life, and dive into an unforgettable mix of culture and adventure. Every team visits a different community.
For three unforgettable weeks, step beyond your comfort zone and share stories around the kava bowl, engage in age-old skills and feel the warmth of a culture built on connection.
Designed in formal partnership with the Fijian Ministry and created with our CARE approach, each experience generates local income, empowerment and cultural exchange.
Start and end at the beautiful beach resorts of the Coral Coast. During the weekends explore the jungle highlands with riverside swims, and jungle hikes.
Get more information on Village Immersion Fiji
Ultimate Fiji Village Immersion at a Glance...
- Ultimate Fiji Village Immersion – Our biggest cultural experience
- Timeframe: 21 days
- Accommodation Style: Village homestay + Beach Resort + Hotel
- Experience: daily life, traditions, food, art, sport, identity, customs & skills, adventure, nature.
- Explore remote villages, coral reefs, rainforests, resorts and beaches
- Impact – Travel that supports cultural preservation through our CARE approach.
Village Life in Fiji
Why Join a Village Immersion to Fiji?
Whether you’re taking a rewarding summer break or looking to enhance your skills beyond your studies, on our expedition you will:
- Experience: Gain unique Pacific perspectives from local communities
- Connection: Real connection with people, communities and nature
- Challenge: Expand your comfort zone, throw yourself into new ways of life
- Learn: Learn about a new culture through immersion, adventure and excursions
- Skills: Build your resilience, adaptability, communication and cultural IQ
- Global Citizenship: Learn how actions have impact globally
Come with a positive mindset and a sense of cultural curiosity, as you’ll be living and learning alongside real communities. We guarantee this experience will expand your skills, deepen your global awareness, and broaden your perspective.
Key Information
Programme Provider
Think Pacific
Dates
Programme 1) 8 - 21 June 2026 (allow for a day or two either side for travel)
Programme 2) 1 -21 July 2026 (allow for a day or two either side for travel).
Eligibility
Open to registered Undergraduate or Postgraduate students (part –time or full-time). Not suitable for final year students.
Programme Cost
£2145 including a £195 registration fee.
Funding is available for eligible students to assist towards the above project cost. Students from a *Widening Access and Participation Background will receive a higher rate of funding.
Your contribution will be:
£600 for most students (approx. - exchange rate and fees apply)
or
£200 if your household income is less than £25,000* (receipted expenditure will be required to cover travel costs up to a max. £1360)
*you can check the full criteria for this higher Turing rate in the 'Widening Access and Participation' section below.
Flights
An additional scholarship of up to £1500 is available towards the cost of your return flights. This will be paid to students once flights are confirmed and evidence (receipts) are provided. You must ensure you have the funds to pay for your flights as do not receive this scholarship in advance.
Programme Cost Includes
- Airport welcome by Think Pacific Expedition leaders (or resort meet and greet if you arrive early).
- All in-country project-related travel.
- All project accommodation.
- Briefing and orientation at a resort.
- All meals during your briefing, 3 and a half weeks staying with your Fijian village family and during your final day of R&R.
- Guided weekend activities such as a short trek or attending community events.
- Organised evening Fijian activities including kava ceremonies, lovo feasts, mat weaving,
- Think Pacific Leaders and Fijian guides living with you 24/7.
- In-country Director, Fiji based Project Managers and UK team providing planning, risk assessment and 24-hour back up support.
- Comprehensive pre-departure information & personal project planning.
- Your project donation towards the youth development goals in Fiji (which is used to purchase educational and sports equipment, fund scholarships and training for local people and build village facilities and school classrooms)
Additional Costs
- International flights – £1000 – £1200
- Personal travel insurance £60-£100
- Spending money for extra food and snacks, Fijian clothes and items of a personal nature (we advise bringing £200 – £300 spending money).
- Visa – Tourist visa – free for nationalities of many countries including UK, Europe, Australia & USA. Please note it is your responsibility to check and confirm visa requirements.
Application | Submit your application |
|---|---|
Application Deadline | 12 December 2025 |
Interview | You will be invited to an online group interview if you are shortlisted at application stage. |
Interview Guidance | If you require support and guidance to help you prepare for interview reach out to your Employability & Graduate Futures Team. You can request a 1:1 appointment via Handshake or contact the team via e-mail: graduatefutures@ulster.ac.uk |
Global Stories
Volunteer Experience in Fiji - Shanin Chloe Maymay
Follow Shanin to hear her story and explore her video diary!
Volunteer Experience in Fiji - Rebecca Wallace
Join Rebecca as she shares her inspiring journey in Fiji !
Volunteer Experience in Fiji - Oisin Kennedy
Discover Fiji with Oisin as he reflects on his volunteer experience.
Widening Access and Participation
You will be eligible for a higher rate of Turing Scheme funding if you meet one of the criteria below:
- You are in receipt of an Ulster University Access Bursary
- You are from an area of low higher education participation, low household income or low socioeconomic status (including those with an annual household income of £25,000 or less)
- You receive Income Support or Universal Credit and are financially supporting yourself or financially supporting yourself and someone who is dependent on you and living with them, such as a child or partner
- You are from a background of care
- You have caring responsibilities
- You have no living parents
- Your parents cannot be found or it is not reasonably practicable to get in touch with either of them (estranged students)
- You are a refugee or asylum seeker
Proof of the above criteria will be required as part of your application.
Pre-Departure Information
If you are selected for this opportunity following successful application and interview, the following details will help you prepare for pre-departure:
You are responsible for ensuring that you meet the host country's immigration requirements. This will vary depending on the type of passport you hold. Further advice on the visa application will be provided as part of the pre-departure process, but it is your responsibility to ensure your familiarity with this.
Please note, if travelling out of Dublin airport, students without a British or Irish passport may also need an additional Irish visa.
Ensure you read through the Government Travel Guidance Advice for Fiji.
You will automatically be covered for emergency travel insurance and medical emergency cover through Ulster University’s Group Personal Accident and Travel insurance policy for the duration of this programme.
Review the cover thoroughly to check it's sufficient for your needs; if it does not cover everything, you will need to take out additional cover.
Ensure you read through the recommended vaccine requirements for the country you are travelling to.
There’s lots to think about before, during and after your programme. Read the Pre-departure Guide thoroughly for advice on to how to prepare and what to expect from your experience abroad.
Once final candidates have been selected you will be invited to a series of mandatory pre-departure sessions to help you prepare for your programme. This will be an opportunity for you to meet other students who will be joining you and it is a requirement of the programme that you attend.
As part of the pre-departure preparation, you will be asked to submit a mandatory travel preparation form and a medical disclosure form. Both forms are required so we can assess that you are fully prepared for the programme and can provide you with additional support if required.
