Study In New Zealand

New Zealand is a popular choice among students wanting to study overseas. The country has high standards of education, English-language courses, internationally recognized qualifications, student-friendly approach, and unparalleled quality of life. New Zealand offers an excellent multi-cultural environment. New Zealand is known for its natural beauty replete, with landscapes from lush rain forests to snow-capped mountains to green hills. Studying in this country allows students to enjoy its natural beauty and benefit from its multicultural environment.

• All study programs are monitored by New Zealand Qualifications Authority to maintain their international standards.
• New Zealand invests in research and assures a curriculum that balances traditional pedagogy and changing trends.
• Some popular research areas include agriculture, computer science, healthcare, physics, engineering, and geology.
• Many research programs are supported by government-led scholarships.
• Living expenses and tuition fees are lesser than in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
• Fee Paying Student Visa allows you to work while studying.
• Many government and university scholarships cover 100% of living expenses in New Zealand, including tuition fees, living costs, and health insurance.
• New Zealand follows a progressive pedagogy emphasizing on experiential thinking.
• Teaching is more research-focused, and students are inspired to sharpen their critical and analytical thinking skills and develop different solutions & approaches toward a problem.
• New Zealand ranked second on the Global Peace Index 2021.
• Violent crimes are very low in the country.
• The country scores well for jobs and earnings for expats.

• New Zealand is home to the top 8 state-funded universities, 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) and multiple Private Training Establishments (PTE).  Students can enroll for the following programs across universities.
• Bachelor’s Degrees: Most bachelor’s programs can be completed in three years, except for law, which may take four years to complete.
• Associate Degrees: These are two-year degree programs awarded by junior, technical, or community colleges. There are two types of associate degrees – Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS).
• Master’s Degrees: A master’s degree in New Zealand will take two years to complete depending on the program.

• The university grading systems across the country varies largely. Generally, letter grades from A to D are awarded to students in denominations of + or -. In this, A, A+, and A- are the highest grades, and F is the lowest. A student who scores a D grade or below D is considered a failure.
• The grading system continues down on a scale, which means A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, and C, with C being the lowest passing grade. 
• ‘C’ is equivalent to 50% or slightly above, and the failing grades are D, E, and F (this notation may differ across universities).

For honors degrees, the letter grades indicate degree classes, with A+ and A- standing for first, high B and B+ equivalent to 2:1 and so on.

There are mainly three main categories of institutes in New Zealand, and they are:

There are eight universities in New Zealand and following indicates their position in the QS World University Rankings.

There are eight universities in New Zealand and all are state-funded. These universities ensure affordable tuition fees. They charge anything between NZ$20,000 and NZ$45,000 for bachelor’s and master’s programs.

Step 1: Choose the desired course and program

Students must carefully research all the courses, institutions and locations and consider the areas of specialization.

Step 2: Check entry requirements and deadlines

After choosing the desired course and education provider, students must carefully examine all the necessary entry requirements and deadlines.

Step 3: Apply Online

Students can directly apply online using the ‘Apply Now button, and this will take them to the university admissions application system. They will be prompted to create an account on the portal for applying.

Step 4: Submit the application

After completing the application information and uploading the documents, students need to SUBMIT their application for evaluation. The application will be evaluated by the university office. This evaluation may take up to 6 weeks.

Step 5: Accept the offer:

If successful, the student will receive an Offer for Placement, which will be delivered through the portal on which they have applied.

Eligibility Requirements – Undergraduate Courses in New Zealand

If the student is willing to pursue his graduate-level education or undergraduate education in the New Zealand University, then the eligibility requirements are as follows:

• Students must complete their 12th class or equivalent from any recognized university across the world
• A score of 60% or above in higher secondary examinations
• Proficiency in English is a must to apply for admission to the undergraduate courses 
• Some universities also require students to submit scores of the IELTS or TOEFL examination

Eligibility Requirements – For graduate Courses in New Zealand

The eligibility criteria for the  graduate courses in New Zealand are:

• Most New Zealand Universities accept bachelor’s degrees awarded by Indian universities
• Some universities prefer a bachelor’s degree equivalent to New Zealand’s honors degree, which requires 16 years of formal education.
• A score of 60% and above in undergraduate studies.

Many universities in New Zealand require students to submit proof of work experience while seeking an admission to MBA.

In addition to the above, the students have to submit the following documents:

• Relevant 12th / undergraduate degree certificate from a recognized university in the relevant field
• Scores of entrance tests like GMAT or GRE
• Scores of English language proficiency tests like valid TOEFL/ IELTS/ PTE/ Duolingo scores
• Resume/ CV (course-specific requirement)
• Recommendation Letters
• A Statement of Purpose (SOP)
• A valid passport 
• Bank statements and proof of financial coverage for your entire study timeline 

There are two intake seasons in New Zealand i.e. Fall and Spring Intake.

Jan-Feb Intake: This semester lasts from February to June. Let’s look at the timeline of the intake.
April – May: Create a list of courses, universities you wish to apply to, application dates, eligibility criteria, etc.
June – July : Take English proficiency tests and standardized exams required for seeking admission to your university.
August – September: Apply to universities with all required documents.
October – November: Accept the letter of confirmation and work on your finances.
November – December: Apply for a student visa.
December – January: Book tickets and prepare to start your new semester at New Zealand University.

July Intake: This semester lasts from July to November. Let’s look at the timeline of the intake.
August – Sept: Create a list of courses, universities you wish to apply to, application dates, eligibility criteria, etc.
Oct – Nov: Take English proficiency tests and standardized exams required for seeking admission to your university.
Dec – Jan: Apply to universities with all required documents.
March – April: Accept the letter of confirmation and work on your finances.
April – May: Apply for a student visa.
June – July: Book tickets and prepare to start your new semester at New Zealand University.

Here we have included the average annual cost of education in NZ ($). Actual values may differ across cities and universities in New Zealand.

Step by step process to make an online application for New Zealand Student Visa is as mentioned below:

• Visit the New Zealand Immigration website.
• Select the type of visa, duration of studies, and click on view visa details and apply.
• Check the criteria and click on Apply Now.
• Set up your account.
• Make your student visa application.
• Add all necessary information, including your name, contact details, and passport.
• Upload all necessary documents and complete the application.
• After this, students will be directed toward a declaration page; they need to agree to the declaration and complete the application process.
• Get ready for the interview process, which may be conducted via video calls or telephone with immigration department officials from New Zealand. You may be prompted to travel to your local embassy to do this. So, it is always recommended to prepare in advance so that you do not miss important visa interview deadlines.

The best student cities in New Zealand for international students are:

International students must clear any of the following language proficiency tests and standardized exams to be admitted to universities in New Zealand.

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): This is the official language test for most universities in New Zealand. It evaluates a student’s abilities in reading, talking, writing, and listening.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): The scores of TOEFL iBT is approved by most universities in New Zealand. Student visas are also approved for TOEFL iBT, however, students who have taken tests in iBT Home edition may not be easily accepted.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): This test has been recently added to the list of approved English proficiency tests in New Zealand. The results of PTE are accepted by most universities in New Zealand.
• Occupational English Test (OET): This test is taken by professionals in the healthcare industry who want a temporary registration to practice in the country.
• Graduate Record Examinations (GRE): This test is mandatory for seeking admission to master’s in some universities in New Zealand. Applicants interested in studying masters, MBA, and PhD programs can appear for this test.
• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT): This test is important to complete an MBA at the university in New Zealand. Many business schools may additionally require 3-4 years of work experience.
• University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT): The test is mandatory for students seeking admission to dentistry, medical, and clinical courses.

The following is a list of popular government and non-government scholarships available for Indian students to study in New Zealand.

A post-study work visa in New Zealand is issued to those talented students who wish to stay back in New Zealand after their studies. Any student is eligible for a post-study work visa if they have studied a degree level 7 or above and non-degree level 7 or below qualification. The duration of post study work visa will depend on the degree completed by you. If you have completed a graduate degree and have studied for at least 30 weeks, then you are eligible for a stay up to 3 years. If you have completed qualification for level 8, the work visa will be valid for the same length as your study. If your course lasts for 32 weeks, then the visa duration will be 32 weeks.

• Casual employee
• Permanent employee

On-Campus Part-Time Jobs

• Cafe
• Teaching Assistant
• Administration
• Research Assistant
• Peer Tutor
• Library Attendant
• Campus Tour Guide

Off-Campus Part-Time Jobs

• Retail Sales Assistant
• Supermarket Assistants
• Seasonal Worker
• Waiter or Waitress
• Kitchen-Hand
• Call Centre Operator
• Bartender

Popular career prospects and average salary of graduates from universities in New Zealand are listed below. Your income would depend on your knowledge, skills, and the type of the organization you work for.