Study in New Zealand

Your dream of Studying in New Zealand is closer than you think!

Learn everything you need to know about studying
in New Zealand and get end-to-end expert guidance from us.

New Zealand, an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, the southwesternmost part of Polynesia. New Zealand is a remote land- one of the last sizable territories suitable for habitation to be populated and settled- and lies more than 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Australia, its nearest neighbor. The capital city is Wellington and the largest urban area is Auckland; both are located on the North Island. Despite New Zealand’s isolation, the country has been fully engaged in international affairs since the early 20th century, being an active member of several intergovernmental institutions, including the United Nations. It has also participated in several wars, including World Wars I and II. Economically the country was dependent on the export of agricultural products, especially to Great Britain. The entry of Britain into the European Community in the early 1970s, however, forced New Zealand to expand its trade relations with other countries. It also began to develop a much more extensive and varied industrial sector. Tourism has played an increasingly important role in the economy, though this sector has been vulnerable to global financial instability.

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As far as the international teaching curriculum is concerned, the New Zealand education ministry, on top of that, the New Zealand Government, ensures the Top-notch quality of education with a peaceful and culturally diversified environment. This country welcomes international students from all over the world with warm hands and takes care of those students as they care for their own country’s students.
As of February 2024, there were 28,725 international students in New Zealand. The number reflects a steady recovery in enrolments since the reopening of New Zealand’s borders. This country’s international education sector is showing positive signs of regaining its pre-pandemic scale. New Zealand has eight universities. These institutions are known for providing a wide range of courses and research opportunities, contributing significantly to the country’s education system and research output. Over 43,000 students graduate from NZ universities each year – 90% at bachelor’s degree level and above.NZ universities’ total expenditure is $ 3.5 billion annually – and accounts for 1.2% of NZ’s gross domestic product. New Zealand has approximately one university per 500,000 people (in line with international norms).

To recapitulate, it can be said that, many international students have their reason for choosing their desired country to complete their education and get settled down there. If we look at the point of view of a peaceful environment, world-class education system, cutting-edge course facilities, ample work opportunities, secured lifestyle, and ease of settlement, the majority of international students want to pursue higher education in New Zealand as they feel they can establish their career very well.

WHY DO STUDENTS CHOOSE TO STUDY IN NEW ZEALAND?

International students have their perspectives on choosing one country to achieve the dream of lifetime settlement. Here are some important reasons to shed light on students choosing New Zealand as their prime destination: –

New Zealand is known for its world-class education with universities and institutions that consistently rank well globally

New Zealand is often perceived as a safe and welcoming country with a relatively low crime rate.

New Zealand’s breathtaking landscapes, including mountains, beaches, and forests, attract students who appreciate outdoor activities and nature. Many international students are drawn to New Zealand’s opportunities for adventure & exploration.

New Zealand offers international students the opportunity to work part-time during their studies & full-time scheduled breaks. Moreover, after completing their studies, graduates may be eligible for post-study work visas, allowing them to gain practical work experiences in their field of study.

Studying in New Zealand provides international students with the opportunity to improve their English language skills in an immersive environment. This language proficiency is valuable for academic success & future career opportunities. New Zealand is ranked as the #1 English-speaking country in the world in preparing students for the future.

New Zealand is a multicultural society that celebrates diversity. International students have the chance to interact with people from various cultural backgrounds, broadening their perspectives & enriching their overall educational experiences.

Kiwis (New Zealanders) are known for their friendly & laid-back nature. International students often find themselves welcomed into supportive communities both on and off campus, making it easier to adjust to life in a new country.

THE MOST POPULAR NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITIES

University of Auckland.
University of Otago.
Massey University.
Victoria University of Wellington.
University of Waikato.
University of Canterbury.
Lincoln University.
Auckland University of Technology (AUT).

These are the eight government-funded universities in New Zealand. Additionally, there are several institutes of technology & polytechnic (ITPs) & private training establishments (PTEs) that offer tertiary education in various fields.

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS

For international students, the Standard IELTS scores for UK student visas are given below-

Programs	IELTS Score
Foundation course	5.5 No band less than 5.0
Bachelor’s Degree (main course)	6.0 No band less than 5.5
Master’s Degree	6 .5/6.0 No band less than 5.5

STUDY COST IN NEW ZEALAND

Compared to Public Universities, private universities have higher tuition fees but note that they are worth every penny. Tuition fees are the same for all students (for native as well as international students).

The following table gives you a range of the cost to study in Private US Universities as per the degree you choose:

Programs	Average Annual Tuition Fees (in USD)
Foundation course	$15,000-$25,000
Bachelor’s Degree	$22,000-$35,000
Master’s Degree	$25,000-$40,000

SOME KEY POINTS TO MENTION ABOUT NZ STUDY PERMIT

Student visas will only be granted to international students aged under 10 years old if they will be living in New Zealand with their legal guardian or in an approved school hostel.
International students who are under the age of 18 must provide a statement from their education provider confirming their accommodation is compliant with the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. This statement may be included in the offer of a place or separately.

If you are a Secondary school student you can work for up to 20 hours a week during the school year, and full-time in the Christmas and New Year holidays between school years if: – you are 16 or older, and – studying in year 12 or 13, the last two years of secondary school.

If you are under 18, you must have written permission from your school and your parents or legal guardian to work 20 hours per week. If you want the conditions of your visa to allow you to work in New Zealand, please include permission statements when you apply for your visa. Otherwise, you can apply for work rights when you are in New Zealand by applying for a variation of conditions.

Do not apply for a Pathway Student Visa unless you have a Pathway Student Visa offer of place or a Pathway Student Visa cover letter from an approved Pathway education provider.

Please keep the volume of documents limited to the information relevant to the application requirements. If you submit an excessive number of documents for review, it will take us more time to check these documents which may slow down the processing of your application.

Information required-
An offer of place from a New Zealand education provider
A copy of the identity pages in your current passport should be the passport you intend to use to travel to New Zealand. Make sure you have scanned the whole bio-data page and include the machine-readable zone (MRZ) at the bottom of the page.
Tuition fees evidence Provide evidence you: › have paid your tuition fees in full for one year or one program (whichever is shorter), or › have money available to pay your tuition fees if you are outside New Zealand and wish to use the Approval in Principle route, or › are exempt from paying fees and your provider has confirmed this, or › is an aviation student who meets the fees by installment requirements. Only eligible aviation students can pay tuition by installment. Check with your aviation training provider to see if you are eligible.
Evidence of tuition fee payment: › Evidence you have paid your tuition fees is a receipt of payment or confirmation from your education provider. Screenshots of bank transfers or receipts from education agents are not acceptable.
Approval in Principle › if you are outside New Zealand when you apply for your visa you can choose to pay your tuition fees after your visa has been approved in principle (AIP). You must provide a tuition fee receipt after your application has been AIP to have your visa granted. › AIP deadlines are usually 5 days, 10 days for India. If you need longer, request an extension from the Immigration Officer as soon as possible. If the AIP deadline is missed, the application will likely be declined. › You do not have to use AIP. You can pay your tuition fees upfront for faster processing, but you must provide evidence of the source of funds that made the tuition fee payment.
Evidence you have enough money to live on and proof of where this money has come from The money must be genuinely available for you to use to pay your living costs while you are in New Zealand and be from a source that we can confirm. You will need: › NZD 20,000 per year if you are studying tertiary, English language, or other non-school study or NZD 1,667 per month if your study will be shorter than 1 year or › NZD 17,000 per year if you are studying primary, intermediate or secondary school (years 1-13 at a school) or NZD 1,417 per month if your study will be shorter than 1 year. Accommodation costs, such as homestay, pre-paid to the school can be deducted.
Evidence you have enough money to leave New Zealand Evidence can be a fully paid ticket out of New Zealand or evidence you have enough extra money to buy a ticket.
Evidence of your health and character Depending on how long you plan to stay in New Zealand and the countries you have previously spent time in, you may also need to: › visit a panel physician for a chest x-ray and/or a medical examination to show that you are healthy. To find out if you need to do this visit: Who needs an x-ray or medical exam (immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/preparing-a-visa-application/medical-info/whenyou-need-an-x-ray-or-medical-examination) › provide a police certificate (or certificates) – and a certified translation if it is not in English – to show you are still of good character. To find out if you need to provide this visit: Who needs to provide police certificates (immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/preparing-a-visaapplication/character-and-identity/when-you-need-a-police-certificate).
A cover letter or statement of purpose that explains why you want to study in New Zealand and provides information about you. This should be written by you – not your agent or licensed immigration advisor. It should include: › an outline of your study plans › the reasons you chose this education provider and course › an idea of what you want to do once you have finished your study. Be honest, if you want to apply for a different type of visa after study, such as a post-study work visa, then declare this. › details of education and training you have completed in the past or are currently studying, including if you have started your course from outside of New Zealand › information about what you were doing during any gaps in your recent education or work history. If gaps were due to the pandemic, please explain this. › information on how you are paying for your study, including • a summary of the evidence you are providing with your application and where this money has come from. It must show that this money is genuinely available for you to use while you are in New Zealand. • an explanation of how you will pay for your future years if you plan to study in New Zealand for longer than one year (we call this a funding plan). Please include evidence to back this up. For example, if parents are supporting future years include their salary and employment information. › If you are supported by a financial guarantor or sponsor, provide evidence of how you are related to them. * While it is not mandatory to provide a cover letter it helps us to assess your application faster. If you do not provide one, we may not have enough information to determine if you are a genuine applicant.

Your dream of Studying in New Zealand is closer than you think!