Do you want to study and work in New Zealand? If this is what you want, then adequate preparation is needed on your part to achieve this. There are lots of benefits associated with studying and living in this beautiful country which explains why thousands of people travel down there for education. One of the benefits is that you will have access to qualitative education and also have the opportunity to work and make extra money at the same thing. This is what you rarely find in most countries. This article will be a lengthy one and we hope it will cover all the information you need about studying and working in New Zealand.
New Zealand is a sovereign island country that is located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses—the North Island, and the South Island —and around 600 smaller islands.
Cost of Study in New Zealand
It’s very important that you consider the cost associated with studying in any country before you start making plans to study in that country. But what’s the cost associated with studying in New Zealand? Let’s find out.
Universities in New Zealand are allowed to set their own tuition fees that will be paid by students. What this means is that the tuition fees you pay will be different depending on your institution of choice and the study program. International students studying in New Zealand should expect to pay between $22,000 and $32,000 for a bachelor’s degree, and between $26,000 and $37,000 for a postgraduate study programs. However, if you choose a program like medicine, engineering or veterinary science, your fees are likely to be higher than what’s stated here. Note that all PhD students pay the same, which is about $6,500 to $9,000 per year. For information about the cost of your specific course, please contact your institution.
If you don’t have enough money to pay these tuition fees, never border yourself as there are scholarships available for international students at various levels of study, including students wanting to gain a PhD. These scholarships are awarded by the institutions themselves, or the government. Contact your institution to get more information about your eligibility, or use the official New Zealand scholarship directory to search for scholarship opportunities.
Read also: Benefits of Studying In New Zealand
Costs of living in New Zealand depend on where you decide to live in New Zealand. As is the case in most countries, the big cities will require a larger living budget than the small ones. It is suggested that you budget between $15,000-$27,000 per year. If you intend be study in New Zealand for more than one year, you will be expected to prove that you have at least $15,000 to support yourself for the first year of your study. If you are studying for up to a year, you are required to prove that you have at least $1,250 for each month of study.
Please note that these estimates are in New Zealand dollars which is a little lower than the united States Dollars in value.
If you are staying in New Zealand with a student visa, you are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week during term time, and full time out of term time or during vacation. Students that are completing Masters by Research or PhD are permitted to work full time throughout their studies, including term period.
One of the requirements for studying in New Zealand is that you might have to purchase health insurance. Getting a health insurance depends on where you come from. Please note that if you hold a student visa, you are not eligible for publicly funded health services. The exceptions to this rule are students from Australia and the United Kingdom or PhD students. Students from these areas are entitled to publicly funded health care for immediately necessary treatment only. However, if you come from any other country, or need to access further medical treatment, you will have to make sure that you have valid medical and travel insurance throughout your stay. Your chosen institution will be able to provide more information regarding this.
Requirements for study in New Zealand
To study in any New Zealand institution you have to meet some requirements which are stated below:
If you are applying to study for diplomas and degrees at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics, students coming through New Zealand’s secondary school system generally will need NCEA Level 3 qualifications.
Students who come from overseas or international students should tender certificates that show that they’ve achieved a similar University entrance level of education – such certificates might include GCSE A levels for students who studied in the UK, Hong Kong ‘A’ Levels, STPM /Malaysian Higher School Certificate Australian Matriculation Year 12 Certificate. They also need to be able to prove their English proficiency skills.
If you are a domestic student that’s over 20, you don’t need formal qualifications to apply for entry.
If in situations where what the students have is not enough to get them admission into a university or college, there are short-term foundation studies or pre-university orientation studies at PTEs or universities to prepare for university-level study. All you need do is to check with the tertiary education provider you’re considering.
How to apply for study in New Zealand
If you want to study in New Zealand you need to first start searching for universities offering your type of program. Once you’ve found the institution and course you want to study, you’ll be expected to complete and return the relevant paperwork online. Once you have been accepted, the institution will send you an ‘offer of place’ letter and if you pay part or full tuition fees, the institution will send you a ‘confirmed offer of place’.
If for instance your program is less than 12 weeks, or your country has a visa-free agreement with New Zealand, you don’t need a visa to travel to New Zealand. In all other cases you’ll need to apply for a New Zealand student visa and be able to show the confirmed offer.
Read also: Low Tuition in New Zealand: Cost of Studying at a University in New Zealand
Best Universities in New Zealand
You might want to know the best universities in New Zealand and we are going to talk about them briefly. Please note that the universities listed below are not the only good universities in New Zealand, rather they are the top universities when compared with others in the country.
University of Auckland
Auckland University was established in the year 1883 and spread across various campuses. The university is one of the largest in New Zealand. Not only is the University of Auckland the largest university in New Zealand it’s also one of the most prestigious in the world. The Auckland badge of arms is topped by three kiwis, the flightless bird which is also the national animal of New Zealand.
University of Auckland is an internationally minded university. It has an international airport in the city and about a quarter of its students come from outside New Zealand. From the year 2016, Auckland required that all students wishing to study in their university, obtains an Academic English Language Requirement before they can take undergraduate programs.
The school has made some good discoveries over the years. One of which is a unique way of fighting antibiotic resistance that was discovered at Auckland by the team of Dr. Siouxsie Wiles, who took the genes from glowworms and placed them into microbes to be able to identify when they are killed off as the light goes out.
The Chairman of HSBC Vincent Cheng is an alumnus of Auckland University, as is the 37th prime minister of New Zealand Helen Clark, and Academy Award winning screenwriter Philippa Boyens. These are all graduates of Auckland University.
University of Otago
The University of Otago’s expansive grounds and sumptuous Scottish-influenced architecture give it a deserved repute as one of the most beautiful campuses on the planet earth. The university which was founded in 1869 on the southeast coast of the South Island, is the oldest university in New Zealand.
A research-led atmosphere is fostered at Otago, and the university is known to excel in the various fields of health sciences, with undergraduate and doctoral programmes offered in the field. Outside of the student town of Dunedin, Otago also has health science institutes in Christchurch and Wellington.
The university welcomes thousands of international students yearly, with exchange partnerships established with over 90 university campuses worldwide. Otago University has been awarding Rhodes Scholarships to a select group of New Zealander graduates since 1904.
The boisterous social nature of Otago students can be seen in annual celebrations such as the Undie 500 car rally and Toga Parade, although past behavioral concerns have led to more tempered events in recent years.
Medical researcher Muriel Bell, mountaineer Christine Jensen Burke, and astrophysicist Mazlan Othman all graduated from Otago.
Auckland University of Technology
Auckland University of Technology was established on the 1st of January 2000 when a former technical college was granted university status.
The university has about three campuses with City campus being the largest in central Auckland. The other two campuses South and North are accessible by using shuttle bus.
The student’s union association at AUT produces a fortnightly student magazine which is popularly called Debate. It is usually prepared by a full-time editor and a team of student contributors. It features what’s happening in the university and the city in the areas of news, views, cartoons, feature articles and columns.
The student’s association also supports more than 40 affiliated clubs and organizes concerts, comedy shows, DJ sets, parties, festivals and other events.
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury is situated in a city known as Christchurch. Few months after the city was badly affected by an earthquake in the year 2011, a dedicated reconstruction programme was carried out to reduce the damage if such an event occurs again.
The university of Canterbury has had an International College since the year 2013 that’s dedicated to helping students adapt to studying in New Zealand. The college also offers a Foundation Studies certificate, which teaches English and academic proficiency.
The university founded the first art school in New Zealand, which continues to flourish today. There is strong competition for places on the four year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and the university provides facilities such as campus-based art galleries and workshops.
Previous graduates of Canterbury university include 2013 Man Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton, gold medal winning Olympic rower Nathan Cohen, and most famously of all Ernest Rutherford, who devised conventional models of the atom and is regarded as the founder of nuclear physics.
IELTS requirements for New Zealand
If you are planning to move to New Zealand, you must meet the minimum standard of English required by the Government of New Zealand. The government needs or requires IELTS as evidence of English language proficiency for many visas, including the ones within the Skilled Migrant, Business, Parent, and Residence from Work categories as can be seen below:
- For the Skilled Migrant Category, the main or principal applicant should have an overall band score of 6.5 in the IELTS General or IELTS Academic module respectively. Also, their partner and children should have an overall band score of at least 5 in the IELTS General or IELTS Academic module respectively.
- For the Business Categories, the main or principal the requirements for IELTS band score depends on which category the person applies under.
- Employee of a Relocating Business Category should have an overall band score of at least 5 in the General or Academic module.
- Entrepreneur Residence or Entrepreneur Work Visa categories: The applicant should have overall band score of at least 4 in the General or Academic module.
- Investor (Investor 2 Category): An overall band score of at least 3 in the General or Academic module is usually required.
Partners and children that are aged 16 or above included in the application must also meet a minimum standard of English, with an overall IELTS band score of at least 4.
- For the Parent Category, all applicants included in this category of application should provide an IELTS certificate that meets at least two competencies at band score 4.
- Residence from Work Category: The principal or main applicant for this category must have an overall band score of at least 5 in the IELTS General or IELTS Academic module respectively. If they have partners and children, they should also have an overall band score of at least 5 in the IELTS General or IELTS Academic module respectively.
We hope the information provided here on how to study and work in New Zealand was helpful. If you have any question kindly ask using the question box below.