must-know things to study abroad in new zealand
TRANSCRIPT
Must-Know Things to Study Abroad in New Zealand
Serenely beautiful, New Zealand has long been a favourite destination for film and television
crew from the world over; the picturesque beauty of the country was first brought into fore
onscreen by the famous movie Lord of the Rings. However, there is so much more to New
Zealand than tranquility in its natural landscapes.
Why choose New Zealand for higher studies?
The Kiwi country is also a favoured destination for higher studies for the international students
from all around the globe, with all eight of its public universities consistently achieving top
spots in the QS World University Rankings. Here is why thousands of overseas students choose
to study abroad in New Zealand every year.
The New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF), in charge of quality assurance and
maintenance in the higher education sector of the country, ensures that teaching
standards meet the international benchmark and expectations
New Zealand offers cost-effective higher education in the universities, institutes of
technology and polytechnics (ITPs), and private training establishments (PTEs) that have
comparatively lower tuition fees than the USA and the United Kingdom
A wide array of courses in every specialisation and discipline, sometimes tailor-made to
fit the academic needs, await the international students in New Zealand
An internationally-recognised degree from the esteemed higher education institutions
in New Zealand is highly regarded by the employers from all over the globe
The multicultural learning ambience in New Zealand encourages students to exchange
newer ideas, share perspectives and have an engaging educational experience in the
country
New Zealand also offers an exciting way of life along with a safe and peaceful
environment for the overseas students
Higher education institutions in New Zealand
All the 8 public universities in New Zealand rank highly in the QS World University Rankings, and
this is ample proof of the top-notch quality of higher education in the country. The higher
education institutions in the Kiwi country can be categorised into traditional universities,
institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs), industry-training institutions and private
training establishments (PTEs). Offering a plethora of courses in multiple disciplines across all
levels of study, the following are the eight public universities in New Zealand.
Auckland University of Technology
University of Canterbury
Lincoln University
University of Otago
University of Auckland
Massey University
University of Waikato
Victoria University of Wellington
The 18 ITPs and several PTEs in the country also provide dynamic course structures and
emphasis on practical learning for honing the professional skills of the domestic and
international students.
Courses to study in New Zealand
The traditional universities, institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs), industry-training
institutions and the private training establishments (PTEs) all across the country offer multiple
courses for the local and international students. The undergraduate and postgraduate degrees
as well the certificate courses and diplomas are very popular picks for the students who wish to
study abroad in New Zealand. The following are some of the most sought-after areas of study in
the country.
Information technology
Business administration (including international business studies and study of global
markets)
Investment and finance
Medicine and healthcare studies (including healthcare administration courses)
Animation
Engineering disciplines (including all specialisations)
Art and design
Eligibility criteria and English language requirements
The overseas applicants must meet the specific entry requirements and satisfy the English
language proficiency requirements for applying to study in the higher education institutions in
New Zealand. Both the eligibility criteria and English language requirements vary according to
the courses, institutions and level of study – while business and law courses require a higher
level of English proficiency than others do, you might also need to meet additional criteria for
the postgraduate courses. Here, a general overview of the eligibility criteria and English
language requirements that you need to satisfy to study in New Zealand.
General admission requirements
Undergraduate programs: A plus-two level qualification (CBSE/ISC/State Board
Matriculation) covering 12 years of primary and secondary level of studies with at
least 75% in aggregate with no less than 60% in English. Some courses like
engineering and mechanics require certain subjects to be studied compulsorily at
the plus-two level.
Postgraduate programs: A three-year or four-year bachelor’s level qualification in
the relevant discipline with the CGPA specified for your chosen study program. Some
postgraduate courses mandatorily require a four-year bachelor’s level qualification
that can be supplemented with a three-year bachelor’s degree and the successful
completion of one year of university-level postgraduates studies from an accredited
higher education institution in the country of your origin.
You may need to have relevant work experience or prior research publications and experience
for applying to some of the courses like business administration or postgraduate research
programs.
English language proficiency requirements
The required scores of the English proficiency tests usually depend on the courses, institutions
and level of study. The following are the standardised English proficiency tests accepted for
admission applications to the higher education institutions in New Zealand.
IELTS Academic
TOEFL PBT
TOEFL CBT
TOEFL iBT
Cambridge English (Advanced)
Cambridge English (Proficiency)
Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes (FCertEAP)
PTE (Academic)
Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)
Tuition fees
The tuition fees and other academic expenses in New Zealand are comparatively lower than the
other study abroad destinations like the USA or the United Kingdom. The fee structure is mostly
dependent on the type of higher education institution (private institutions have a higher range
of tuition fees than the public universities) and the level of study. The following is an overview
of the average annual tuition fee range in the universities in the Kiwi country.
Undergraduate studies: NZ$ 27,592 to NZ$ 72,896 (higher tuition fees for the high-value
courses like medicine)
Postgraduate studies: NZ$ 32,392 to NZ$ 46,787
Doctoral studies: The tuition fees for the doctoral level of studies in New Zealand for the
international students is the same as the fees for the domestic students, according to
the latest mandate from the government’s higher education department
Scholarship options
The Ministry of Education (MOE) under the government of New Zealand offers myriad
scholarship options for international students to study in the elite higher education institutions
of the country. Recognising the talent and academic excellence of the international students
who apply to study abroad in New Zealand, the MOE sanctions thousands of scholarships each
year that help the students grow and develop their knowledge and skill in the leading higher
education institutions of the country. The following are some of the MOE-administered
scholarships available for overseas students to study in New Zealand.
New Zealand Excellence Awards
Dean’s Asia Scholarships in the Faculty of Business and Economics
Asian Development bank Japan Scholarship
New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship
Colombo Plan Scholarship in Engineering
New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS)
These apart, there are several private and charitable organisation-sponsored and university-
administered scholarship, fellowship and financial award opportunities for the overseas
students to study in the Kiwi country.
Application procedure and required documents
The relatively simple application procedure to study in New Zealand can take any one of the
two following ways:
(i) You can apply online directly through the international students’ application portal
on the official university websites
(ii) You can approach any one of the Education New Zealand Recognised Agents
(ENZRA, education consultants who have completed a government of New Zealand-
approved training program about the higher education system of the country) to
apply on your behalf
The documents that you need for application usually vary according to the course and level of
study that you have opted for as well the particular university in the country. Here is a list of
documents that you would generally need for an admission application to study in New
Zealand.
Academic transcripts and certificates of all previous qualifications
English language proficiency test scorecards
Statement of intent/ statement of purpose (course-specific)
Letters of reference or recommendation (course and study level-specific)
Resume or CV (usually required for business studies courses)
Portfolio (usually required for art, design and architecture courses)
A copy of passport or similar travel document as proof of nationality
Student visas for New Zealand
You will require a Student Visa to study in New Zealand in a course that is more than three
months in duration. With a Student Visa from Immigration New Zealand (INZ), you can study in
your desired higher education institution in the country at your selected course and level of
study and work part-time for up to 20 hours per week during the academic sessions and full-
time during the holidays while staying in New Zealand. The following are the prerequisites that
you must fulfill to apply for a Student Visa to INZ.
Education prerequisites that verify the name of your education provider in New
Zealand, your offer of place (admission confirmation letter), and the duration of your
course in the country
English language requirements that evaluate your proficiency in the language for coping
up with the studies as well as daily communication in New Zealand
Financial requirements that assess whether you will be able to support the expenses of
your studies and your stay in the country for the entire duration of your New Zealand
study program
Medical requirements that check your health, fitness and the reports of the medical
tests you must go through to apply for a Student Visa to New Zealand
Character requirements that show you are a person of good and reliable character
You will need the following documents to apply to INZ for a Student Visa to study in New
Zealand.
(i) A duly filled-in Student Visa application form
(ii) One passport-sized photo
(iii) A scanned copy of the passport or similar travel document
(iv) An offer of place from the education provider in New Zealand
(v) English language proficiency test scorecards
(vi) Financial documents (bank statements/ salary slips/ scholarship letters/ letters of
sponsorship and a completed Financial Undertaking by students form (available on
the INZ website)
(vii) Character certificates from the police department of the country of your origin
(viii) Medical documents (fitness certificates including the tuberculosis test report)
(ix) Travel and health insurance for the entire duration of stay in New Zealand (doctoral
level students do not require having insurance)
Now that you know the essence of the Kiwi country, you can plan to study abroad in New
Zealand with renewed confidence and comprehensive knowledge on the different steps that
you must complete for bringing fruition to your higher studies ambitions.