If you are planning to study tertiary education in New Zealand, you couldn’t have chosen a better destination.
We have one of the highest educational standards in the world, a wide range of qualifications to meet your career plans, a modern teaching style with a key focus on gaining practical industry skills, and a cross-cultural environment to learn amongst students from 100+ other countries.
Upholding globally recognised high educational standards is done by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), which is the New Zealand Government Crown entity tasked with administering educational assessment and qualifications for education providers. This is done through registration and approval of all education providers and the qualifications offered by them, and involves periodic quality evaluation and review every few years (External Evaluation and Review).
Based on the quality evaluation and review, NZQA rates the education providers into Provider Categories, with Category 1 Providers maintaining the highest standards, and Category 3 Providers being at the lower end. The Provider Category system ensures that the international students are transparently aware of the Provider Category of the educational institution they might plan to study, which gives them the assurance that NZQA has taken care of administering and controlling their educational quality.
New Zealand has 8 Universities, 16 Polytechnics (called as Te Pukenga NZIST), and 300+ Private Tertiary Establishments (PTE).
If NZQA has graded two different education providers as Category 1 Providers, their educational standard should be of the same high quality. But studying at a University (Category 1 Provider) that claims to give premium quality education could cost almost twice of what you would pay to get the same quality of education at a Polytechnic or a Private Tertiary Establishment (PTE) holding a Category 1 Provider status. It would mean paying a lot of extra money in tuition fee to receive the same quality of education. However, their program and course content will be quite different, and that is what you must focus on when choosing a qualification or program of study, and the education provider.
If you are an international student, your education provider must be a signatory to The Education Code of Practice 2021 (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) administered by NZQA, which sets the mandatory requirements that education providers must meet for your wellbeing and safety as an international student.
If you plan to study in New Zealand, you must provide evidence of sufficient legally obtained funds for the tuition fee and medical insurance, maintenance costs, and repatriation costs. International students must have NZ$20,000 per annum for maintenance costs for each year of study. The source of the funds could be from own savings, parents, grandparents, bank educational loan, or an eligible sponsor (who must be a citizen/resident of New Zealand).
To get enrolment in a suitable program, you must have excellent English Language standard and pass an English Language Test (IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL) with high scores. You must also have high GPA score in your last program of study. Any large gaps in education must be explainable.
You must be a bonafide student applicant, who has genuine intentions to complete a qualification. You must prepare a Statement of Purpose (SOP) which must explain how the program of study will benefit you after completion of your qualification and upon return to your home country. You must have a strong incentive to return to your home country after completing your study. Your Student Visa will be granted by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) only if you meet the bonafide student criteria.
As a full-time international student in New Zealand, you will be allowed to work part-time during the academic year (up to 20 hours per week), and unlimited hours during your summer vacations and semester breaks. This is a great way for you explore the local job market relevant to your qualification, occupation, and industry, which could lead you towards skilled job offers, which would be necessary if you plan to settle down in New Zealand.
Are you ready to take the plunge?