Study In New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and around 600 smaller islands, covering a total area of 268,021 square kilometers (103,500 sq mi). New Zealand is about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and 1,000 kilometers (600 mi) south of the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The country's varied topography and sharp mountain peaks, including the Southern Alps, owe much to tectonic uplift and volcanic eruptions. New Zealand's capital city is Wellington, and its most populous city is Auckland.
New Zealand is breath taking country because it’s one of the most picturesque and photogenic place on the earth. It is a small island nation in the southwestern Pacific Ocean consisting of just 4 million people who are also referred as KIWIs. This country offers internationally renowned education system leading to an attractive destination for international students but that is not the only thing, It also provides a perfect mix of a modern cosmopolitan society that exists in perfect harmony with the country’s unbeatable lifestyle. There are various universities in New Zealand, which offer high quality education it also encompasses colleges, private institutions and polytechnics. New Zealand is a cost effective study destination with various streams such as Business and science, Sports, Arts& Recreation, 3D Animation & Graphic design, Engineering, Culinary Arts, Communication studies, & many more though it is particularly known for Information Technology, Hospitality &Tourism and Accounting related courses.
Advantages of Studying in New Zealand
Unlike most countries, New Zealand has very liberal immigration laws, which make obtaining a student visa relatively easy. New Zealand gives you a chance to speak to a visa expert and explain your case if they don’t accept your visa, rather than sending blunt rejections like most other countries. Even better is even after you graduate, you can work in New Zealand for up to a year and also apply for permanent residency if your job is related to the degree you studied. This makes New Zealand the ideal destination for people who are looking to build a new life rather than just live overseas for a few years.
New Zealand offers a truly international education experience at a fraction of the cost of universities in the United States and United Kingdom. Their education system was modeled on the UK structure, meaning students can experience a similar academic quality and culture at a fraction of the cost.
There is also a healthy international community at New Zealand’s universities, as high visa allocations and a welcoming culture have drawn students from all over the world for years. Studying here will open up connections from all over the world and encourage you to mix with different cultures beyond your own and New Zealand’s.
If there’s anything New Zealanders are known for, it is being friendly and laidback. They are used to people traveling through their country and sharing its wonders, so they tend to be welcoming to international people. This should help to settle some pre-university nerves, as you can rest assured you’ll quickly meet new friends in your new country.
There is also a whole world of cultural sites and history to learn about in New Zealand that goes way deeper than your everyday walk to the library. If you take the time to explore the country you will learn about the traditional Maori way of life.
Whatever climate you thrive in, there is somewhere in New Zealand that is for you. From the sunny beaches to the snowy mountains, the seasons and weather are constantly changing throughout the country. This creates much more diversity than going to study in always-hot-Asia or always-rainy-UK. You may be riding big waves in the sun at some points of the year and be wrapped up riding down the mountain in others. It is this diversity that gives New Zealand its unique charm, which leads us on to the next reason….
Of course, the quality of education is paramount when studying internationally, but university doesn’t have to be all work and no play. In fact, New Zealand has such an amazing amount of adventure activities it would be almost criminal not to embrace them. Whitewater rafting, ziplining, caving, hiking, skiing, tubing, trekking, surfing, snowboarding… the list goes on. Studying in New Zealand is the perfect place to embrace your inner explorer for an exhilarating revision break or weekend trip with your new-found friends.
New Zealand Checklist (For Aplication)
- Attested copies of mark sheets of Class X, XII, and Bachelors degree (if applicable)
- At least, two academic reference letters from professors who have taught you most recently
- If you have work experience then two letters of recommendation from the employer/manager who know you well and can comment on your professional abilities
- Updated Resume
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume
- Photocopied score reports of GMAT / IELTS / TOEFL
- Portfolio (in case of students applying for art and design courses and architecture programmes)
- Others (Certificates / achievements at the state and national level and extracurricular activities)
Estimated Living Costs
Costs to live in New Zealand may be quite different from your home country. How it compares depends on where you are coming from and what part of New Zealand you settle in.
According to the official Study in Zealand website, international undergraduate students can expect to pay around NZ$22,000-32,000 (~US$14,900-21,700) per year, with higher fees for subjects such as medicine and veterinary science. Most bachelor’s degrees take three years to complete.
If you’re an international master’s student, your annual fees will range between NZ$26,000-37,000 (~US$17,660-25,100), while domestic students pay NZ$5,000-10,000 per year.
Requirements
These vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Along with that a minimum academic record of 65% and above in Class XII will be required. Foundations and Diploma programmes are available for students who have secured below 60%. Students should have completed 18 years of age before joining a degree programme.
It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference purpose, the actual numbers may differ from university to university.
Part Time Job
Working on a student visa, You may be allowed to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week and full-time during all scheduled holidays and/or during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
Stay Back
Once you have finished your study, you may be eligible to stay on and work in New Zealand. If you have achieved a New Zealand qualification, you may be able to apply for a post study work visa that lets you stay in New Zealand for up to three years.
Permanent Residency In New Zealand
Options to permanent residency after studying in New Zealand .You can apply for a visa to work in New Zealand for up to 3 years after you finish your study if you have an acceptable qualification. A Post-study work visa lasts for 1, 2 or 3 years depending on the level of your qualification and where you studied.
Education System of New Zealand
The education system of New Zealand mainly focuses on both educational attainment and practical learning. It is rated as one of the best education systems in the world by London’s Legatum Institute. The country’s education system is based on a 3-tier model which includes primary and intermediate schooling, after that secondary schooling (high schools) and the final one, is the tertiary education at universities and polytechnics. The nation is ranked as the best-funded education system in the world since they have the highest percentage of public funding in the education sector.
Universities in New Zealand provide a variety of courses and programs to the students depending on their area of interest, so that students can undertake flexible courses.
The country offers numerous options for international students.
- Level 1, 2, 3, and 4- Certificates
- Level 5 and 6 Diplomas
- Level 7 Bachelor’s Degree and graduate diploma
- Level 8 Post Graduate Diploma
- Level 9 Masters Degree
- Level 10 Doctorate/PhD
In every academic level, there are numerous options for students, who wish to study aboard in New Zealand.
Trending Courses in New Zealand for Overseas Students
New Zealand is emerging as one of the topmost preferences among Indian students looking forward to study abroad. The country offers an excellent education system with ample research opportunities, affordable fee structure, an excellent support system and a better cost of living that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
New Zealand universities are well-known for the following degrees. You can study in New Zealand, in any of the following academic levels:
- Animation
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Business Studies
- Engineering Forestry
- Hospitality
- IT And Computer Science
- Agriculture
- Art And Design
- Nursing
- Trades
- Business Management
- Health care
- Sports Management
The country is world-renowned for its courses like Information Technology, Computer Science, and Animation. The animation is the most popular course in New Zealand.
Student Visa
Applying for a student visa
You can apply for a student visa before travelling to New Zealand. A student visa granted offshore will allow you to travel to the New Zealand border. When you arrive, an officer will check that you meet all of the conditions of your visa to be granted entry permission to study in New Zealand.
You can also apply for a student visa when you are already in New Zealand. A student visa granted onshore will usually include travel conditions allowing multiple journeys, so you can travel out of New Zealand and back in before the expiry of the visa.
Student visa conditions
A student visa (whether granted onshore or offshore) allows you to study full-time in New Zealand for a limited period of time. A student visa may have conditions you must meet – for example, it may include:
- The name of the programme you are allowed to study
- The name of the educational provider
- The New Zealand location of the provider, and
- The requirement to hold insurance.
If you are applying from outside New Zealand, you must show you have: Sufficient funds to pay the tuition fees for your first programme of study or first year of study (whichever is shorter) once your visa is approved in principle, and Demonstrate that you have access to sufficient funds to pay your tuition fees for the balance of your intended study pathway.
VISA Checklist
- Passport or travel document
- Offer letter from the College or University
- Financial Documents
- Health Requirements
- Police Clearance Certificate
- Student Visa application form and the supplementary information form
- Photograph
- Visa Application Fees For applicants applying from outside India : The current student visa fee in US dollars is US$225. The fee must be paid by bank draft in US dollars only drawn on any bank in “USA” and made payable to the “Immigration New Zealand”. Due to currency fluctuations, fees are subject to change without extensive notice.
- Covering letter
- Educational certificates (with translations if required)
- English language requirement
- Evidence of Employment
Fund Requirements
The amount of money you need depends on how long you will be studying in New Zealand. If you will be studying for less than 36 weeks, you need to provide evidence of funds of at least NZ$1,250 for each month of study. If you will be studying for 36 weeks or more, you need to provide evidence of at least NZ$15,000 for each year of study.
The students should provide evidence of funds upfront for courses that encompass two academic years or less inclusive of living expenses (NZ$ 15,000 per annum). If the duration of course is longer than two academic years, students should provide a plan of payment to show that they have access to funds and have the ability to meet the rest of the course cost and living expenses. They accept the following evidence of funds:
- Animation
- Education loan sanction letter from a nationalised or multinational bank only
- Latest bank statements for the past 6 months. It should not be more than 1 week old at the time of lodgement of the application. Please ensure that statements and not balance certificates are provided.
- Fixed Deposits. In case of providing fixed deposits as evidence of funds please ensure that a copy/counterfoil of the deposit along with a letter from the bank giving the details of the deposit is provided.
- Public Provident Fund Accounts/Employers Provident Fund Accounts.
Job opportunities in New Zealand
Working on a student visa, you may be allowed to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week and full-time during all scheduled holidays and/or during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Many part-time jobs are also advertised on the job-vacancy websites. Work in New Zealand will also provide you with a lot of exposure and money to explore the different parts of the country. New Zealand suffers skill shortages across various fields, for example, the health care sector. And just like that, one’s curse has transcended to a boon for many. To land a part-time job in New Zealand, students should produce information regarding their work experience and skills. There are also many national organizations and online job portals that could assist to acquire jobs in New Zealand for Indian freshers. The New Zealand government and education bodies have strict laws and policies that protect student’s work rights which includes minimum remuneration for all students working over 16, laws regarding payment and working during public holidays and strict medical and safety rules in every workplace. There are also free programmes like Work Ready in Wellington which enables and moulds international students to work in New Zealand.
International students do all kinds of part-time jobs. The jobs most likely to find include:
- Animation
- Seasonal Worker
- Supermarket Assistant
- Bartender
- Babysitting
- Gardener
- Business / Systems Analysts
- Waiter/Waitress
- Retail Sales Assistant
- Call Centre Worker
- Fitness Instructor
- Chefs / Cooks
- Building Trades
- Technicians
- Machine Operators