Introduction to Education System in New Zealand: Levels, Intake seasons & Admission Requirements

Introduction to Education System in New Zealand: Famous for picturesque attractions, cultural diversity, rich delicacies, as well as the national Rugby team, New Zealand attracts students from all over the globe. For students planning to pursue their higher education in New Zealand, we will discuss in detail about the universities, programs offered, intake seasons, admission requirements, and more.

In New Zealand, the education system is a bit different than anywhere in the world. The system of getting an Honours degree is prevalent even there. But there are many differences between their system and the one in India. Here we explain how the education system functions in New Zealand.

A bachelor's degree take three years to complete, and you need to complete a further year of study to get an honours degree. There are exceptions however, and not every degree follows this 3 years +1 year pattern. There are some four year degrees, which may not award honours, as well as some special bachelor's degrees which take longer to finish. Honours degrees are awarded with either first class, upper second class, lower second class or third class. This is just generic division, and this can vary from degree to degree.

Check: 6 Reasons to Study in New Zealand

Bachelor's degree is usually followed by a Master's degree. A candidate who does not hold an Honours degree at the bachelor level can be awarded Master's degree with honours. Usually for students who have honours degree at the bachelor level, the duration of Masters is usually one year. In case they don’t have honours after bachelors, they can earn one by studying Master’s degree for two years of study. You need honours at either Master's level or bachelor's level to proceed to a doctoral degree. 

While the education is heavily subsidized for the nationals of New Zealand, resulting in very low costs for further education, international students are required to pay full and non-subsidised fees. Similarly international students are not eligible for any government financial assistance.

Read: Types of Education Institutions in New Zealand

Levels of Education in New Zealand

There are different levels of education in New Zealand - beginning from pre-nursery schooling to universities offering PhD. The following are the different levels of education as offered in New Zealand along with a brief about their offerings.

Early Childhood Education (ECE) in New Zealand

Though Early Childhood Education (ECE) is not mandatory, yet 96.8% of the parents enroll their children for a pre-school kind of education. The New Zealand government subsidises all students attending ECE for 6 hours within a working week or 5 days.  There are different types of ECE offered in New Zealand:

• Teacher lead learning: Or enrolling a pre-school where learning is led by a trained teacher in-charge.
• Kindergartens: Accept children aged between 2-5 years, and educate children based on a set timetable.
• Education & Care Services: These run on flexible hour programmes for children from their birth to primary school. 
• Home-based Education & Care: This is for children who are newborns to 5 years old, offering education and care services through a certified ECE teacher reporting to their coordinators.
• Te Kura: This is a correspondence school which offers learning programs to students aged between 3-5 years who are facing learning difficulties.   

Primary & Secondary Education in New Zealand

This is the second level of education after ECE in New Zealand. The education is free for students agen between 5-19 studying at primary and senior secondary schools that are either state or New Zealand government funded. Schooling is compulsory for students aged between 6-16 in New Zealand. Admissions to primary schools either begin together for a couple of students or when the student turns 5 or 6. Usually the students attend school till the age of 17. The education system for schools is divided into 13 years:

1. Primary Education: For students of 5-12 years, starting from Year 1 to Year 8.
2. Secondary Education: For students aged 13-17 years of age, starting from Year 9 to Year 13.

Further Education in New Zealand

Higher education in New Zealand has different types of institutions or levels for education. They vary depending upon their school type or the kind of courses they teach to students in New Zealand. The table below throws more light on the different types of further education as offered at New Zealand:

NZ Further Education Types	Description
Technical & Vocational Education	These institutions are for students studyin at the Senior Secondary school level, who can pursue a course and specialize as well in order to earn a living.
Youth Guarantee	These courses are offered to students aged 16-19, giving them an opportunity to study NCEA Level 1-3 or Certificate Level 1-3 at tertiary courses provider free of cost.
Trades Academies	These academies run through schools and other providers and teach trades and technology programmes to students aged 15-18.
Institutes of Technology	These are government or industry funded institutions that offer introductory courses in vocational education.
Private Training	These training institutions offer specific vocational courses at both certificate and diploma levels.
Universities	There are 8 state funded Universities in New Zealand offering a number of courses in a variety of subjects.

Other than the above given levels or types of further education in New Zealand there are also Wananga - Maori teaching and research institutions and three in number, all state owned. These institutions offer certificates, diploma and degrees to its students upon completion.

New Zealand education is heavily dominated by Polytechnics which offer diplomas. The Universities in New Zealand which offer recognized degrees are as follow:

• Auckland University of Technology
• Lincoln University
• Massey University
• University of Auckland
• University of Canterbury
• University of Otago
• University of Waikato
• Victoria University of Wellington 

Intake seasons

New Zealand generally has two intakes i.e. January and July, with few universities offering multiple intakes in September and November. You should start your admission process around six months before the application deadline. Typically, most universities have three deadlines during one intake. It is up to the convenience of the students which deadline to aim for. You should be done with your language and aptitude tests by three months before the deadline. The last three months should be dedicated to filling out the application form properly.

It is essential to ensure that the ‘complete application process along with appearing for interviews and visa application process should be complete by Oct-Nov for the February intake.

If you are looking to get admission into vocational courses, then some courses may have admissions open even in March, April, May or July.

Check: Study in New Zealand: Timeline for February 2023 Intake

Admission 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 purposes, the actual numbers may differ from university to university.

The following documents also need to be submitted:

• Attested copies of mark sheets of Class X, XII, and Bachelor’s 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
• Statement of Purpose
• Resume
• Photocopied score reports of GMAT score
• ELP test scores of either - IELTS or 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)
• Proof of funds

Read more on:

• Understanding Levels of Tertiary Education in New Zealand
• List of Private Training Establishments (PTEs) in New Zealand
• List of Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) in New Zealand