Study in New Zealand - Colleges, Eligibility & Scholarships

In 2022, around 120,000 international students were enrolled across eight New Zealand universities along with its ITPs and PTEs. out of these 120,000 students, only 2,664 were Indian-origin students. With 20,000+ vacancies opening up each year, studying in New Zealand for international students has become one of the preferred choices. The introduction of Green List Occupations in New Zealand after the pandemic has also encouraged international students to study in New Zealand and apply for full-time job roles.

Why Study in New Zealand?

There are top reasons that encourage international students to pursue higher education in New Zealand, including academic as well as post-study work options. From being lower in terms of studying costs, availability of numerous scholarships to ease of finding a job and working while in New Zealand are some of the major reasons along with the following ones as well:

• The learning experience in New Zealand is qualitative and easier for Indian students to learn in that model.

• Also, the cost of living in New Zealand is lower than the cost of living in Australia by almost 12%. 

• Pursuing higher education and research in New Zealand is propitious for international students with various benefits of PR, stipends and cost of living exemption.

• All qualifications of New Zealand are globally recognised, thus, international students can work anywhere in the world.

• Healthcare and Engineering sectors which hire skilled workers are bound to be paid higher than those in Australia by almost 25%.

Check out: Top 7 Reasons to Study in New Zealand

Study in New Zealand Highlights

Education System in New Zealand

Higher education in New Zealand has designated different institutions or levels for education. These institutions vary depending upon their nature of education provision 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 offered in New Zealand to both international and domestic students:

• Technical & Vocational Education: These institutions are for those students who are studying at the Senior Secondary school level, plus also those, who can pursue a course and specialize, in order to earn a living.

• Youth Guarantee: These courses are for students aged between 16-19. Gives them an opportunity to study NCEA Level 1-3 or Certificate Level 1-3 which are tertiary courses provided free of cost. 

• Trades Academies: These academies run through schools and other education providers and teach trades and technology-related programmes to students aged between 15-18.  

• Institutes of Technology: These are government or industry-funded institutions which offer basic or introductory courses in vocational education. 

• Private Training: Such training institutions offer specific vocational courses at both certificate and diploma levels. 

• Universities: There are eight state-funded Universities in New Zealand offering a variety of courses across all major subjects.

As per the levels of education in New Zealand designated by NZQF for tertiary education, each level consists of the following level of certificate or diploma or degree awarded to the student upon completion. The following is the level-wise degree/certificate/diploma award in tertiary education:

Top Universities in New Zealand 2023-24

There are just eight universities in New Zealand and only one university in New Zealand ranks in the top 100 globally. The following is a list of ranking positions for all the universities in New Zealand as per QS and THE World Rankings 2023:

Check out:

• QS World University Ranking Methodology 2023

• Times Higher Education (THE) Ranking Methodology 2023

Top Courses in New Zealand

Some of the top courses in New Zealand are offered in areas of management & business, engineering, medicine, social sciences and science-related subjects. Popular courses in New Zealand for international students are as follows:

• MBA

• Information Technology

• Supply Chain Management

• MBBS

• Graphic Designing

• Computer Science

• Aeronautical Engineering

• Mechanical Engineering

• Nursing 

Check here for more popular courses in New Zealand for international students 

Cost of Studying in New Zealand

The cost of studying in New Zealand is based on the level, of course, the applicant wishes to pursue. Indian students can expect to pay between INR 8 to INR 25 lakhs per annum on average for bachelor’s courses. The following is a level-wise course fee analysis in New Zealand as offered to Indian students and international students as well:

Cost of Living in New Zealand

Apart from the costs of studying, international students have to separately calculate their living costs in New Zealand also while studying in New Zealand. The following is a list of essential items and their costs for both international and Indian students:

For a detailed understanding and break up of the costs, international students can check the cost of living in New Zealand.

New Zealand Student Visa

Indian students who get a confirmation letter for enrollment at New Zealand universities or PTEs for admission can then apply for a student visa. One application for a student visa in New Zealand costs Indian students INR 1,010 (NZD 430) if students choose to apply online. 90% of the student visa application forms in New Zealand are assessed within 53 working days, while the average timeframe for assessing a student visa application is 19 days. 

Student Visa Requirements for New Zealand

For an application to be considered complete, a New Zealand student visa application requires the following proofs and documents:

• Passport copy / 2 passport-sized photos

• Police verification certificate

• Supporting true intentions of entering New Zealand to study

• Admission offers from the respective education provider in New Zealand

• Evidence of funding education

• Medical and travel insurance

New Zealand PR

New Zealand PR is possible if applicants qualify for New Zealand green occupations list. The green occupations list comprises 85 unique job roles in various sectors of New Zealand which have been witnessing a shortfall during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Each job has a unique code and applicants applying through these job roles are guaranteed PR in New Zealand. The applicant’s spouse would also be permitted to work in New Zealand, which is an added advantage. 

Admission Requirements to Study in New Zealand Universities

The admission requirements for studying in New Zealand universities vary with each level of study for international students. A brief is as follows:

Undergraduate Admissions in New Zealand

At the UG level, international students’ admission applications are assessed based on class XII scores. In a few cases, the applicants may be required to submit an entrance test score of SAT. if applying for medical courses, MCAT would be required or LSAT would be required for law-related courses admission at UG level in New Zealand. 

The applicants are required to submit English language test scores of TOEFL / IELTS / PTE unless exempted. 

Postgraduate Admissions in New Zealand

For admission to a postgraduate course in New Zealand, international students will be required to submit undergraduate degree scores and submit their transcripts as well.

English language test scores will also be required, TOEFL / IELTS / PTE are accepted. If students have already pursued an undergraduate course from New Zealand, then they may be exempted from submitting these scores. 

Apart from these, standardised test scores on GRE or GMAT may also be required while applying for a postgraduate course in New Zealand from international students.

Documents Required for Admission Application

The following documents are required to be submitted irrespective of undergraduate and postgraduate admission application are:

• Transcripts

• Statement of purpose (SOP)

• 2-3 letters of recommendation (LORs)

• Resume / CV

• ELP test scores - TOEFL / IELTS / PTE

• Standardised test scores: 

• UG: SAT or MCAT or LSAT

• PG - GRE or GMAT

• Application fee

New Zealand Intakes

There are two intakes in New Zealand, the first is the February intake and the second is the July intake. Students can apply for the February intake maximum by November end or the start of December of the previous year. Admission decisions for February intake in New Zealand are rolled out by January.

While the July intake, international students can apply by April end or May starting. The admission decisions are rolled out max to max by June.
Students will have to accept their offers in time, as soon as they receive a decision on their applications so that they can apply for their student visas, to study in New Zealand.

Best Cities in New Zealand for Study

The topmost preferred cities by international students to study in New Zealand for study are given below based on their rankings by QS for Best Cities to Study in 2023:

• Auckland: #37

• Christchurch: #87

Other preferred cities to study in New Zealand include - Wellington, Dunedin, Hamilton, Palmerston North and others. 

Scholarships to Study in New Zealand

There are over 100,000+ scholarships offered to Indian students studying in New Zealand. Some of the scholarships offered at the top universities of New Zealand are as follows:

• University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarships

• University of Auckland India High Achievers Scholarship

• Massey University International Postgraduate Excellence Scholarship

• Massey University Master's Research Scholarship

• Massey Business School Promising Student Assistance Bursary

• Otago Polytechnic Bachelors scholarship

Education Loan to Study in New Zealand

There are various private and public banks which can offer international students an education loan to study in New Zealand. Apart from these, applicants can also prove their financial strength through provident fund accounts, scholarships, education sponsorship from a family member or financial help from guarantors. For more details on each of these options, check funding sources to support education in New Zealand.

Part-Time Work Options for International Students in New Zealand 

Students studying in New Zealand are permitted to work for 20 hours a week part-time. The students can opt for various job options to work part-time:

Students can find these part-time jobs in New Zealand via job portals, job fairs and via networking also. 

Post-Study Work Permit in New Zealand

In order to apply for a post-study work permit in New Zealand, international students must fulfil the following criteria:

• Should have studied a Level 7 degree qualification or,

• Should have studied non-degree qualification below Level 7, but the qualification must be listed on the Qualifications Eligible for a Post Study Work Visa list. 

• Having a job related to study subjects would be mandatory if applying through the non-degree Level 7 option.

Applicants who applied for their student visa on or before May 11, 2022, would be eligible for a post-study work permit in New Zealand, even if their qualifications are not enlisted on the Qualifications Eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa list. But, it is mandatory to have an acceptable qualification while applying for a PSW in New Zealand.

Job Prospects in New Zealand

There are good chances of finding a job in New Zealand, the reason being that over 20,000+ vacancies open up each year. More and more job opportunities are available for international students to bridge the unemployment gap. In 2022 the unemployment rate as last recorded in the September quarter was 3.3%. Along with this, it was also noted that the wages have also gone up for those working in New Zealand by an average of 2.5% per annum.

Popular Job Sectors in New Zealand

There are a variety of popular job sectors in New Zealand in which international applicants can apply for a job opportunity. Some of these popular job sectors of New Zealand are as follows:

• Agriculture & Forestry

• Education

• Engineering

• Construction

• Business & Finance

• Health & Social Services

• Oil & Gas

• Science

• Trade

• ICT & Electronics

• Transport 

Average Salary in New Zealand - By Job

The estimated median salary for an individual working full-time in New Zealand is NZD 55,500. Some of the highest salary-drawing professions in New Zealand are as follows:

Study in New Zealand FAQs

Q. Is it better to study in New Zealand or Australia?

A. Australia and New Zealand both come with their perks. There is no specific answer to which is the best, however looking at the course options, universities and scholarship availability, Australia outrank New Zealand. But in terms of post-study options, jobs and better remuneration, New Zealand is a preferred choice. Also, check out: New Zealand vs Australia: Country Comparison

Q. For how long can international students stay on a New Zealand student visa?

A. The length of stay for an international student on a student visa in New Zealand is for up to four years. The stay duration depends upon the applicant’s course of study and its period as well.

Q. Which factors should influence an applicant’s choice of university in New Zealand?

A. There are various factors which influence an applicant’s choice of New Zealand university selection. These include the type of course option for study, post-study-work opportunities, faculty, the scope of the course, etc. Get more details at: Selecting a College in New Zealand for Study.

Q. What is the average annual salary of designers in New Zealand?

A. The average annual salary of those who have graduated with various design courses is as follows:

• Web Designer: NZD 54,500

• UX Designer: NZD 47,000

• Industrial Designer: NZD 40,600

• Interior Designer: NZD 35,800

• Graphics Designer: NZD 32,100

• Fashion Designer: NZD 30,700

Q. How much funds are needed as proof for studying in New Zealand? 

A. International students will have to submit proof that they have NZD 20,000 per year of the tertiary, English language, or other non-compulsory school study or NZD 1,667 per month if their study is shorter than 1 year.

Q. Where can international students enrol in New Zealand for higher education?

A. For higher education in New Zealand, international students can enrol across universities in New Zealand or English language schools, private training establishments (PTEs) or Institutes of Polytechnics (ITPs).