New Zealand’s education system is based on the prestigious British system. Which offers world-class facilities, resources and teaching staff, and the qualification is valued and transferable throughout the world.
There are 10 levels of study in New Zealand schools and universities. The lowest level is a certificate and the highest is a doctoral degree. Each level is more complex than the one below it. These are the names of our qualifications and their levels:
All of our major education providers have qualifications with these names. This means that you can easily understand the level of the qualification and compare qualifications between education providers. New Zealand has 8 Universities, 25 Polytechnics and/or Institutes of Technology and about 440 secondary schools.
All major education providers are registered with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), so you can be sure that you are studying for an approved qualification that has been assessed to ensure that it is high quality. Some private training establishments don’t use NZQA qualifications - you should check and make sure their courses are suitable for you.
To be eligible to study in New Zealand as a student your course must meet the New Zealand requirements for international students. Universities prefer applicants with very good academic background and decent scores in TOEFL or IELTS for admission Postgraduate and Masters Programmes may vary between Faculties, Applicants may also be required to provide evidence of relevant work/research experience. For postgraduate applications where the student will be undertaking a thesis, a research proposal will be required.
Main intake every year commences in Jun-July, Dec-Jan.
Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics have two semesters - February to June and July to November - with holidays similar to secondary schools. Some half-year courses start in July.
Each university has its own timetable but generally the year is split into 2 semesters of about 12 weeks each, with a 2-week break during the semester and a 6-week break in the middle of the year. The breaks are not necessarily holidays - you may need the time for research and study.
Some universities offer ‘summer school’ courses from November to February, which reduces the length of years it takes to complete a degree.
New Zealand colleges and universities accept either TOEFL or IELTS scores as proof of English proficiency.
Pre-Degree-Diploma & Undergraduate Degree
Masters 2 Years except for programs,
Postgraduate Diploma 1 Year,
Graduate Diploma 1 Year,
Bachelors - 3 Years/ 4 Years,
Diplomas 1 Year /2 Years, MBA 2 years, can be completed in 1 year as well.
The total cost depends on each student spending habits. However a student should be able to live in New Zealand for a total cost of living of between NZ$8,000 and NZ$10,000 a year including accommodation, transport and entertainment. EMPLOYMENT All International students are allowed to work for 20 hours part-time per week, during college days and full-time during vacations, for the permitted duration of stay in New Zealand. New Zealand is the only country that provides a one-year job search visa, regardless of the course pursued by a student. “Once you get a job, you can apply for two years of work permit, following which you can apply for permanent residency,”