Study in New Zealand

New Zealand tertiary education follows the 10-level New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF): • Eight universities: Auckland, Otago, Victoria University of Wellington, Canterbury, Massey, Waikato, Lincoln and Auckland University of Technology (AUT); their programmes are approved through Universities New Zealand. • Institutes of technology and polytechnics, wānanga (Māori tertiary institutions) and private training establishments, quality-assured by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). • Bachelor's (level 7): usually 3 years (4 for engineering, longer for medicine); honours or postgraduate diploma (level 8): one year. • Master's (level 9): one to two years; PhD (level 10): 3–4 years by research. The academic year starts in late February or March (Semester One), with Semester Two in July; some universities use trimesters. All providers that enrol international students must follow the Pastoral Care Code of Practice 2021.

1) Bachelor's: apply directly to each university online with your equivalent secondary qualification; the university issues an Offer of Place, which may be conditional. Apply several months before the February/March or July start to leave time for the visa. Many universities assess you for their international scholarships automatically with your admission application (for example Victoria University of Wellington). 2) Master's and PhD: apply on the university's graduate portal; for a PhD, contact a potential supervisor first and usually request the doctoral scholarship in the same application (deadlines such as 1 February 2027 at Auckland, 1 March 2027 at Victoria and 15 May 2027 at Canterbury). 3) English: bachelor's study usually needs IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80 or PTE 50; postgraduate study often needs IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.0, and some programmes differ. 4) After the offer: pay the first year's tuition (or wait for approval in principle of your visa) and apply for a student visa.

Estimated 2027 annual tuition for international students (NZ$): • Bachelor's: about 34,000–51,000 for most programmes — for example 34,020 at Waikato, 35,000–37,000 at Lincoln, 35,250 at Massey, 37,760–51,360 at AUT, and 42,236 (Arts) to 60,910 (Engineering) at Auckland. Medicine, veterinary science and aviation cost much more (86,000 and above). • Master's: about 37,000–56,000 for one-year programmes, more for 180- or 240-point degrees. • PhD: international students living in New Zealand pay domestic fees of about 7,500–10,200 a year. • Add a Student Services Fee (about 1,000–1,200 a year) and compulsory health insurance. Living costs (Study with New Zealand): about NZ$20,000–27,000 a year in Auckland and Wellington and NZ$18,000–21,000 in Dunedin — roughly US$870–1,310 a month. Accommodation ranges from NZ$140 a week for a room in a shared house to NZ$484 for a catered hall of residence; food is NZ$80–120 a week and transport up to NZ$37 a week.

International students paying their own fees need a Fee Paying Student Visa from Immigration New Zealand (INZ): 1) Get an Offer of Place from an approved provider (from outside New Zealand you can apply with a conditional offer). 2) Apply online at least 3 months before you travel; fees start at NZ$850, 80% of applications are decided within 7 weeks, and October–March is the busiest period. 3) Show you have paid tuition for one year or one course (whichever is shorter), and at least NZ$20,000 for living costs for each year of study (NZ$1,667 a month for study under a year), or an acceptable sponsor. 4) Have medical and travel insurance acceptable to your provider, a chest X-ray if you will stay more than 6 months and come from a country without a low incidence of tuberculosis, and meet character requirements. The visa is issued for the study you have paid for, up to a maximum of 4 years.

During study: full-time tertiary students (on a programme of at least two years or a qualification at level 4 or above) may work up to 25 hours a week, and full-time over the Christmas–New Year break and in scheduled holidays if the course is worth at least 120 credits over two semesters within 8 months. PhD students have no limit on hours; new master's-by-research students now get the standard 25-hour limit. After graduation: the Post-Study Work Visa gives open work rights for 3 years after a master's or doctorate, and for the length of your study (up to 3 years) after a bachelor's or level 8 qualification, provided you studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks. Apply within 3 months of your student visa expiring (6 months for doctoral graduates); fees start at NZ$1,670 and you need NZ$5,000 in funds. From 16 November 2026 it also covers a Graduate Diploma combined with a bachelor's degree, and a new 6-month Short-Term Graduate Work Visa opens for level 5–7 qualifications that do not lead to a Post-Study Work Visa. Workers in Green List occupations may qualify for residence.