Why Study in New Zealand
New Zealand is a country that spends heavily on ensuring that its citizens and the international student population that attend its eight world-class universities receive top quality education that is on par with the rest of the world. This notion is substantiated by the fact that all 8 universities of New Zealand are in the top 3% of ranked universities globally. New Zealand as a country is quite cheap for education, almost 18%cheaper than Australia and 36% cheaper than Canada.
Education System in New Zealand
There are three types of institutions that are available for tertiary education, which include
- Universities: These institutions offer higher degree-level education. Programs are research-led and generally academic rather than vocational. In the 2015/16 QS World University Rankings, all eight of New Zealand’s universities were in the top 100 in at least one subject.
- ITP: ITPs (Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics) and a few larger PTEs (Private Training Establishments) offer vocational degree-level education.
- PTE: PTEs tend to offer specific vocational programs, mainly at certificate and diploma level.
The courses that are rated under the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) network are all internationally accepted professional courses and they are quality assured by the New Zealand government.
The NZQF levels are:
- levels 1-4, which cover the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) - the main qualification in secondary schools - and basic trades training
- levels 5-6, which cover advanced trades, technical and business qualifications
- levels 7-10, which cover degrees, graduate and postgraduate qualifications
Cost of Studying in New Zealand
Tuition fees for graduate international students can be quite steep in New Zealand, and can vary substantially between the nation’s eight universities. The cost of study varies from the undergraduate degree to postgraduate degrees as well. Typically, an undergraduate degree costs between NZ$ 22,000 and NZ$ 32,000 per year with higher fee structure for subjects like medicine and veterinary science. Usually, Bachelor’s degree can be completed in three years. A postgraduate program costs between NZ$ 26,000 and NZ$ 37,000 per year with the higher fee structure for subjects like medicine and veterinary science. The International PhD students pay the same as national New Zealand PhD students, which is about NZ$ 6,500 to NZ$ 9,000 per year for most of the subjects. Read more about cost of studying in New Zealand
Life in New Zealand, Health and Safety
New Zealand is a wholesome country that is ranked number 2 when it comes to the ranking of the most peaceful countries . New Zealanders are genuinely concerned about people and you'll find there are plenty of places to turn to if you need help. Every institution hosting international students, like you, has staff dedicated to ensuring your time in New Zealand is successful and stress-free.
New Zealand has a largely temperate climate. While the far north has subtropical weather during summer, and inland alpine areas of the South Island can be as cold as -10 C in winter, most of the country lies close to the coast, which means mild temperatures, moderate rainfall, and abundant sunshine. This country is a great place to travel. While you study in the country explore the geography of the place. It is such that you are never far away from exotic and scenic beaches and at the same time you also have access to snow covered peaks and rocky mountains. Because New Zealand lies in the Southern Hemisphere, the average temperature decreases as you travel south. The north of New Zealand is subtropical and the south temperate. The warmest months are December, January and February, and the coldest June, July and August. In summer, the average maximum temperature ranges between 20-30ºC and in winter between 10-15ºC. It is therefore recommended that you carry your winter clothes when you travel as it is generally much cooler.
Some students choose to stay in on-campus accommodation, which is available in many colleges. On-Campus accommodation is always in demand even though it can be quite expensive and is difficult to find. Students who want to be totally independent choose self-catering, rented accommodation. Students pay their rent monthly and in advance. It is always better to have flatmates, as they share the cost of rent and usually the phone and energy bills. Some students choose to live with a host family in their home, and is referred to as “homestays”. This way, you have your own independence but still have the home comforts (and some rules) as well as a family to help you settle in to a new way of life in a new country. Staying with a host family can be a great way for students to get a close-up look at New Zealand’s way of life and culture.
Popular Cities and Courses
New Zealand is one of the most uniform countries when it come to cost of living and quality of life with sparse and friendly populace, compared to busy economic cities in the rest of the world. New Zealand is becoming a popular destination to study agriculture/animal husbandry/viniculture along with great courses on 3D animation and film making. Business management is also one of their top offerings. If you are an Engineer, it would be helpful to know that New Zealand is good at offering best courses for civil engineering, chemical, computer systems, electrical, and mechanical, all of which are essential to upgrade the infrastructure of a country that is literally an island.
Popular cities to study in New Zealand are:
- Auckland
- Wellington
- Hamilton
- Queenstown
- Nelson
- Napier
Popular universities in New Zealand are:
- University of Auckland
- University of Otago
- Victoria University of Wellington
- University of Canterbury
- University of Waikato
- Massey University
Popular courses to study in New Zealand are:
- Data Science
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Marketing Management
- Computer Science
