Study in New Zealand - Education

Combining the benefits of a developed country with the charm of a quiet and peaceful countryside, New Zealand offers some distinct advantages over other countries as a destination for education.

An important one of which is the affordability – getting a degree in NZ actually works out to be cheaper than many courses in India.

Another significant advantage is the welcoming nature of the New Zealanders and the relative ease in getting there : NZ has recently opened its doors to students from South East Asia. Getting yourself an education in New Zealand can change your life forever – this site tells you how you can do it.

New Zealand is a beautiful and sparsely populated multicultural nation with a population of approximately 3.5 million people. Most New Zealanders are of British or European descent, with approximately 18% of the population having Maori or Pacific Island origins. There are also large numbers of other nationalities in New Zealand and recently, increasing numbers of people from Asian countries have taken up residence in New Zealand.

The dramatic and varied landscapes draw visitors from all over the world. There are high snow-clad mountains, fiords, large forests, lakes, lush plains, surf beaches and quiet coastal inlets. In New Zealand the tourist and recreational areas are often only one or two hours’ drive from major cities and can be accessed without great expense

Most visitors find New Zealanders friendly, easy-going people who are interested in meeting those from other cultures and in travelling overseas. NZ is a very sports-oriented country, most New Zealanders take part in or watch a wide variety of games. The best known sports are rugby and cricket, with netball, badminton, squash, skiing, tennis, basketball, athletics, soccer, and hockey also very popular.

New Zealand’s major export products include fish, meat, fruit, dairy products and timber. It also produces a wide range of manufactured goods and is at the forefront in many areas of information technology and in biological and medical research. Tourism and education are also becoming increasingly important to the economy.

For information about New Zealand cities, see http://www.atoz-nz.com/

CURRENCY

The New Zealand dollar is a stable currency. Tourists and new residents find a very favourable exchange rate which gives them high purchasing power.

RELIGION

Freedom of worship is guaranteed by law in New Zealand. During their time in New Zealand many international students choose to join a students’ association to remain close to their culture and religion.

TRANSPORT

You will arrive in New Zealand at either Auckland or Christchurch International Airports. There are regular direct flights to most cities from both airports. There are air, rail and bus services to other towns and cities and an inter-island ferry operates between the North and South Islands.

ACADEMIC YEAR

The University academic year of most universities is divided into two semesters.

Semester 1 Late February - end June

Semester 2 Early July - mid November

Almost all undergraduate degree courses must be commenced with Semester 1. For more details of the academic calendar, contact the respective university.

ORIENTATION

Before the beginning of the academic year, the International Office of most universities runs an orientation programme for international students.

This programme covers such things as course advice, a tour of the campus and information about living in New Zealand.

The orientation programme is free and provides an excellent opportunity to meet other students and make new friends. Another orientation programme is run at the beginning of the second semester.

Both orientation programmes provide:

• Information about the New Zealand way of life including their customs, climate and education system
• Information about the University including its student services, facilities, policies and procedures
• An opportunity to meet other international students
• Information about your rights as a student
• Information about immigration requirements and regulations

If you are applying from overseas to study as a full fee student in New Zealand, you can consult the New Zealand government office in your country about available courses. Applications should be made directly to educational institutions.

Closing date for applications to polytechnics and colleges of education are available from prospectuses of the respective institutions. The application form must also be accompanied by all the documentation requested on the form, for example, certified copies of examination results.

If you are applying for admission to a tertiary institution as a full-fee student and you are already attending a New Zealand school, apply directly to the university, polytechnic, college of education or other institution of your choice.

Once you have been offered a place

All applicants must accept and offer by the date specified on the notification letter received from an institution. An offer of a place does not necessarily guarantee a student visa.

Working While You Study

If you are studying in New Zealand, you must not work unless allowed to do so by the New Zealand Immigration service. You can be granted permission to work for upto 15 hours a week.

If you have a student permit, you may be granted a work permit or a variation of your student permit to allow you to gain practical experience on completion of a three-year course, or over the summer vacation.

Your Dependants

Your dependants, who may include a spouse, de facto spouse, fiancé(e) and children, may accompany you to New Zealand or may join you later. They must apply for the type of visa required, that is, visitor, work or student. For school aged dependants you will need to pay full fees to enroll them in primary and secondary courses.

Immigration Requirements

International students are required to obtain student visas and study permits in order to study in New Zealand.

Medical Insurance

It is compulsory for students to take out full medical insurance cover. An average medical insurance cover for a single student would cost approximately NZ$500-600 per year. The Research & International Office holds information on New Zealand medical insurance companies which can be forwarded on request.

International Students’ Representative

Students elect an International Students’ Representative each year. His/her role is to act as a link between international students, the University and University Students’ Association.

This section explains the process of applying to New Zealand universities and colleges for Under Graduate (Bachelor Degree or equivalent) courses.

• Application Forms
• Eligibility

Application Requirements

• Secondary School Reports and Transcripts
• English Language Test

Application Forms

Send enquiries at least 8 to 12 months before the proposed date of admission. There are three ways to get application forms.

Eligibility

Admission to a University in New Zealand requires a completion of twelve years of elementary and secondary education.

In the Indian context, this implies qualifying in class 12th examination or junior college as applicable. The acceptable degrees include : Indian School Certificate, Intermediate Certificate, Higher School Certificate, Higher Secondary Certificate, All India Senior School Certificate.

Most universities ask for a minimum of 75% aggregate marks and a minimum of 60% in English.

In case the criteria is not met, you may be required to complete one year of education in any university in India or do a foundation course in some university in New Zealand.

Any further details can be discussed with the respective universities.

Application Requirements

Secondary School Reports and Transcripts

Students who are applying for a Bachelor's program or any other undergraduate course are required to submit a secondary school report and transcripts (report cards) of the final exams.

Most universities accept only original or certified true copies of academic certificates and transcripts as evidence for the purposes of admission.

Documents may be certified as true copies by a justice of the peace, or a notary public, or a solicitor, or a commissioner of oaths, or an official of the institution that issued the document.

If the transcript is in a language other than English, then it must be translated into English only by the issuing authority or university.

Standardized Tests

English Proficiency Test

If the student is not proficient in English, he may be required to take the IELTS (International English Testing System). Every institute has its own minimum scores with respect to this test.

IELTS : For most courses and institutes, International students are required to take IELTS (International English Language Test) which is regularly administered by the British Council. A minimum score of 6.5 is usually required by most institutes.

If the student doesnot obtain the minimum score required by the institute, he/she will have to go in for a 3 to 9 month bridging course in English at the institute before the start of the chosen program of study.

This section explains the process of applying to New Zealand universities and colleges for postgraduate (Masters’ & Doctorate Degree) courses.

• Application Forms
• Eligibility

Application Requirements

Application Forms

Send enquiries at least 8 to 12 months before the proposed date of admission. There are three ways to get application forms.

Eligibility

Most New Zealand universities accept the Indian graduation system of three years for entry into most postgraduate courses. An Indian bachelor degree like B.A., B.Com. or B.Sc. is equivalent to a New Zealand Bachelor (Ordinary) Degree.

However, some courses and universities may require a qualification equivalent to New Zealand Bachelor (Honours) Degree, which requires 16 years of formal education, which would mean another year after graduation or a four year degree course like B.E., B.Tech or other such courses.

For most Universities, a good first degree from a leading university in India or its equivalent is essential.

Application Requirements

University Academic Transcripts

Full details of your education including your course subjects and grades are required in the applications. Transcripts or official records of your previous academic qualifications are crucial for your application.

Students applying for admission are required to submit an official transcript from each college or university that they have attended after secondary school with complete details of the subjects, credits involved and other details like correspondence courses, diplomas etc. Most universities ask for the transcript to be sealed in an envelope and signed and attested across the seal by the registrar. This procedure is to be done for each and every college that you have attended. Some universities may ask for more than one transcript but most require only one.

If the originals are not in English, copies and a good English translation must be enclosed. Documents may be certified as true copies by a justice of the peace, or a notary public, or a solicitor, or a commissioner of oaths, or an official of the institution that issued the document.

Evidence of Graduation

Most Universities would require copies of your first degree certificate as evidence of your graduation. The certificate should either be in original or as a certified true copy.

Documents may be certified as true copies by a justice of peace, or a notary public, or a solicitor, or a commissioner of oaths, or an official of the institution that issued the document.

English Language Tests

If the student is not proficient in English, he may be required to take the IELTS (International English Testing System). Every institute has its own minimum scores with respect to this test.

IELTS : For most courses and institutes, International students are required to take IELTS (International English Language Test) which is regularly administered by the British Council. A minimum score of 6.5 is usually required by most institutes.

If the student does not obtain the minimum score required by the institute, he/she will have to go in for a 3 to 9 month bridging course in English at the institute before the start of the chosen program of study.

Universities may accept TOEFL scores instead of IELTS score.

Work History

A number of professional and vocational courses require relevant work experience. For instance, many MBA’s or Master’s courses in Information Studies require at least a couple of years’ work experience. Most New Zealand universities are pretty strict about this.

A detailed Résumé is an important part of your application. It should include all information of professional work experience along with the details like positions held, achievements and range of work.

Letter of Recommendation

Letter of reference or recommendation letters can play an important part in admission. It should be from someone who has taught you in some course or someone you have worked under. It should list your positive and negative qualities, strengths and other such information.

The teacher must indicate his/her position, how long he/she has known the applicant and in what capacity. He/she should briefly discuss the need, importance and usefulness of the study the applicant proposes to undertake. You may like to request your author to give concrete examples that may show your qualities and help your case.

Note : Even if not mentioned, it is advisable to include about two letters of recommendation in your applications as they increase your chances of getting admissions.

Statement of Purpose

The personal essays, and/or statement of purpose, if required for the course you are applying to, also play a very important role in the process of evaluating your application for admission because it gives the faculty assessing your application their most significant impression of you as an individual.

A personal statement should include your reasons for choosing a particular course, the suitability of your education and experience for the chosen course, your personal interests and career goals.