Introduction to Education System in New Zealand: Levels, Intake seasons & Admission Requirements
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Introduction to Education System in New Zealand: Famous for picturesque attractions, cultural diversity, rich delicacies, as well as the national Rugby team, New Zealand attracts students from all over the globe. For students planning to pursue their higher education in New Zealand, we will discuss in detail about the universities, programs offered, intake seasons, admission requirements, and more.
In New Zealand, the education system is a bit different than anywhere in the world. The system of getting an Honours degree is prevalent even there. But there are many differences between their system and the one in India. Here we explain how the education system functions in New Zealand.
A bachelor's degree take three years to complete, and you need to complete a further year of study to get an honours degree. There are exceptions however, and not every degree follows this 3 years +1 year pattern. There are some four year degrees, which may not award honours, as well as some special bachelor's degrees which take longer to finish. Honours degrees are awarded with either first class, upper second class, lower second class or third class. This is just generic division, and this can vary from degree to degree.
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Check: 6 Reasons to Study in New Zealand
Bachelor's degree is usually followed by a Master's degree. A candidate who does not hold an Honours degree at the bachelor level can be awarded Master's degree with honours. Usually for students who have honours degree at the bachelor level, the duration of Masters is usually one year. In case they don’t have honours after bachelors, they can earn one by studying Master’s degree for two years of study. You need honours at either Master's level or bachelor's level to proceed to a doctoral degree.
While the education is heavily subsidized for the nationals of New Zealand, resulting in very low costs for further education, international students are required to pay full and non-subsidised fees. Similarly international students are not eligible for any government financial assistance.
Read: Types of Education Institutions in New Zealand
Levels of Education in New Zealand
There are different levels of education in New Zealand - beginning from pre-nursery schooling to universities offering PhD. The following are the different levels of education as offered in New Zealand along with a brief about their offerings.
Early Childhood Education (ECE) in New Zealand
Though Early Childhood Education (ECE) is not mandatory, yet 96.8% of the parents enroll their children for a pre-school kind of education. The New Zealand government subsidises all students attending ECE for 6 hours within a working week or 5 days. There are different types of ECE offered in New Zealand:
- Teacher lead learning: Or enrolling a pre-school where learning is led by a trained teacher in-charge.
- Kindergartens: Accept children aged between 2-5 years, and educate children based on a set timetable.
- Education & Care Services: These run on flexible hour programmes for children from their birth to primary school.
- Home-based Education & Care: This is for children who are newborns to 5 years old, offering education and care services through a certified ECE teacher reporting to their coordinators.
- Te Kura: This is a correspondence school which offers learning programs to students aged between 3-5 years who are facing learning difficulties.
Primary & Secondary Education in New Zealand
This is the second level of education after ECE in New Zealand. The education is free for students agen between 5-19 studying at primary and senior secondary schools that are either state or New Zealand government funded. Schooling is compulsory for students aged between 6-16 in New Zealand. Admissions to primary schools either begin together for a couple of students or when the student turns 5 or 6. Usually the students attend school till the age of 17. The education system for schools is divided into 13 years:
- Primary Education: For students of 5-12 years, starting from Year 1 to Year 8.
- Secondary Education: For students aged 13-17 years of age, starting from Year 9 to Year 13.
Further Education in New Zealand
Higher education in New Zealand has different types of institutions or levels for education. They vary depending upon their school type 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 as offered at New Zealand:
| NZ Further Education Types | Description |
|---|---|
| Technical & Vocational Education | These institutions are for students studyin at the Senior Secondary school level, who can pursue a course and specialize as well in order to earn a living. |
| Youth Guarantee | These courses are offered to students aged 16-19, giving them an opportunity to study NCEA Level 1-3 or Certificate Level 1-3 at tertiary courses provider free of cost. |
| Trades Academies | These academies run through schools and other providers and teach trades and technology programmes to students aged 15-18. |
| Institutes of Technology | These are government or industry funded institutions that offer introductory courses in vocational education. |
| Private Training | These training institutions offer specific vocational courses at both certificate and diploma levels. |
| Universities | There are 8 state funded Universities in New Zealand offering a number of courses in a variety of subjects. |
Other than the above given levels or types of further education in New Zealand there are also Wananga - Maori teaching and research institutions and three in number, all state owned. These institutions offer certificates, diploma and degrees to its students upon completion.
New Zealand education is heavily dominated by Polytechnics which offer diplomas. The Universities in New Zealand which offer recognized degrees are as follow:
- Auckland University of Technology
- Lincoln University
- Massey University
- University of Auckland
- University of Canterbury
- University of Otago
- University of Waikato
- Victoria University of Wellington
Intake seasons
New Zealand generally has two intakes i.e. January and July, with few universities offering multiple intakes in September and November. You should start your admission process around six months before the application deadline. Typically, most universities have three deadlines during one intake. It is up to the convenience of the students which deadline to aim for. You should be done with your language and aptitude tests by three months before the deadline. The last three months should be dedicated to filling out the application form properly.
It is essential to ensure that the ‘complete application process along with appearing for interviews and visa application process should be complete by Oct-Nov for the February intake.
If you are looking to get admission into vocational courses, then some courses may have admissions open even in March, April, May or July.
Check: Study in New Zealand: Timeline for February 2023 Intake
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Admission Requirements
These vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Along with that a minimum academic record of 65% and above in Class XII will be required. Foundations and Diploma programmes are available for students who have secured below 60%. Students should have completed 18 years of age before joining a degree programme.
It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference purposes, the actual numbers may differ from university to university.
The following documents also need to be submitted:
- Attested copies of mark sheets of Class X, XII, and Bachelor’s degree (if applicable)
- At least, two academic reference letters from professors who have taught you most recently
- If you have work experience then two letters of recommendation from the employer/manager who know you well and can comment on your professional abilities
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume
- Photocopied score reports of GMAT score
- ELP test scores of either - IELTS or TOEFL
- Portfolio (in case of students applying for art and design courses and architecture programmes)
- Others (Certificates/achievements at the state and national level and extracurricular activities)
- Proof of funds
Read more on:
Q: Â Is New Zealand good for Indian students?
With a good educational system, excellent quality of life, and a number of research opportunities, New Zealand offers a lot to international students. Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand has a 39 percent population of overseas citizens, making it a culturally diverse city. Moreover, the post-study work visa in New Zealand can offer up to three years of stay back. As per Stats New Zealand, its unemployment rate is 3.4 percent. Students enrolled in a course of 12 months or more can also work part-time in New Zealand for up to 20 hours a week during the semester and holidays.
Q: Â What is the acceptance rate for Lincoln University New Zealand?
According to various unofficial sources, Lincoln University New Zealand acceptance rate is around 60%. The acceptance rate indicated that the university is moderately selective at the time of admission. So, to get into the university, make sure to have a good academic record and meet the entry requirements such as having 12 years of schooling and minimum percentage for admission to bachelor’s courses. For admission to postgraduate courses, a relevant degree is required with the minimum grade.
Q: Â How much funds are needed for a New Zealand study visa?
International students need to show sufficient funds for getting a New Zealand student visa. Students need to show NZ$ 20,000 for a full year of study or NZ$ 1,250 per month for getting a New Zealand study visa.
Cost of New Zealand Student Visa Application
- New Zealand Visa Cost: Students who are submitting their Student Visa Application online are required to pay a base Visa fee of NZD 375 which is INR 19,200 (approximately).
- Candidates who are applying for their Student Visa online from New Delhi are required to pay NZD 430 which is INR 22,000 (approximately) as the receiving centre fees.
- Those applying for a student visa in New Zealand on paper (offline mode) should note that the immigration costs would be INR 22,600, in addition to this students are required to pay a receiving Centre fee of INR 1,520.
Q: Â Which course is better, Master in Management or Master in Project Management at the University of Auckland, New Zealand?
The University of Auckland offers the best UG and PG programs for international students at an affordable tuition fees. Auckland Unversity Master in Project Management is slightly better than the Master in Management because of its tuition fees for first year. Mentioned below is the tuition fees for first-year for international students:
| Program | First Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
| Master in Project Management | INR 25.11 L |
| Master in Management | INR 26.11 L |
Q: Â What is the cost of studying in New Zealand?
The tuition fees that a student would need to pay will depend on the type of qualification and the university they are looking at to pursue their education. While courses such as humanities, education, and arts are likely to cost less pursuing subjects such as medicine and engineering costs on the higher side.
The below table sheds light on the tuition fee charged level-wise in New Zealand from international students applying to their universities:
Study Program Level | Annual Costs in NZD |
|---|---|
Diploma or Certificate courses | NZD 23,000 - NZD 47,000 |
English Language courses | NZD 350 (per week) |
Undergraduate degree | NZD 22,000 - NZD 32,000 |
Master's degree | NZD 26,000 - NZD 37,000 |
Doctoral degree | NZD 6,500 - NZD 9,000 |
Q: Â Is living in New Zealand expensive?
The cost of living does not includes only the tuition fee but also other expenses like textbooks, NON-tuition fee, accommodation cost and other personal expenses. The moment a student lands in New Zealand, they need to pay $35 international visitor and tourism conservation levy. The living cost can vary as per the accommodation option, location and personal spending habits.
In addition to your tuition and insurance fees, you will need between $20,000 and $25,000 per year ($380–480 per week) for accommodation/rent, food expenses, transportation costs, phone bills, internet usage and entertainment.
Q: Â How much will it cost to study in New Zealand?
The cost of study in New Zealand for international students will vary from student to student. The cost of living will depend on many factors such as lifestyle, type of course and accommodation. Here we have given a breakdown of cost of living in New Zealand for international students.
Tuition Fees
Level of Study | Estimated Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
Diplomas/Certificates | NZD 23,376 to NZD 46,752 |
Bachelor’s Degree | NZD 20,000 to NZD 40,000 |
Postgraduate Degree | NZD 20,000 to NZD 45,000 |
PhDs | NZD 6,500 to NZD 7,500 |
Living Expenses
Type of Expenses | Cost |
|---|---|
Accommodation | NZD 140 – NZD 484 (per week) |
Entertainment | NZD 55 (per week) |
Food | NZD 80 – NZD 120 (per week) |
Electricity | NZD 200 – NZD 300 (per month) |
Transportation | NZD 37 (per week) |
Phone | NZD 19 (per month) |
Internet | NZD 90 (per month) |
Q: Â Is New Zealand good for international students to study?
New Zealand is one of the top destinations for international students going abroad for higher education. All of eight universities in New Zealand are ranked among the top 3% universities in the world. New Zealand education sets up students with a globally recognised qualification and real-world skills. Each year thousands of students from India apply for various universities in the New Zealand. As per Govt. of India, there are more than 2,500 Indian students that went to study in 2022 in various universities in New Zealand.
Aishwarya is a professional Writer currently working as a Study Abroad Expert in the Editorial Team at Shiksha. She has over 5 years of experience and is skilled at creating Online Content with leveraged knowledge i... Read Full Bio
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- Universities in New Zealand70 Universities
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- Universities in Canada174 Universities
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