New Zealand Master Degree Requirements
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New Zealand is the new attraction for international students to pursue a higher education degree program. MS in New Zealand is a popular course of choice because of its high-added value and good job opportunities in New Zealand itself through the Green Occupations List. Apart from this, there are various opportunities for MS in research students in New Zealand for international students.
New Zealand is becoming a popular study destination for Indian students. A reputed education system, top-ranking universities in NZ, and a variety of programs are the main reasons to attract international students here. To pursue a Master's degree in New Zealand, you typically need a relevant Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification with a strong academic record. Additionally, you need to demonstrate English language proficiency.
Additionally, for some programs like Management, you may need work experience and a good score on exams like the GRE or GMAT. Furthermore, research-based Master's programs often involve a substantial thesis or research project. It is crucial to check the specific requirements of your chosen university and program as they can vary. Let us discuss in the article in detail about MS in New Zealand colleges, admission requirements, application process, popular courses and job prospects.
Masters in New Zealand Highlights
Here we have mentioned a quick look at the MS course in New Zealand. This will give an idea to international students who are planning to study here:
| Type of Master’s in New Zealand |
Postgraduate Taught & Research |
| Duration |
1 - 2 years |
| Popular MS Specializations |
Computer Science, Business Analytics, Data Science, STEM courses, etc. |
| Average Tuition Costs |
NZD 30,500 - NZD 55,000 |
| Admission Requirements |
Bachelor’s + ELP scores + GRE/GMAT |
| Average Hourly Pay |
NZD 39.60 |
| Post-Study Work Duration |
3 years |
Why Study MS in New Zealand?
There are various reasons to pursue an MS in New Zealand as an international student, one reason being that there are various course options, secondly, there are good job opportunities and others are as follows:
- All New Zealand universities rank in the top 3% of the universities globally and are recognized for their reputation in academics, graduate employability rate and research.
- MS in New Zealand can open various doors for students afterwards, there can be opportunities for research, jobs and even exchange programs.
- Most New Zealand universities offer their master’s students scholarships that are merit-based usually, which is an added advantage.
- Since there are Postgraduate Research and Taught, applicants can choose the type of MS they wish to pursue in New Zealand and plan their future in accordance.
- There are assistantships available in New Zealand for MS students enrolled across various universities, this can in turn help students gain hands-on experience in internships.
Thus, there are many advantages of pursuing a master’s from a New Zealand university as an international student, especially for those who would be eligible to take up jobs listed in the Green Occupations List.
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Best Master's in New Zealand Universities
Following is a list of New Zealand universities known for offering their master's courses to international students
| Top Universities in New Zealand |
QS Ranking 2025 |
|---|---|
| #65 |
|
| #214 |
|
| #235 |
|
| #239 |
|
| #244 |
|
| #261 |
|
| #371 |
|
| #412 |
There are eight universities in New Zealand and all eight of these universities offer a master’s course in various popular course options.
Top MS Courses in New Zealand
Some of the popularly opted master's courses in New Zealand as international students are as follows:
- MS in Business Analytics
- MS in Environmental Science
- Masters in Information Technology
- Masters in Management
- MS in Computer Science
- Masters in Data Science
- Masters in International Trade
These courses are available at selected New Zealand universities and applicants must check for all details before proceeding with a particular course of choice.
How to Study Masters in New Zealand?
In order to study a master’s course in New Zealand applicants will first and foremost have to select the course and the university. In case the course chosen matches the university the applicant wishes to apply to in New Zealand, he/she can go ahead with the admission process.
Before going ahead with the admission process applicants must check if they are eligible, secondly check for admission requirements of the master’s course applying for at the chosen New Zealand university as an international student.
Once the applicant gets admission to the designated master’s course in a New Zealand university, he or she can apply for a New Zealand student visa and once they get accepted, they can study a master’s course in New Zealand as an international student.
MS in New Zealand Eligibility
To be eligible for a master’s degree in New Zealand, an international applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study or where the bachelor’s degree corresponds to the master’s degree applied for.
Apart from this, each university will have a specific set of subject requirements that the applicant should have studied at the bachelor’s level.
There may be requirements at New Zealand universities to pursue a master’s course only if the applicant has some practical or work experience as well. Thus, it will vary with each New Zealand university and the master’s course opted for by the applicant.
Masters in New Zealand Requirements
There are a few specific admission requirements for MS admissions in New Zealand and they are as follows, specifically for international students:
- Transcripts, translated and credentials evaluated if not in the English language.
- GPA of 3.0 and above on a 4.0-point scale.
- Work experience (if required)
- Statement of purpose commonly referred to as a letter of motivation in New Zealand
- Two or three letters of recommendation (LORs)
- Resume if work experience proof is required
- Standardized test scores of either GRE or GMAT or MCAT
- English language proficiency scores of IELTS / TOEFL / PTE / Duolingo
Check: IELTS Scores for New Zealand Universities & Student Visa
There may be additional admission requirements for those pursuing a master’s course in New Zealand universities as international students. Thus, applicants must check for all details before applying for MS in New Zealand.
How to Apply for a Masters in New Zealand?
The application process for MS in New Zealand varies per the New Zealand university, to which the applicant is applying to. Some common steps that always need to be followed are as follows:
- Log on to the concerned New Zealand university website go to the course page and check for the application process.
- Check for the eligibility of the course and apply through the dedicated gateway.
- Upload all necessary documents and submit all details.
- Pay the application fee and take a printout of the receipt.
Finally, wait for the offer letter from the university and apply for a student visa once the application is accepted.
Popular Jobs after MS in New Zealand
After MS in New Zealand, applicants can take up the following jobs in New Zealand:
| MS Job Roles in New Zealand |
Annual Average Salaries |
|---|---|
| Engineering Manager |
NZD 1,30,000 |
| Project Manager |
NZD 1,20,000 |
| Data Scientist |
NZD 94,000 |
| Financial Analyst |
NZD 85,300 |
| Statistician |
NZD 71,400 |
| Computer Systems Analyst |
NZD 71,000 |
Applicants applying for a master’s in New Zealand can take the help of Shiksha Counsellors by signing up here - https://www.shiksha.com/studyabroad/apply to better their chances of acceptance. Or comment to us in the section below.
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 good is Lincoln University New Zealand?
Lincoln University New Zealand has received QS 5 stars for its teaching, employability, global engagement, research, facilities, etc. Furthermore, in 2025, as per a top-ranking publisher, the university has been placed at #371 position. In short, it has retained its global position in the Top 25% of universities. Furthermore, a wide range of scholarship opportunities are available to international students.
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 are some of the highlights of studying in New Zealand?
International Students are choosing New Zealand as an option due to the academic experiences offered as well as the post-graduate work options. Some of the country highlights of New Zealand are given as follows:
Category | Data |
|---|---|
Total Universities | 8 |
ELP Test Scores Required | TOEFL / IELTS / PTE / Duolingo |
Standardised Test Scores Accepted | UG: SAT / NEET UG / LSAT PG: GRE / GMAT / MCAT |
Undergraduate Admission Eligibility | 12th scores + Entrance Test scores + ELP scores |
Postgraduate (Taught & Research) Admission Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree + Entrance Test scores + ELP scores |
New Zealand University Acceptance Rate | Hardly selective (90%) |
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 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.
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- Universities in New Zealand70 Universities
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