NZ Govt Announces Changes To Post Study Work Visa

Study in New Zealand: The government has announced some amendments to Post Study Work Visa to support international students who immediately enrol in a Master's degree after completing a postgraduate diploma.

The New Zealand government has announced changes to the Post Study Work Visa (PSWV) to provide more flexibility to international students during their course of study and give them the opportunity to continue working after obtaining a postgraduate diploma.

"Immigration New Zealand has announced changes to Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV) rules. These changes affect students studying Postgraduate Diplomas (PGDip) and Masters degrees," says the official notification.

According to the latest changes, international students who completed a postgraduate diploma in 30 weeks and immediately switched to pursuing their Master's degree, but were not enrolled in the master's degree for 30 weeks, such students can now apply for PSWV based on their postgraduate diploma enrollment.

"If a student has completed a qualification that is eligible for a PSWV then immediately completes a higher-level qualification (that is ineligible for PSWV, including because they did not study for the minimum duration), they will have 12 months from the end date of their student visa for the initial qualification to apply for a PSWV," says the government's statement.

To be eligible for the Post Study Work Visa, the students must have completed an eligible qualification in New Zealand through a full-time course completed in a required minimum duration and then they must apply for the PSWV in the required timeframe. To get a PSWV for three years, the applicant must have completed a minimum of 30 weeks of full-time study in NZ and enrolled in a Master's degree.

Eligibility Requirement Changes For Post Study Work Visa

Following are the changes announced in the list of qualifications eligible for the PSWV:

• The applicants who are qualified to teach at a secondary school need not be required to provide a Bachelor's degree specializing in Mathematics, Science, Pacific Languages or Technology.
• Those who meet the Teaching Council’s registration requirements and have graduate diplomas are eligible to get the PSWV to work as a Primary or Intermediate school teacher.
• Mechanical Engineering Technicians are eligible for the visa with a New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Level 6) with a strand in Mechanical Engineering.

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