Top Five Reasons to Study in New Zealand

With the COVID vaccine now being rolled out in some countries, it’ll not be long before the world returns to normal, and countries open up their borders.

This would be a great time for you to plan your global ed journey, if that’s something that interests you.

One of the places you may want to look at is New Zealand. Considered to be one of the safest countries in the world for students, this picturesque little island offers an unparalleled quality of life and education. Add to that, the country is led by one of the youngest and most admired world leaders in Jacinda Ardern.

Here are five reasons why you should take action to make New Zealand your future global ed destination.

New Zealand offers an excellent education system with diverse research opportunities and an excellent support system for international students. All of New Zealand’s eight universities are ranked globally by both Times Higher Education and QS with QS’s Higher Education System Strength Rankings 2018 placing the country’s education system in 16^th  rank globally.

The New Zealand Qualifications Framework’s (NZQF) guidelines on ensuring quality education also mean smaller class sizes and  better tutor/student ratio in all of the country’s universities, facilitating more meaningful interactions inside the classrooms.

Here’s a detailed look at all the eight New Zealand Universities and their respective rankings.

New Zealand’s temperate climate with its high-quality education, exciting outdoor pursuits, and range of landscapes make it one of the most diversely beautiful countries for international students.  Many of New Zealand’s cities consistently feature in the top student cities globally for their appeal in quality education and lifestyle. The diverse student community in almost all of New Zealand’s cities also makes for some of the most culturally vibrant student cities in the world.

Let’s take a look at two of the best student cities of New Zealand:

Auckland
Home to the University of Auckland (New Zealand’s highest-ranking University) and the Auckland University of Technology, Auckland is the country’s biggest city. Known for its multicultural diversity and inclusiveness, the city is ranked 27^th in QS Best Student Cities and offers a myriad of adrenaline-fuelled activities- Canyoning, surfing, bungee-jumping, snowboarding, to name a few. The pristine sceneries in and around the city and the ample coastline also serve as perfect getaways for students to unwind and recharge their batteries.

Christchurch
Another city that features in the top 100 QS Best Students Cities is Christchurch in rank 65. Referred to as ‘The Garden City’ for its beautiful parks and gardens, Christchurch has two globally renowned universities; the University of Canterbury and Lincoln University. A city with thriving art and cultural scene, Christchurch is known for its English heritage and is considered the most English of New Zealand’s cities. Though in the past decade,  major earthquakes and the 2019 terror attack have shaken the city, Christchurch is rapidly rebuilding itself intending to make it one of the safest, enjoyable, and accessible cities in the world.

New Zealand rans as one of the best travel destinations in the world. Studying here would allow you to be a student and a tourist on vacation at the same time.  For students who love adventure and nature, the country offers some great experiences.

From Queenstown to Auckland to Christchurch, there are some great adventure opportunities – bungee jumping, jet boating, white water rafting, paragliding, rock climbing, mountain biking, and downhill skiing, etc. Waterfalls, rain forests, vast lakes, and craggy mountain peaks – like those of Fiordland National Park provide the perfect therapeutic tonic for a break for those seeking some serenity. Then, there’s Rotorua – a city of lakes and natural geysers. Here, one can submerge oneself in the unique Maori culture after a dip in the mineral-rich geothermal hot springs.

The list goes on.

New Zealand offers a quality of education that is on par with countries such as the US, the UK, and Canada on a comparatively cheaper budget. While the tuition fees and the cost of living differ from one city to another, undergraduate students can expect to pay around NZ$22,000-32,000 (~US$14,900-21,700) per year for their tuition. Post Graduate students, on the other hand, will have to pay between NZ$26,000-37,000 (~US$17,660-25,100), annually for their tuition.

While the costs of living for international students can be relatively high in New Zealand, the opportunity for international students to work part-time in New Zealand comes as a huge lift.

• 20 hours a week at a minimum wage of NZ$17.70/hour during the academic year
• 40 hours a week during the summer break

Students can also cut their living expenses drastically by using the student card which costs just NZ$20 to avail handsome discounts on items ranging from food to clothing to transport to adventure sports!

Finding employment in New Zealand after Graduation
New Zealand has a very lenient post-study work visa policy for international students compared to other countries such as the US and the UK. The country did away with their two types of Post Study Work Visa (Open and Employer Assisted) in November 2018  for the new Post Study Visa.

The new post-study visa allows graduated students to work for any employer in almost any job for 1,2 or 3 years depending on the qualification and the university of the students.  Partners of this Post Study work visa holders are also allowed to apply for a work visa in the country with their dependent children given fee-free education as domestic students. Upon the expiry of the visa period, one can apply for an extension granted, he or she meets the qualification criteria set by the country’s immigration office.

The country also offers a relatively easy process for acquiring a resident visa (while on a student or post-study work visa) which can later be used to apply for permanent residency in the country.

New Zealand awaits in all its beauty and greatness. Start your planning now.