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Students
educated in New Zealand are earning a reputation as a new
breed of innovative thinkers, and enjoying career success the
world over. This article seeks to give you an insight into
that educational system and the procedures involved in
prosecuting higher education.
You can
study there from the beginner level to the advanced level. It
is a very flexible education system. You can move around the
country while studying, because secondary schools and tertiary
institutions work basing on a national system.
There is a
very wide range of early childhood education and higher
education to suit different cultures and needs.
Most
secondary schools are state-run. Their courses and standards
are similar and all schools prepare students for the same
national qualifications that are recognized throughout New
Zealand.
During the
initial school days, all students take compulsory
"core" subjects: English or Maori, Social Studies,
Science, Mathematics, and Physical Education, plus some
electives (or optionals), which differ from one school to
another. The students work to acquire a variety of national
qualifications. Apart from
language and mathematics at Level 1, there are no compulsory
subjects, and schools can design their own courses. In
traditional school subjects, most schools follow the same
one-year courses, but students can get credit for a wide range
of subjects, including the arts and industry-related learning.
Universities
New Zealand has eight national universities offering degree
programs at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in academic
and professional studies.
All universities offer a wide range of subjects for degrees in
commerce, science and the arts. Each university has developed
its own specialist subjects, such as engineering, computer
science, medicine and agriculture.
There are about 20 Polytechnics and Institutes of Technology.
These provide education and training at tertiary levels
ranging from introductory studies to full degree programs.
Courses emphasize practical experience and application to work
situations. There are many disciplines such as agriculture,
art and design, building and construction, business,
engineering, science and technology, media studies and tourism
and hospitality that are developed in association with
advisory groups representing industry, commerce, the
professions and the community. These courses are relevant,
up-to-date and innovative, so that graduates can acquire
skills that are valued by employers. A degree from one of
these institutions is equal to a university degree. Many
tertiary institutions also offer English language training.
Specialized training for teachers is available at Colleges of
Education, which provide studies in early childhood, primary
and secondary education. All colleges offer advanced courses
for trained teachers.
There is a comprehensive system of distance education,
providing courses similar to those in conventional New Zealand
educational institutions. Distance education standards are
high and the degrees awarded are valued by other institutions.
There are also private (i.e. not state-funded) tertiary
institutes and training providers, including English language
schools.
In the New
Zealand education system, it is important to choose the
institution on the basis of its reputation in the course that
you wish to take. When you finish the course and start looking
for work, such things matter very much.
If
you are living outside New Zealand and planning to study full
time for more than three months, you will need a student visa
and a student permit, unless you are from a country that has a
special agreement with New Zealand.
To obtain a visa you need:
- a passport
valid at least for the whole of the first year of the
program
- letter of
admission from the school
- a receipt
from the school stating that the required fee has been
paid
- evidence
of possessing at least NZ$7,000 to support yourself during
your stay in New Zealand (or confirmation that someone
else will support you)
- a return
air ticket or enough money to pay for a return ticket
- accommodation
Application
requirements
Application
forms can be downloaded from www.immigration.govt.nz/forms/nzis1012.pdf
For
courses longer than 24 months, you have to provide recent
medical and X-ray certificates (not more than three months
old) and a police certificate to show that you have a good
character. If your application is approved, your passport must
be valid for three months after your scheduled date of
departure from New Zealand.
You
should check with the New Zealand High Commission or Embassy
nearest to you to see how long visa applications take to
process, and whether there are any changes in the rules.
Provided everything is in order, the required documents are
usually issued without any hassle.
If
you propose to study in New Zealand for more than two years,
it is recommended that you obtain a medical clearance and
character references before you leave your home country.
No Visa is
required for students for some courses (shorter courses in
most cases under 3 months duration).
Course Selection
There
are many schools, courses and programs to choose from. Which
is reliable and dependable? Is the school I select reputed? If
I have problems, who will help? After all, I will be in
entirely unfamiliar surroundings! Questions like this get
answered in the New Zealand Education Global
Services (NZEGS). It has a qualified Educational
Counselor who can research and assist you to make a wise
decision about your future education. It is authorized to
guide you through the process of course selection and degree
enrollment.
Studying
in New Zealand as a visitor
If you are
in New Zealand as a visitor, you may take a single course of
study that lasts for less than three months without a student
permit. If you want to take more than one course, and/or study
for longer than three months, you can apply for a student
permit while you are in New Zealand.
Tuition
Fee
The
tuition fee varies not only from university to university but
also from course to course. A few courses are listed here with
the approximate range of annual tuition fee:
Undergraduate
Courses
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1.
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Arts
/ Humanities / Social Sciences
|
NZ
$ 10,000 - $ 12,000 per year
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|
2.
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Commerce
/ Administration / Management
|
NZ
$ 10,000 - $ 12,500 per year
|
|
3.
|
Computing
& Mathematical Sciences
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NZ
$ 13,000 - $ 15,000 per year
|
|
4.
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Engineering
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NZ
$ 16,000 - $ 17,500 per year
|
|
5.
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Science
/ Science and Technology
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NZ
$ 14,000 - $ 16,000 per year
|
|
6.
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Technology
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NZ
$ 14,000 - $ 18,000 per year
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Postgraduate
Courses
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1.
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Arts
/ Humanities / Social Sciences
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NZ
$ 14,000 - $ 16,000 per year
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|
2.
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Master
of Business Administration
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NZ
$ 18,000 - $ 24,000 per year
|
|
3.
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Engineering
|
NZ
$ 18,000 - $ 24,500 per year
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Living
Expenses
The
approximate annual living expenses will be about NZ $ 7,000,
which includes accommodation as well as other daily expenses.
However, the expenses are different for different people
depending on the lifestyle.
All
that was about pursuing higher studies in New Zealand. For
more information, log on to
www.mynzed.com/Generalinformation.cfm
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