TASA ASIA | New Zealand

About

New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The country geographically consists of two main islands, the North Island, and South Island. There are 600 smaller islands as part of New Zealand. The natives are often referred to as ‘Kiwis’ after the bird that is found only in New Zealand. It is a highly developed country with high-quality life, health, education, and economic freedom. English is the dominantly spoken language and with friendly immigration laws, it is emerging as one of the preferred destinations for study abroad.

New Zealand is internationally reputed for its quality education. This is mainly because the country follows the British system of education. The education programs and degrees from universities in New Zealand are well recognized and highly accredited in the world. Compared to studying in the USA, UK, and Australia, New Zealand works out as a cost-effective destination for international students. Below is a list of factors that make New Zealand a sought after study abroad destination.

International Recognition

New Zealand universities have a high international reputation. The New Zealand Qualification Authority ensures that the institutions maintain high-quality education and comply with international standards. The students are assured of the best quality of education and the qualifications from these universities will help them greatly in their aspirations for an international career.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in New Zealand is not as high as compared to other destinations like the US, UK, and Australia. The quality of life is high and students get the best of facilities during their study period. International students are permitted to work up to 20 hours a week during their free hours which helps them cover their costs. Many universities offer scholarships, which are helpful to international students.

Diversity & Variety

New Zealand is known for its rich natural beauty along with a multi-cultural environment. The snowcapped mountains and landscapes are heavenly for ones staying in the country. Staying in New Zealand provides the students with an opportunity to grow with the diverse culture and also makes their experience adventurous.

Innovation and Technology

The emphasis on scientific researches makes New Zealand the most appealing destination for international students aiming for research and development. It has state of art research facilities equipped with the latest technology, equipment and abundant opportunities.

Career opportunities

Students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week while studying in New Zealand. During vacations, the students can work up to 40 hours per week. The international studies office in the universities guide the students in this aspect. After attaining a degree, students are allowed to work for 12 months under a special work permit which is issued alongside the student visa. This will help students to build their careers and also helps in attaining work experience in case they need to move out after this period.

The New Zealand education system comprises three levels, early childhood level, primary and secondary level and further education. The primary and secondary education which is between the age of 5 and 19 is state-sponsored and is free for the kiwis. At further level of education, institutions offer professional and vocational education. New Zealand has eight state-funded universities offering a wide range of fields in professional degrees. All universities are internationally recognized and have Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral programs in their curriculum.
The top universities in New Zealand are the University of Auckland, the University of Otago, the Auckland University of Technology, the University of Canterbury, Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Waikato and so on. Some of the best universities are situated in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton.

The qualifying exams vary between study programs and levels. For each course, international students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Besides, there will be a minimum academic performance record as stipulated by the universities to qualify for admission.

General Exams

GMAT - The Graduate Management Admission Test is given by those who want to pursue an MBA or business or management-related courses. The aspirants are measured on English, mathematical and reasoning skills.
GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue n MA or MS. Also, many business schools accept GRE scores for granting admission for pursuing MBA or business or management courses.
LSAT - The Law School Admission Test is a standardized test and is taken by students who want to take admission in law schools. The students are evaluated based on reading and verbal reasoning skills.
SAT - The Scholastic Assessment Test evaluates the aspirants based on literacy and writing skills that are needed for academic success in higher education. This test measures the problem-solving skills learned in school which they will be using further in college. The SAT exam is generally taken by students who have completed their schooling or students in high school looking for admissions in UG courses.

Students need to check on the qualifying exams as stipulated by the universities and accordingly apply for the same.

Language Exam

TOEFL – It is the most popular English proficiency exam accepted by a majority of the universities. The TOEFL tests the students’ usage and understanding of the English language as it is used in communicating in college and university settings. Students can appear for this exam any number of times. This test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), which conducts the test and set the test paper.
IELTS – International English Language Testing System is a standardized language test that needs to be cleared for admission in different universities in New Zealand.
PTE – Pearson Test of English is also a standardized language test that needs to be cleared to secure admission in different universities in New Zealand.

Students are advised to thoroughly check the entry requirements of the university/college they are applying to and then take up the exams accordingly. Many educational institutes accept some specific exams whereas some institutes allow students to give the exams of their choice. Therefore, before preparing for the exams, students should check the university requirements.

Application Requirements

Apart from the above-mentioned tests, there are other requirements for applying to educational institutes in New Zealand.
Letter of recommendation – (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third-party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student for recommendation to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. The third-party could be a professor, direct manager, etc.
Statement of Purpose – A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the introduction of the student to the college and admission officers. It is always written in the first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect the student’s personality as well.
Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.
There are some relevant documents required to apply for diploma and vocational courses. Students need to check the same and submit it along with the other required documents.
Apart from the above-mentioned requirements, students applying to undergraduate courses should have completed 10+2. Also, those who are applying to graduate courses must have completed 16 years of education. In addition to all these students also need to show proof of the finances to the universities to secure admission.

Cut-off for Exams

All the major universities and colleges also set cut-off for various exams which students need to obtain for securing admission. Before applying to their preferred universities, aspirants should check the cut off marks for GMAT, GRE, TOEFL and then start preparing for the exams accordingly.

International students in New Zealand have varied tuition fee according to the university, courses and the city they have chosen. Postgraduate courses cost more than the undergraduate courses. Living expenses like accommodation, food, travel etc are as per the choice of the student. Costs will vary depending on the lifestyle, place of residence and socializing of the students. Students studying in metropolitan cities will be spending more than their counterparts in the smaller cities.
Business Management, Hospitality, Engineering, Computer Science, Finance and Accounting, Economics, Communications/Media are popular courses that Indian students pursue in New Zealand.

Student visas are issued to applicants whose primary purpose of visit to a country is to pursue education. Although getting admission in the university is extremely important, these legal documents for obtaining visas are of utmost importance. Every country has its own immigration rules. The documents can range from education-related ones to different proof of funds acceptable and so on to enable the students to study in that country. These are specified on the official website. Students can check on the same and accordingly apply for their visa. There are some common factors in all student visa applications.
The students need to know the entire process of applying and obtaining the student visas to study abroad. Studying abroad requires meticulous planning. Students are advised to plan their admission/ application process as per the university deadlines and should accordingly work backward. Students are required to appear for English eligibility tests as per the university policies and also have required documents in place for the smooth processing of their application. Hence, students are always advised to apply 3-4 months in advance to avoid any last-minute delays. Candidates seeking financial aid, scholarships and education loans should start a couple of months earlier than the regular applicants for the process of application and approval of the same.

New Zealand