Study in New Zealand: Education in New Zealand

Higher Education in New Zealand closely resembles that of the UK, as New Zealand was once a British territory. This means that qualifications gained in New Zealand can often be easily transferred to institutions in both the UK and Australia. All education institutions that award qualifications must be accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

New Zealand’s higher education institutions are split into four categories:

• universities 
• polytechnics and institutes of technology 
• colleges of education 
• private training providers

Universities in New Zealand are largely research-based and state-owned. They offer courses from certificate to doctorate-level with most courses lasting a full year. Some courses will run only one semester, and these can sometimes be started in the mid-academic year.

Polytechnics and institutes of technology are also state-owned and offer courses equivalent to those offered at universities. These institutions are more vocationally-oriented and offer a more practical approach to learning than many university courses. Polytechnics and institutes of technology offer education from certificate to degree-level. Many also offer postgraduate courses of very high standing on the international scale.

Colleges of education are teacher training institutions most commonly affiliated or merged with the nearest university to them.

Private training providers often offer training in a specific discipline, such as tourism management, hospitality management, cooking, or business. These institutions are also vocationally-oriented and aim to get you into qualified employment directly after graduation. Private training providers are also very welcoming of international students and often offer many distance learning options.

The academic year in New Zealand corresponds to the calendar year starting in late February or early March and ending in October. Some universities may offer summer school courses and the possibility to start your university studies in July, but it is by no means a given. Some polytechnics may also offer courses lasting just one semester, in which case, you may be able to start halfway through the academic year. In general, the system is based on two semesters, although exact start days and holidays may vary between institutions. Count on your first week at the start of the semester to be action-packed with orientation activities, live music, and events.

The structure of New Zealand degrees corresponds very closely to the British system, running from certificates to PhDs, although the complete span is only offered at university institutions. Polytechnics and institutes of technology generally start at certificate level and run up to postgraduate courses. Private training generally offers certificate and diploma qualifications.

A bachelor's degree generally takes three to four years to complete. After this, you are free to enter a postgraduate course, where you can earn a graduate diploma, Master’s degree, or a doctorate. Master's degrees take one to two years to complete and require a higher level of study, including some research not generally incorporated into undergraduate courses. The next stop on from a Master’s degree is, as in much of the world, a PhD.

Postgraduate study is based on your previous degree and requires you to stay largely within the same field of study.