New Zealand is an island nation made up of two main islands - the North
and the South and numerous smaller islands. Separated by over 900
miles from its bigger neighbour Australia; it was a long time before
Europeans actually settled in New Zealand. The original inhabitants of
New Zealand are Polynesians who developed the Maori traditions that
exist even today. New Zealand is not just an amazingly beautiful country
with spectacular scenery; but a top-notch higher education destination
as well.
In the latest QS World Rankings two institutions from New Zealand
have made it to the top 200 institutions in the world. These are - The
University of Auckland ranked 94 and University of Otago ranked 155.
Quality of Education:
New Zealand offers a top-class education through numerous institutions,
which offer internationally recognised qualifications that match with
the ones offered in the USA and the UK. With a strong focus on research a
number of universities are also involved in research in areas as varied
as health and medicine, automobile technology, renewable energy
resources and much more.
Top Institutions in New Zealand:
The top-ranking institutions in New Zealand are:
• University of Auckland
• University of Otago
• University of Canterbury
• Victoria University of Wellington
• Massey University
• University of Waikato
• Auckland University of Technology
Applying to a New Zealand Institution:
All the higher education institutions in New Zealand
have well-designed websites, which have detailed information on
applying for a place at the institution. Students are usually directed
to fill an online form and send in copies of their official mark
transcripts, ‘letters of recommendation’ and ‘statement of purpose’ to
the institution along with the prescribed application processing fee.
Once the application is scrutinised and accepted the institution
contacts the student and guides them with the visa application process.
Students can submit an application for a student visa with the offer
letter that they receive from the institution. Please visit the New
Zealand Immigration website for more details about all necessary
eligibility requirements when applying for a student visa.
Cost of Living:
The cost of living varies from city to city though the difference is
not vast. Primarily if students choose to live on-campus they might be
able to save on accommodation and travelling costs. New Zealand has a
good public transport system and students can use a ‘monthly pass’ to
save on transportation costs.
A meal in a regular restaurant would cost roughly 15 to 20 NZ$; a 1.5
litre bottle of mineral water costs 3 NZ$ and a regular cappuccino will
cost about 4NZ$. Students who wish to opt for accommodation outside the
campus may have to shell out between 1000 NZ$ to 1500 NZ$ as rent for a
single bedroom apartment based on the location of their apartment.
Average Tuition Fee:
The average annual tuition fee year ranges from NZ$23000 to NZ$28000.
Work-opportunities:
Students of full-time courses lasting for twelve months or more can
work up to 20 hours in any given week during the academic year and also
work full-time during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Students who complete their course and aim to search for a job in New
Zealand can apply for an extended one-year job-search visa.
Embassy Details:
India:
New Zealand High Commission
Sir Edmund Hillary Marg
Chanakyapuri
New Delhi 110 021
INDIA
Telephone: 0091-11-4688 3170
Fax: 0091-11-4688 3165
Email: nzhcindia@gmail.com
The Way Ahead:
Students really keen on a foreign education and not comfortable with
‘getting lost in the crowd’ in the USA and the UK might want to consider
New Zealand as a good alternative. The medium of instruction is English
and the people have respect for each other stemming from the strong
Maori roots of the locals. The country is breathtakingly beautiful,
offering students an amazing student-life, with a study-play-work
balance. Students also benefit from a strong research-centric higher
education system, allowing them to finish their course and secure an
extra year of stay on their visas to find a job in New Zealand.
