New Zealand may only be known as âAustraliaâs younger siblingâ, with their almost identical flags and adorable accents. But it still is a place you should seriously consider for your international degree.
New Zealand is not only famous for its Lord of the Rings-landscapes, but also great people like Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man who reached the peak of Mount Everest; Sir Ernest Rutherford, the first scientist who split the atom; and, last but not least, pop-singer Lorde.
Yes unreservedly, there are other people between great scientists and pop singers. But before we get there, we should cover all you need to know about New Zealandâs universities and student lifestyle.
Why Study in New Zealand?
Who wouldnât wish to study in the origin place of elves, dwarves, and hobbits? Besides this awesome location, you can always count on their educational system: despite having only 8 universities, one of them is ranked in top 100 by QS World University Rankings. New Zealand offers students a great nightlife, combined with great landscapes and polite people – all without the danger of being bitten by spiders bigger than your fist.
What to study in New Zealand
New Zealand offers some of the most diverse degrees in the world. Still, if the market is too vast, you should know that some of the most popular study options in New Zealand are:
Computer Science & IT ,Educational Research, Psychology ,Commerce, Agriculture & Forestryâ Bio & Biomedical Engineering
Major cities in New Zealand
New Zealand has some of the top-rated âliveableâ cities in the world, so thereâs no wonder that, besides the capital (Wellington), there are other popular destinations, like: Auckland Wellington Christchurch
Which universities to attend in New Zealand
For such a tiny place, New Zealand sure has a lot of universities and institutions to choose from. It’s hard to decide; but many of them are schools specific to different types of career and job training.
Here is a small list of universities to think of:
- University of Auckland
- Auckland University of Technology
- Massey University
How to apply to universities in New Zealand
You should know that a New Zealand school year starts in February and ends in November, with a month-long break in June / July.
When you apply online (or on paper, if you hate trees), you should know that the documents you will need to provide are:
- A personal statement of intent;
- Your transcripts from secondary school, including any university courses that you may have taken;
- Any relevant test scores (ACT or SAT);
- Proof of funding, or intent to apply for funding for your tuition;
- Proof of paying the application fee;
- Your financial aid applications.
You can always have your questions answered at the admission office at the university, so write down your questions and go wild with their e-mail address.
Helpful ways to make sure you qualify for a New Zealand university
Take Preparation Courses: These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Masterâs degree or other post-graduate degree programmes. Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine program, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree program of your choice;
Improve your English through an English-language prep course: If youâre attending a degree programme in New Zealand, you will need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures, seeing how some schools will require strong English skills. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.
English-language tests
The minimum grades and scores international students are required to have vary wildly from university to university, and sometimes from program to program.
Still, the English proficiency tests usually accepted are:
- Internet-based TOEFL (iBT);
- Paper-based TOEFL;
- Cambridge English: C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency;
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic;
- Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB).