Study in New Zealand
Take the first step towards enjoying your student life abroad and find a university in New Zealand to suit you.
New Zealand
Take the first step towards enjoying your student life abroad and find a university in New Zealand to suit you.
Depending on your particular career area, it can be challenging to find job opportunities in New Zealand and it may take some time to find suitable employment. However, there are certain career areas with shortage occupations and the government is actively seeking skilled workers from overseas for these areas. To find out what skills are needed, look at the long-term and immediate skill shortage lists on Immigration New Zealand .
Graduate Opportunities - Career Search lists companies that recruit graduates in New Zealand.
Take the first step towards enjoying your student life abroad and find a university in New Zealand to suit you.
Applications can be made in a number of ways:
It is sometimes possible to apply for jobs before arriving in New Zealand, depending on your work permit status and the type of work required. Even if you are seeking casual employment, it is advisable to do some preparation and research before leaving the UK.
CVs are similar in format and structure to those in the UK. However, the typical length of a graduate CV in New Zealand is two to four pages. This means that more detailed information and examples of skills are expected. The main areas New Zealand employers expect you to include in a CV are:
Covering letters are usually restricted to one page. Find out more about CVs and cover letters.
Comprehensive advice on writing a CV for the New Zealand job market is available on many New Zealand university careers service websites, including the University of Otago Career Development Centre and Victoria University of Wellington Career Development and Employment Office , which also has specific CV advice for MBA graduates.
The approach to interviews in New Zealand is similar to the UK; see interview tips. There is a focus on behavioural interviewing, which requires candidates to give examples of their skills and qualities. Assessment centres and psychometric testing are also used.
Depending on the area of work, many employers will recognise UK qualifications. New Zealand Qualifications Authority - International Qualifications provides a service to people who want their qualifications evaluated and compared to current New Zealand qualifications.
For some jobs, qualifications are essential, but many New Zealand employers don't place the same importance on formal qualifications as in some other countries. This means that you might not need formal qualifications to get a job. On the other hand, it also means that you are not certain of getting a job just because you seem to have the right qualification.
New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency status is usually required to apply for employer graduate training programmes. If you do not have permanent residency status, it may be worth checking with individual employers to see if you are eligible to apply. Graduate training programmes tend to be advertised on individual company websites or on websites aimed at New Zealand graduates.
If you are planning to live and work in New Zealand, check your UK tax and National Insurance position with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to ensure that you are not losing any UK pension rights.
Take the first step towards enjoying your student life abroad and find a university in New Zealand to suit you.
For more information see:
The Kidon Media-Link also provides information on other newspapers in New Zealand.
Whether you are seeking graduate, short-term or casual work, it is important to consider the value of networking, approaching employers directly/speculatively and making use of contacts you already have. Doing so helps you uncover the hidden job market. You may also find that your professional body or trade association has links and contacts in New Zealand.
Take the first step towards enjoying your student life abroad and find a university in New Zealand to suit you.
Opportunities to gain work experience in New Zealand are particularly strong in agriculture and in the hospitality, tourism and services sector. Useful websites include:
If you know the area of work you are interested in, you can also search for internships directly on a company's website.
BUNAC offers a Work New Zealand programme in conjunction with the International Exchange Programme Work New Zealand that includes a full support programme, job advice and social events plus an exclusive visa option where BUNAC will process your application for you.
Trained teachers from outside New Zealand who are interested in teaching in New Zealand can find more information on the TeachNZ website.
There are a large number of voluntary agencies throughout New Zealand. You can search for voluntary opportunities by type and location on Volunteering New Zealand .
Many UK nationals on working holiday visas undertake casual or seasonal work. For example, fruit-picking work is widely available between January and April.
Useful job sites include:
Recruitment agencies are a good source of temporary work. For more information see vacancy sources.
Many people use a working holiday visa to create a gap year in New Zealand. For those who would like more structure, gap year organisations may be able to help. Gap Year New Zealand and Year Out Group list organisations offering gap year opportunities in New Zealand and give other ideas for a year out in this country.
Take the first step towards enjoying your student life abroad and find a university in New Zealand to suit you.
Postgraduate study in New Zealand generally leads to one of three degrees:
The university academic year begins at the end of February/beginning of March and generally consists of two 12-week semesters with a two-week break during each semester and a six-week break between semesters, ending in November. However, term dates for all universities vary.
New Zealand's universities, institutes of technology and polytechnics offer a wide range of postgraduate courses. Each institution's website has a postgraduate study section with information on courses offered and links to any funding information. Contact individual institutions for more information.
The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) has a useful guide to graduate and postgraduate study and a course finder that enables you to search by country, university, level of study and subject area for the course you wish to pursue.
The eight universities in New Zealand are state owned and comprise:
There are also a number of institutes of technology and polytechnics offering postgraduate courses. New Zealand Educated lists these and has the facility to search for programmes based on institution and/or course. It also has a 'Postgraduate Study' section, and the 'Learn More Stress Less' section contains information about New Zealand as a study destination.
It's best to start your application and enrolment process as early as possible, so you have plenty of time to arrange visas and coordinate other details. Closing dates for applications vary. For courses starting in February/March, it is advisable to apply by September of the previous year, although earlier application may be necessary for more popular courses. Late applications may be accepted if places are still available.
Different courses and institutions have their own entry criteria, so it's best to check with the institution(s) you are applying to. Usually, you need a relevant undergraduate degree or postgraduate diploma from a recognised institution to apply for a Masters course. To apply for a PhD, you will generally need a relevant Masters degree, although an undergraduate degree with first class honours may sometimes be acceptable.
Application forms are available directly from each individual institution. There is often an application or administration fee, even if your application is not successful. Applications are likely to require details of your academic achievements, a personal statement outlining your reasons for applying and academic references from tutors or lecturers.
You may be able to complete an online application form, but you will still need to post or courier supporting documentation to the institution. These supporting documents are likely to include a copy of your passport and certified transcripts. Specific programmes may require additional information. Check with the particular programme for further details. Most universities have a dedicated international office that can help you with your application.
It is a legal requirement that all international students have medical insurance when in New Zealand. This can be arranged before you leave home or your institution can arrange insurance for you when you enrol.
Postgraduate courses can cost up to NZ$40,000 per year, depending on what you study and where. Refer to the XE Universal Currency Converter for current exchange rates.
As fees vary they should be checked on the university's website. New Zealand Educated has information on what your fees cover and how you can pay them. You'll need to pay fees in advance because proof of payment is required to get a student visa or permit.
You can pay your fees in several ways, including by credit card, by online bank transfer, with a banker's draft or through the institution's agent in your country.
Details of scholarships available to overseas students can be found at the New Zealand Educated website. Study in the Commonwealth also provides information on scholarships, awards and fellowships.
The Commonwealth Universities Study Abroad Consortium (CUSAC) functions as a network to facilitate the formation of partnerships to provide student exchange and study abroad opportunities.
You might also contact your own university's international study office to see if they know about exchanges with New Zealand universities.
Relevant UK undergraduate degrees are generally accepted as a prerequisite to postgraduate study in New Zealand. However, entry requirements vary, so it is best to check with the institution that interests you. New Zealand Qualifications Authority - International Qualifications provides a service to people who want their qualifications evaluated and compared to current New Zealand qualifications.
Take the first step towards enjoying your student life abroad and find a university in New Zealand to suit you.
If you would like to live and work in New Zealand permanently, you will need to obtain a visa or work permit. You can learn more about whether you qualify for one of these at Immigration New Zealand .
Immigration New Zealand also grants temporary work visas and permits to people who have a job offer from a New Zealand employer, people skilled in occupations that are in demand, people going to the country for a particular purpose or event, people who want to gain work experience or people who want to work after studying in New Zealand.
If you're aged between 18 and 30 years, you may be eligible to get a temporary work permit for a working holiday. You may also be granted one if you plan to work in the horticulture and viticulture industries.
If you're already in New Zealand as a visitor, you can take a single course of study that lasts less than three months without requiring 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 there.
For those outside New Zealand and planing to study full time for more than three months, you will need a student visa and a student permit, unless your home country has a special agreement with New Zealand. If you're a full-time student, you can work up to 20 hours a week during the academic year as well as during the Christmas holidays. On completing your course, there is a Study to Work visa category if you wish to remain and work in the country.
The application process varies for each type of visa or work permit. Details on how to apply for each one, as well as other useful information and frequently asked questions, can be found on the Immigration New Zealand website. Working in New Zealand - Visa also has useful information on visas.
You will need to pay the correct fee when you lodge your application. The amount you have to pay varies depending on the type of application, your country of citizenship and where you currently live.
The best way to ensure that the application process goes well is to include all the information and documentation required with your application form.
If you are not a UK national, you can contact the New Zealand embassy in the country where you are currently residing about how to obtain visas and work permits. If you are living in the UK, go to New Zealand High Commission, London .
You might also find it helpful to contact your ministry of foreign affairs (or your own embassy if you are not living in your home country) to ask whether there are any issues to be taken into account when considering working in New Zealand.
In order to apply for residency, you need to prove that you are healthy, of good character and have a high standard of English. Application categories include:
There are processing fees for applications in all entry categories. However, under a number of bilateral agreements, there are some countries that have fee exemptions, including the US, Japan, Italy, Austria and Finland.
For further information on applying for residency, visit Immigration New Zealand .
Take the first step towards enjoying your student life abroad and find a university in New Zealand to suit you.
New Zealand has a number of public services that can assist in the search for employment. These include:
There are eight universities in New Zealand, and each university's careers service provides advice, support, and access to vacancies. Specific services, the amount of help provided to international students/graduates and fees will vary, so it is advisable to contact individual institutions for further details.
The Career Development Association of New Zealand also has a membership directory of careers practitioners, some of whom may offer private consultancy services.
The contact telephone number for emergency services (police, ambulance and fire) is 111.
The British High Commission New Zealand is based in Wellington and can be contacted in case of emergencies. The main switchboard can be contacted on (+64) (4) 924 2888. This number is not for passport or visa enquiries.
Take the first step towards enjoying your student life abroad and find a university in New Zealand to suit you.
Find the latest travel advice and a traveller's checklist on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.
