New Zealand aims to improve job prospects and prepare students for the workplace. There are as many as 86,000 foreign students in New Zealand at any one time which itself ascertains the very fact that it's a very sought after place for international students. New Zealand has eight state-funded universities, 16 Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) which have been unified into the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST), and about 550 Private Training Establishments also called PTE’s.

Let us look deeper into different courses and top universities to analyse the benefits of studying in New Zealand:

Types of Educational Institutes in New Zealand

Universities

Universities work with communities, businesses, industry, and the research community to share and apply knowledge, and promote learning. They host the country’s Centres of Research Excellence. They also provide sub-degree and community programmes. 8 Universities are discussed in the latter part of the article. Check Top universities and Colleges in New Zealand

Institutes of Technology and Polytechnic

Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics provide vocational and technical education. They focus on pragmatic abilities through research. The country is strengthening its vocational education and training system to make it more supportive, flexible and relevant to workplaces.

All the 16 government Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) in New Zealand are unified into a single national institution called the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST).

Some of them are Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Tai Poutini Polytechnic, The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, Southern Institute of Technology, Otago Polytechnic, etc. They offer courses at all levels of study, from foundation certificates to master’s degrees. One gets hands on skills as well as qualifications , recognised and respected around the globe.

Private Training Establishments

Private training establishments (PTEs) offer tailored learning, high quality, affordable education, flexible job pathways and the right skills.They are managed by several companies, trusts and other organisations. With diversity in terms of their scale of ethnicity, culture, experience, faculty and areas of educational expertise, they cater to a broad range of students’ needs.

Top Courses to Study in New Zealand

  • Business and management courses: Auckland University of Technology, Lincoln University, Manukau Institute of Technology, Alpha Educational Institute.
  • Engineering: The University of Auckland, Massey University, Whitecliffe, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, etc
  • Hospitality: The University of Canterbury. Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, The University of Otago, etc
  • IT and Computer Science: Media Design School, Auckland University of Technology, Lincoln University, Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, etc
  • Travel and hospitality : The University of Canterbury, The University of Waikato, New Zealand School of Tourism, Victoria University of Wellington, etc
  • Art and design: Media Design School, The University of Auckland, Massey University, Whitecliffe, etc

Details of some particular programs with fees and duration is tabulated below:

Popular program Institute Fees in NZD Duration
Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences - Networks and Security Major Auckland University of Technology 30,263.00 per year 3 years
Master of Science (Plant Breeding) Massey University 37,210.00 per year 2 years
Master of Science ( Food Science) University of Otago 35,797.65 per year 1-2 years
Postgraduate Diploma in Gastronomy Auckland University of Technology 34,071.00 per year 1 year full-time/part-time available
Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering University of Auckland 44,526.00 per year 1-3 years

Scholarships by Top Universities in New Zealand

The New Zealand government has always been very welcoming to international students. This is reflected in the fact that it provides for several scholarships to the students from abroad willing to study here. Some of them are mentioned here:

University of Otago International Master's Research Scholarship

Under this, 8 scholarships are provided with a stipend of NZ$15,000 per annum plus a tuition fee waiver for 1 year capped at the domestic rate for Master's study. Selection will be based predominantly on academic merit and the applicant’s potential for research. Click here to know complete details!

University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship

50 scholarships will be given to new international UG and PG students, up to $10,000 towards compulsory tuition fees. It is applicable for 1 year. Scholarship applications will usually open around six weeks before the closing date. Know more!

New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA)

28 PG and 3 UG Scholarships will be provided. Eligibility for Indian students is that they must be at least 18 years old, hold current citizenship of India and hold a minimum equivalent GPA of B+ in your most recent or highest tertiary qualification. Candidates must have an unconditional or conditional offer for one of the NZEA eligible courses.

Lincoln University International Taught Master Merit Scholarships

The scholarship is applicable for enrollment in any 180-credit master’s programme. One must have at least a GPA of a B+ average in the last year of your bachelor’s degree to meet the requirements.

NZ $10,000 for programs like Master of Business – Finance, Master of Sports and Recreation Management, Master of Tourism Management, etc. and NZ $7000 for Master of Precision Agriculture, Master of Environment Management & Policy, Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience, etc. All international students can apply

Tongarewa Scholarship at Victoria University of Wellington

19 scholarships ranging from NZ$5,000 to NZ$10,000 will be given. A partial fee-based scholarship will be paid towards tuition fees for 1 year of study. Recipients of the Scholarship are guaranteed an offer of a place in the Halls of Residence, provided an accommodation application is received by the Accommodation Service by the required deadline.

Applicants must be commencing international students who are paying full international fees. They can take admission in the first year of an undergraduate degree or entering a postgraduate degree. They should have received an offer of place from Victoria University of Wellington (conditional or unconditional).

Job Prospects and Scope of Top Universities in New Zealand (h2)

Average salary of an employed person in New Zealand is around 97,300 NZD per year. Salaries range from 24,600 NZD (lowest average) to 434,000 NZD (highest average). The average salary increment in New Zealand is also higher than the world average i.e. 8% every 16 months whereas it’s just 3% in 16 months in the world.

  • The government’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) the average annual GDP growth predicted for 2018-23 is 2.7% wherein household spending, residential investment, and a resumption of tourism would play a pivotal role.
  • Based on education, it is observed that employees who earned a Bachelor's Degree earn 24% more as compared to those who have a certificate or diploma. Similarly, professionals with a Master's degree in New Zealand earn 29% more than those with a Bachelor's Degree.

We can do an approximate analysis of salaries on the following parameters to know more about job prospects and scope in New Zealand:

City-wise Salary Analysis in New Zealand

City Average Salary (in NZD )
Auckland 108,000
Christchurch 103,000
Hamilton 93,500
Rotorua 89,200
Wellington 99,300

University-wise Salary Analysis in New Zealand

Universities Sector Average Salary (in NZD )
Auckland University of Technology Financial Services 96,000
Massey University Executive Management & Change 130,000
University of Auckland Legal Department 210,000
University of Canterbury Legal & Paralegal 139,000
University of Otago Executive Management & Change 197,000
University of Waikato Financial Services 122,000
Victoria University of Wellington Executive Management & Change 195,000

A brief of all the aspects revolving around the top courses in New Zealand has been given in the article. New Zealand is indeed a great place to study for any international student. The wide variety of educational institutions with proper funding and great job prospects makes it all the more reason for students to pursue education from this country.