New Zealand offers a wide range of educational opportunities, from secondary schools to a variety of courses offered at tertiary institutions, for international students who are considering on studying there.

New Zealand is part of the Commonwealth and therefore have a British based education system. This means the qualifications gained are well regarded and are recognised in many countries around the world.  

Studying at secondary schools, there are over 400, in New Zealand requires you to complete the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA), which is a combination of internal assessments and external examinations. Entry into tertiary institutions is based on NCEA results.

There are many different types of courses to be considered when researching what would suit you as an international student.

New Zealand has an organisation called the National Qualifications Framework which is a system that links the 800 national qualifications across all the educational organisations. This framework helps students plan or decide what industry field they will like to pursue. The system gives (potential) students a clear understanding of what skills and knowledge they will need to be successful in the career they choose. It is also compatible with similar systems established in other countries around the world.

New Zealand prides itself on the consistent quality and internationally comparable standards it has for its’ educational institutions. These standards are implemented and monitored by four government appointed bodies. They are:

• New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) – approves and registers all courses and national qualifications offered at polytechnics and PTEs. They also take care of state secondary qualifications.
• New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (NZCC) – approves all diplomas, undergraduates and graduate programmes.
• Institute of Technology and Polytechnics of New Zealand (ITPNZ) –approves of local qualifications offered at the polytechnics.
• Association of Colleges of Education in New Zealand (ACENZ) –approves of qualifications offered at Colleges of Education.

Approved qualifications will be listed in the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications.

• Auckland University of Technology (Auckland)
• Lincoln University (Lincoln, Canterbury)
• Massey University (Palmerston North, Auckland, Wellington)
• University of Auckland (Auckland)
• University of Christchurch (Christchurch)
• University of Otago (Dunedin)
• University of Waikato (Hamilton)
• Victoria University of Wellington (Wellington)

The universities and the degrees they offer are recognised as part of the international university community by leading universities around the world. If you do not wish to pursue a degree at university there are other options. New Zealand also has 23 polytechnics, also known as institutes of technology; they generally focus on specialised vocational training.

There are also five Colleges of Education, offering teaching qualifications for early childhood, primary and secondary schools. Social work is also an available study option. There will be opportunities for work experience.

Wānaga are Māori centres of tertiary learning that offer advanced study and research programmes where Māori traditions and customs are a significant part of the course.

There are also a variety of private training establishments (PTEs), there are around 860 in New Zealand, that are alternative study options. Though they are mainly privately owned and funded, some courses are funded by the government. Qualifications range from scuba-diving to business and all that is in between.