FAQ

Can I study in New Zealand?
We welcome people who wish to study in New Zealand, and are proud to offer high quality, internationally recognised courses. To keep up our good standards and reputation, there are some definite rules and requirements that students from other countries have to meet.

Student Visa
You may need to get a Student Visa and/or Permit to study in New Zealand as an international student Some people do need a student visa, some people don’t. But, most international students will need a permit that sets out the conditions of their stay here. Before you check whether you’re eligible for a visa, find out whether you need one because… If the course you want to take runs for less than three months, you could apply for a visitor’s visa. You must ensure your course is NZQA approved. Find out about visiting New Zealand.

What is required – Students
To be eligible to come to New Zealand as a student your course must meet the New Zealand requirements for international students. And there are requirements you must meet as a student.

What are the requirements my course has to meet?
The most important requirement is that you have an offer of a place from a New Zealand education provider such as a school, polytechnic or university. Study programmes offered to international students must meet specific course requirements

What requirements do I have to meet?
There are a number of general requirements you need to meet before you get here and others you must meet during your stay.
How do I apply to study in New Zealand?
The first step is to select an institution and course and then make an enrolment application for that course. The easiest and quickest way is to us and AA Education Network will locate a suitable institution and course to meet your requirements.

Is there an age limit to study in New Zealand?
There is no limit on the age of a person wishing to study in New Zealand however the New Zealand Immigration Service needs to be satisfied that the applicant is a genuine student when they process the student visa application.

Do I need to have a good level of English to enter secondary school?
It is not necessary to have a good level of English to enter secondary school however some schools do require this. In this situation a student can attend an English School for a few months prior to entering the secondary school or alternatively AA Education Network will place the student in a school which has additional English learning resources so that students can improve their English within the school before attending mainstream classes.

Are New Zealand degrees recognised internationally?
New Zealand degrees are recognised internationally and will be accepted when applying for post-graduate study in most countries.

What happens when I finish my degree?
Students who have completed their degree in the normal time and have a job offer related to their studies can obtain a work visa for another 2 years to work in the job they have been offered as may qualify for residence.

Can I extend my student visa in New Zealand?
There is no problem in extending your student visa in New Zealand and this should be done in 1 or 2 days. You need to obtain a new school offer of place and pay the tuition fee, complete the student visa application and show that you have sufficient money or a financial sponsor to cover your living expenses in New Zealand.

Can my student visa be cancelled?
Yes. Your student visa can be cancelled and you requested to leave to New Zealand if you do not meet the requirements of your student visa. The main requirements are that you must attend the classes and do not commit any crime or unlawful acts in New Zealand. If you have your student visa cancelled this is very serious as it will be noted in your passport and you will have difficulty travelling out of your home country in the future.

What happens if my student visa expires?
This is very serious. You should make every effort to extend your student visa before the expiry date. If your student visa expires you have to make a special submission to the New Zealand Immigration Service which they may or may not approve. There is total responsibility on you to extend your student visa and keep the visa current at all times.

Can I change my student visa in New Zealand?
If you have completed your course of study and you wish to remain in New Zealand as a visitor or apply for residence this is possible providing you have not got a Limited Purpose Visa.

What is a Limited Purpose Visa?
A Limited Purpose Visa is issued when the New Zealand Immigration Service considers the applicant does not meet the normal criteria to study in New Zealand but is prepared to allow the applicant the opportunity to show they are a genuine student or a genuine visitor as the case may be. Limited Purpose Student Visas are issued for a specific period of time to allow the applicant to study a particular course. The applicant must meet the requirements of the visa and return to their home country before the expiry of the visa. If their course has not been completed they are able to obtain a short-term extension to complete their course. In some special circumstance it may be possible to extend or change a Limited Purpose Visa to a normal visa.

Can I apply for New Zealand Residence?
If you meet the requirements of the current immigration policy in New Zealand it is possible for you to apply for residence at any time. In particular the immigration policy encourages students who have completed their degree in New Zealand to proceed to apply for permanent residence.

What happens if I lose my passport?
In this situation you should report the loss to the local Police Station and then forward a copy of the Police Report your Consulate or Embassy to complete the requirements to have a new passport issued.

Can my parents visit me in New Zealand?
It should be no problem for parents to apply for a visitor visa and to visit their children in New Zealand providing they meet normal visitor visa policy requirements.

How long can I study in New Zealand?
Providing you pass your course and continue to meet the requirements of your student visa you can continue to extend your visa for as long as you wish. There is no limit on the time you can spend in New Zealand as a student.

Tertiary and vocational qualifications
New Zealand higher education has 10 levels of study with level 1 being a certificate and level 10 a doctoral degree. Each level is progressive in terms of complexity and difficulty. Below are the levels and their corresponding qualifications:
Certificates - Levels 1-4
Diplomas - Levels 5 & 6
Bachelors degrees/graduate diplomas - Level 7
Postgraduate certificates/diplomas. Honours Bachelors degree - Level 8
Masters degree - Level 9
Doctoral degree - Level 10
All major education providers for the above named qualifications are registered with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).