New Zealand holds the distinction of being home to eight state-funded universities, all of which rank among the top three percent universities in the world.
Besides, the universities are also highly ranked by subject. They are ranked within the top 50 universities in the world in 22 different subjects, and in the top 100 in 39 subjects. Coupled with this, a plethora of scholarship options to choose from and a relaxed attitude towards students working makes this country one of the ideal locations for higher studies.
Here are a few other reasons, which make New Zealand an ideal destination for students:
Courses
As mentioned earlier, New Zealand has eight awesome universities, which command global recognition. These are:
- The University of Auckland
- AUT (Auckland University of Technology)
- University of Waikato
- Massey University
- Victoria University of Wellington
- University of Canterbury
- Lincoln University
- University of Otago
The most popular courses in the country are:
- Animation
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Business Studies
- Engineering Forestry
- Hospitality
- IT and Computer Science
- Agriculture
- Art and design
- Nursing
- Trades
- Business management
- Health care
- Sports management
To make it easier for you, here’s a list of which college is known for which courses:
University of Auckland: It is the only New Zealand university that offers both medicine and engineering.
AUT: Specialises in design, computing and technology; health and environmental sciences; culture and society; business, economics and law; Māori and indigenous development.
University of Waikato: Management studies, sciences (computer science, environmental sciences, engineering) and arts and social sciences
Massey University: Engineering technology, agriculture, finance, medicine, food technology, information sciences, marketing and accountancy.
Victoria University of Wellington: Earth and marine sciences, English language and literature, geography, geology, hospitality and leisure management, law, library and information management.
University of Canterbury: Accounting, civil engineering, finance, geography, geology, law, linguistics, taxation and accounting, water and environmental systems engineering.
Lincoln University: Agricultural-based sectors
University of Otago: The only New Zealand university to offer dentistry and surveying and one of only two medical schools in New Zealand.
Language in New Zealand
There is not just one official New Zealand language but three. English is the de fact official language of New Zealand, followed by Maori and sign language. The advantage of New Zealand’s official language being English is that first, knowledge of a different language is not a prerequisite if you want to study there and second it can help people improve their English language skill.
Cost
According to the government website studywithnewzealand.govt.nz, living costs will depend on the lifestyle and which part of the country you live in. It may be cheaper to live in a small town than a big city for example, because of lower housing and transport costs.
As an example of how much to budget for, Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Auckland estimate living costs to be around $20,000-$27,000 each year, and the University of Otago (based in Dunedin) estimates $18,000-$21,000.
Meanwhile, tuition fee in New Zealand is far lower than what you would pay in the US, UK, Australia or even Singapore. Added to this the country not only offers a range of scholarships but you can also take up part-time jobs to save money. The government allows students to work part-time for up to 20 hours a week and full-time during all scheduled holidays and the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
Culture
The country is known for its welcoming and tolerant nature. According to the Global Peace Index 2021, New Zealand is the second safest country in the world after Iceland. According to newzealandnow.govt.nz, New Zealanders describe themselves as ‘friendly but reserved’ and ‘open but respectful’.
The pros of studying in New Zealand far outweigh the cons, which are not too many anyway. But even then if you are confused and have questions and need help with the process of zeroing in on a university and doing the paperwork you can turn to Career2life, which has expertise in the field of career counselling and guiding students looking to pursue higher studies abroad.