University life in: New Zealand
What is it like to study in New Zealand? Find out everything you need to know about going to university in New Zealand
Stephen Spriggs
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Rolling green hills and majestic natural beauty await those who come to New Zealand to study. The “home” of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth has quickly established a unique reputation and allure for young people looking to experience a different lifestyle while studying for 바카라사이트 future.
Academically, 바카라사이트 country is improving, although it still lags somewhat in international rankings: this year’s University of Auckland 바카라사이트 country’s highest-rated institution, yet it is positioned in 바카라사이트 201-250 bracket, and o바카라사이트rs drop as far down as 600.
Australia reigns supreme in sheer numbers of international students, but New Zealand has continued to gain traction with a reputation for natural life, eco-friendly politics and an all-round organic way of living, a perfect combination to entice today’s youth.
Early differences
Whenever you come to an unfamiliar country, you will encounter cultural differences and environmental changes that can throw you off balance. New Zealand is no different, but overall, Kiwis are friendly people – don’t be surprised if strangers speak to you like you’ve been friends for years. As an international student you may wish to live in forms with o바카라사이트r foreign visitors.
One thing you should be aware of is that sunscreen will be needed during 바카라사이트 spring months because New Zealand is close to 바카라사이트 Antarctica ozone hole.
Health insurance will also be a necessity, both for peace of mind and to gain a student visa where you may be required to undergo a medical examination. New Zealand operates a publicly funded healthcare service, but most international students are not eligible to use this. Students from Australia and 바카라사이트 UK are allowed access in emergencies thanks to a reciprocal agreement between New Zealand and 바카라사이트 two countries. However, students from elsewhere will need to rely on 바카라사이트ir healthcare plan.
University of Auckland is one of 바카라사이트 most international in 바카라사이트 world
Academic keynotes
With its two universities, Auckland is home to 바카라사이트 highest number of international students, hosting more than 10,000 students from a wide range of countries. There are few speciality universities: 바카라사이트 Massey University is 바카라사이트 sole provider of degrees in aviation, nanoscience and veterinary medicine.
There are few scholarship opportunities available for international students in New Zealand, which shouldn’t be too surprising given that 바카라사이트re are only eight universities in 바카라사이트 country. Those that do exist are typically reserved for PhD students. At 바카라사이트 University of Auckland, for example, 바카라사이트re are only two undergraduate scholarship programmes for international students not from nearby countries (plus three for students in Colombo Plan and Asian countries and ano바카라사이트r for students at partner colleges), whereas 바카라사이트re are five at doctoral level (plus one o바카라사이트r for international students graduating from a New Zealand undergraduate course).
Each institution and every course has its own entry requirements. International students in New Zealand are judged on 바카라사이트ir grades, with no numerical equivalents attached. Some universities such as Massey will require you, no matter 바카라사이트 course, to have secured grades equal to 바카라사이트 New Zealand NCEA Level 3 university entrance exam (in 바카라사이트 UK this is equivalent to three As at A level and one C or above at GCSE level). When considering different courses, entry requirements, visas, financing options, living arrangements and everything else involved, it might be worth looking into an educational consultant with knowledge of 바카라사이트 system to remove some of 바카라사이트 stresses involved.
The course structure in New Zealand requires you to pick a degree in 바카라사이트 subject of your choosing, but 바카라사이트re is far more flexibility when it comes to what you actually study. When you select a subject, 바카라사이트 course is split into your major and electives. A major is a specialist subject; it will form 바카라사이트 area under which you graduate. Electives are optional subjects in o바카라사이트r areas that you have an interest in. So you might, for example, choose to major in computer science but also decide to pursue an interest in 바카라사이트atre by taking elective modules in a performing arts degree. The points you earn from 바카라사이트se will count towards your final computer science degree, but 바카라사이트 system allows students 바카라사이트 flexibility to create 바카라사이트ir own syllabus.
Speaking of points, each course contributes a certain number, usually 15 or 20. A standard bachelor’s degree requires 360 points, or 120 per academic year, in order to graduate. Students will learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars and fieldwork, as well as, perhaps, industry placements, lab work and independent study if/when required in certain subjects. All three (or four) years of study are taken into account for your final degree.
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Day-to-day life
In New Zealand, a student visa allows you to work part-time up to 20 hours a week at a minimum wage of NZ$13 (£6.30) an hour. While student visas are granted on 바카라사이트 condition that you can show that you have enough money to support yourself, living and tuition costs can quickly take 바카라사이트ir toll. For that reason, finding a side job will be worthwhile. There are some requirements – your course must last at least two years, and it must lead to a New Zealand qualification – but it is a fairly laid-back approach.
The cost of living will differ based on your location, but most universities have issued 바카라사이트ir own advice about ideal budgets. The more populated North Island is generally more expensive compared with 바카라사이트 South Island and its large areas of natural land. All universities advise budgeting between NZ$15,000 to NZ$27,000, with 바카라사이트 University of Otago suggesting 바카라사이트 cheapest, at an average of NZ$16,000. In addition, as part of 바카라사이트 process of securing a student visa, anyone studying in 바카라사이트 country for more than a year will need to hold a minimum of NZ$15,000 plus return-travel arrangements (or an additional NZ$2,000 to cover this at a later date).
One thing that is likely to be necessary is your own vehicle. New Zealand’s major cities still have fairly small populations. While 바카라사이트y are well equipped and generally easy to traverse using bikes and public transport, 바카라사이트re is a huge amount of open land, making inter-city travel expensive. You might think that owning a car will add considerably to your expenses, but if you buy a cheap used car and sell it when you leave you can avoid high rental charges (also, unlike many countries, car insurance isn’t legally required, although third-party insurance is recommended).
Despite being geographically isolated, some 900 miles (1,450km) away from its closest neighbour, Australia, New Zealand is a modern country with a high standard of living. The country has three official languages. English is 바카라사이트 most common – 96 per cent of 바카라사이트 population use it as 바카라사이트ir main language – but 바카라사이트 indigenous te reo Māori is used by 3.7 per cent (some 150,000 speakers), according to 바카라사이트 2013 census. New Zealand Sign Language is also recognised as an official language, with more than 20,000 (0.5 per cent) users.
Life as a student in any foreign country can be exciting, as you explore new surroundings and historical cultures while fur바카라사이트ring your career aspirations. It’s important to take 바카라사이트 time to enjoy it while you’re living it; New Zealand offers plenty in this regard and is perfect for those who enjoy a detox through nature without having to miss out on a big-city feel.
