Study Overseas | Expert Tips

Study in New Zealand

New Zealand is fast emerging as one of the destinations of choice for Indian students seeking to study abroad. The New Zealand school system is modeled after the British education system, which is very similar to ours. As a result students from India find it easier to transition to the New Zealand education system from the Indian education system. New Zealand is also home to many world class universities like the University of Otago, ranked 169th in the world, the University of Canterbury, ranked 228th and the University of Auckland, currently ranked 81st I in the world. Auckland has also made it to the top 50 student cities in the world, ranking at 28. New Zealand follows a follows a four level education system as opposed to the three level system followed by Ireland and other countries, which were a part of the erstwhile United Kingdom.

The education system is divided into

• Primary
• Intermediate
• Secondary
• Tertiary levels

Schooling typically begins around the age of five, when a child is enrolled in kindergarten. Many parents however, opt to sign up their children for early education classes, which accept students from birth up to the age of five. The students typically stay on in primary school until till the age of 10. They then move on to intermediate school where they study between the ages of eleven and twelve.

The intermediate years are similar to the middle school years in USA. Intermediate school is seen as a bridge between the primary years and the secondary years.

[Read More: List of Top Scholarships to Study in New Zealand]

The secondary school years start immediately after completion of the intermediate year and typically culminates in the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) which is the main qualification nationally for students in New Zealand, similar to our CBSE and ICSE certificates. Some schools however also provide Cambridge and International Baccalaureate Programs for its students. Students generally complete their secondary education by the age of seventeen. After successfully completing secondary education, students move on to Tertiary level.

At the Tertiary level students in New Zealand generally opt for courses in any of the numerous universities around the country. New Zealand is home to eight state funded universities, all of which were ranked in the top 100 in at least one subject in the QS world university rankings for 2016-2017. Apart from state funded universities. New Zealand also has 550 private training establishments and 16 institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITP). Students from India, wishing to pursue higher studies in New Zealand have to first gain admission into a college or university of their choice. Academic year in New Zealand starts in February, and most colleges recommend applying a minimum of four months before start of the academic year. Colleges start accepting applications from August of the preceding year. Many universities accept online applications. However the student still has to produce the necessary paperwork for his application to be completed. The paper work required for an international student is

1. Transcripts of previous school attended
2. An essay or statement of intent stating why the student wishes to study at the particular university. Requirement for this varies from university to university
3. Proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition and other expenses
4. Payment of application fees
5. Proof of application for financial aid if applicable

[Read More: New Zealand Leads The Way In Preparing International Students]

After obtaining admission, the student needs to apply for a visa. There are various types of visa available to students, based on intended duration of stay and other factors. The visa typically applied for by students entering a university is the Fee paying student visa. The student visa allows the student to study in New Zealand in a full time course for a period of 4 years. The visa also entitles the student to work part time up to 20 hours a week while studying and full time during vacation. After completing the course, the student can apply for a work visa without having to leave the country. The myriad study and work options available, along with the open outdoors life, adventure sports facilities and the multiracial and multicultural environment make New Zealand the ideal choice for students exploring the option of an overseas education. For more information on how you can fulfill your dream of an overseas education in New Zealand  you can contact "Global Tree one of the top education consultancies in India"