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NZQA assures the standard of education provided by New Zealand’s tertiary institutions, through the approval of programmes and qualifications and a process of regular external review and evaluation. Private training establishments (PTEs) who enrol international students must be registered with NZQA.
Universities must meet the very high quality standards created by NZQA. These standards are set by the government’s Tertiary Education Commission and managed by Universities New Zealand.
The evaluation process includes regular reviews of institutions (their programmes, qualifications and management) and are carried out by independent panels, including international auditors.
Quality assurance in the university sector ensures that academic processes are of an internationally accepted standard. New Zealand qualifications are recognised throughout the English speaking world and in many other countries as NZQA has reciprocal inter-governmental agreements. There is no problem getting recognition in Australia, Canada, UK, US and many other countries.
What secondary schools teach their students is carefully laid out in the New Zealand Curriculum. The Ministry of Education monitors schools closely, making sure they are delivering everything they should be.
All school teacher’s are registered with the New Zealand Teachers Council and must meet the Registered Teacher Criteria, a rigorous set of teaching standards.
The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) is New Zealand’s main national qualification at secondary school level and it is widely accepted around the world.
Top reasons why your child should study in New Zealand
If you dream of world-class education, high living standards, and immense opportunities for your child, trust New Zealand to offer that and much more. The country is in the top 25 OECD (The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) nations for high-quality education. All its eight universities are among the top 3% in the world. The student-centred, accredited education system reflects the country’s unique and diverse culture, encouraging varied abilities, critical thinking, and consistent progress.
Some reasons that make New Zealand perfect for higher education:
- Internationally recognised universities: New Zealand’s education is internationally accredited and valued. All eight universities are ranked high in the QS World Rankings. Further, to ensure top-class education and advance learning, the country has a dedicated body called the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
- Progressive yet economical education: New Zealand offers academic excellence and value for money. It boasts of updated technology, advanced laboratories, highly experienced teachers, and rewarding career opportunities. At the same time, the cost of education is similar to that of other OECD countries. New Zealand also offers a high quality of life. For a non-medicinal bachelor’s degree, the average cost ranges from $22,000 to $32,000. A postgraduate degree costs about $26,000 to $37,000, while a PhD is about $6,500 to $9,000 per year.
- Minimal admission requirements: Admission requirements, including eligibility marks, for most courses at bachelor or postgraduate levels, are quite moderate. Also, there is no age bar for taking admission in New Zealand.
- Practical and hands-on learning: New Zealand follows the British education system. Thus, the focus is on research-based teaching and realistic knowledge. The education system aims for the overall development of the child and encourages critical thinking, questioning, and healthy student-teacher interaction.
- Great career opportunities: Qualifications earned in New Zealand are recognised and respected globally. Educational degrees from New Zealand open doors to multiple successful career opportunities. The system also improves workplace-relevant English language skills.
- Supportive education system: New Zealand’s education system and leaders are supportive. For instance, international PhD students pay the same fee as New Zealanders. Also, international students pursuing a full-time course can work up to 20 hours/weekduring breaks or semesters. International students in masters or doctoral education can work full-time.
- Assurance of security: During the COVID-19 crisis, the teachers, international offices, and homestay parents made sincere efforts to take care of international students. The Minister of Education has announced a recovery plan of $51.6million to revive the international education sector.
- Safe learning environment: New Zealand is a safe country. It ranks second on Global Peace Index 2020, is politically stable, and has a low corruption rate. The land of Kiwis treats both the local and overseas students equal. Moreover, the country has special guidelines under The Code of Practice for The Pastoral Care of International Students, to ensure security and fair treatment of international students.
- Quality of life: New Zealand is a multi-cultural country that combines the benefits of a developed nation with a unique charm of quiet countryside. The people of New Zealand are friendly and warm towards foreign nationals. The technological infrastructure of the country allows easy access to digital services and facilities. Making online money transfers to your child in New Zealand is, therefore, super-easy! Using Western Union’s money transfer services, you can make reliable transfers 24*7.
New Zealand’s reputation for quality education can create a magical difference in your child’s future. Combining the advantages of a developed country with an advanced education system, New Zealand is a wonderful choice to enable personal growth and all-round development of your child.
Education in New Zealand
Our education system reflects our unique and diverse society, which welcomes different abilities, religious beliefs, ethnic groups, income levels and ideas about teaching and learning.
About our education system
Education in New Zealand is a student-centred pathway providing continuous learning progression and choice so that:
- students progress every year, and
- their learning at one level sets the foundation for the next steps along a chosen pathway.
New Zealand’s education system has three levels:
- early childhood education: from birth to school entry age
- primary and secondary education: from 5–19 years of age
- further education: higher and vocational education.
Our education system reflects our unique and diverse society. We welcome different abilities, religious beliefs, ethnic groups, income levels and ideas about teaching and learning. We have processes in place to give our students consistent, high-quality education at all levels.
New Zealand’s education system is supported by a number of agencies, each with responsibility for different aspects of the system. For information about the roles and responsibilities of these agencies, see Education Agencies.
Find a school – Education Counts(external link)
Find an early learning service – Education Counts(external link)
Directories of education providers – Education Counts(external link)
Early childhood education
Early learning helps children to be confident and curious about the world. It helps your child to do better when they go to school or kura, and it helps them develop important skills to become strong, happy, and successful in later life.
Early Childhood Education (ECE) isn’t compulsory but around 96.8% of children attend ECE.
There are different types of ECE services and all learning that children experience at an ECE service or Kōhanga Reo is guided by the Te Whāriki curriculum framework.
Different kinds of early childhood education(external link)
Te Whāriki – TKI(external link)
The government subsidises all children who attend ECE for up to six hours a day (a total of 30 hours per week).
The 20 Hours ECE is a higher funding subsidy available for all children aged 3–5 years who attend ECE.
You can learn more about how ECE works in New Zealand on the Parents section of this website.
About early childhood education(external link)
Primary and secondary education
Primary and secondary schools are the second level of education.
Your child’s education is free between the ages of 5 and 19 at state schools (schools that are government owned and funded) if they’re a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident.
Schooling is compulsory from age 6–16. In the majority of schools, your child can start school on the day they turn five years old (they don’t have to wait until the start of a new school year). However, some schools have a policy of starting children at school together as a group at the start of each term (cohort entry). Most children stay at school until they’re around 17 years old.
The education system for schools is made up of 13 Year levels. Your child’s primary education starts at Year 1 and goes to Year 8 (around 5–12 years of age). Your child’s secondary education goes from Year 9 to Year 13 (around 13–17 years of age).
Local schools
Many children go to a school close to where they live. Many schools have an enrolment scheme called zoning.
If you live in an area close to a school (the school’s zone), your child is guaranteed to get a place at that school. If you want your child to go to a school outside the area where you live, you may have to apply, and a place isn’t guaranteed.
Depending on the schools in your area, you may have the choice to send your child to a single-sex or co-educational school.
State, state-integrated and private schools
Most schools in New Zealand are owned and funded by the state (state schools). They teach the national curriculum and are secular (non-religious).
State-integrated schools are schools with a special character. They are funded by the government and teach the national curriculum. They’ll have their own sets of aims and objectives to reflect their own particular values and are set within a specific philosophy or religion. You’ll pay compulsory attendance dues.
Private schools get some government funding but are mostly funded through charging parents school fees. They develop their own learning programmes and don’t have to follow the national curriculum.
Māori-medium education (Kura Kaupapa Māori)
Māori-medium education is where students are taught all or some curriculum subjects in the Māori language for at least 51% of the time (Māori Language Immersion Levels 1-2).
Māori language in English-medium is where students are learning te reo Māori as a language subject, or are taught curriculum subjects in the Māori language for up to 50% of the time (Māori Language Immersion levels 3-5).
Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa(external link)
National curriculum
The national curriculum covers subjects that are taught at primary and secondary schools and the standards students should reach in each subject.
Your child’s primary education will focus on foundation learning across a range of subjects and competencies but especially in literacy and numeracy. At secondary school, they’ll learn a broad and balanced curriculum, with some specialisation possible in Years 11–13.
English-medium schools use the New Zealand Curriculum. Māori-medium schools (Kura Kaupapa Māori) use Te Marautanga o Aotearoa (a curriculum based on Māori philosophies).
New Zealand Curriculum for English-medium schooling – TKI(external link)
Te Marautanga o Aotearoa for Māori-medium schooling – TKI(external link)
National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)
The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) is the national senior secondary school qualification.
Your child will usually be assessed during their last three years at school (Years 11–13). They can achieve NCEA at three levels in a wide range of courses and subjects.
Understanding NCEA – New Zealand Qualifications Authority(external link)
Learning support
The vast majority of children and students attend their local school or early learning centre and learn and achieve alongside their peers.
Additional learning support is available in every local early childhood centre or school. It’s planned to support students, educators, families and whānau in a range of different ways depending on individual needs.
Home and distance learning
If attending a school isn’t the best option (you might live a long way from the nearest school, travel overseas or have other reasons) your child can learn with New Zealand’s correspondence school, Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu (Te Kura).
Te Kura teaches early childhood, primary, secondary and special needs students using multimedia and online learning. Your child can also study one or two courses if a subject they want to study isn’t available at their school.
Further education
Technical and vocational education
At a senior secondary school level, students may begin to specialise in vocational learning. They can get help into work or further education from a number of programmes and institutions.
Youth Guarantee
Youth Guarantee courses provide students aged 16–19 with an opportunity to study towards NCEA Level 1-3 or Level 1-3 certificates at tertiary providers free of charge. These courses are usually vocationally focused.
Trades academies
Trades academies teach trades and technology programmes to students in Years 11–13 (ages 15–18). They are run through schools and other providers.
Institutes of technology
Institutes of technology and polytechnicsteach professional and vocational education and training from introductory studies to degrees.
Industry training organisations represent particular industries (for example, agriculture, building and construction, motor trade). They offer training and qualifications for those sectors. They funded by the government and industry.
Private training
Private training establishments offer specific vocational courses at certificate and diploma level (for example, travel and tourism).
New Zealand Education system
Everything you need to know about the education system in New Zealand
The education system in New Zealand is enormously diverse and one of the best in the world, maintaining excellent standards in literacy, mathematics and sciences and ranking well consistently by global standards.
New Zealand education is also becoming increasingly international, influenced by wide employment markets and an increasingly mobile network of teaching staff, researchers and a well-travelled population of students.
How it works
New Zealand’s education system has three levels – early childhood, school and university. Students can progress through a variety of flexible pathways in the system, supported by a range of institutions that offer a variety of courses and programs. University is the highest level of education and qualifications at all levels are governed to ensure students gain a relevant and meaningful qualification.
Students attend university to undertake bachelor degrees or postgraduate courses (including certificate, postgraduate diploma, master and doctoral programs). Vocational courses focus on practical skills and industry training. Vocational training courses are offered in government-funded institutions, including TAFE (Technical and Further Education), or other private institutions. Many colleges offer students credit towards university courses.
Qualifications framework
The New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) is the core of the education system. All qualifications are listed on this framework, assuring quality that is recognised and trusted worldwide.
Fees and scholarships
New Zealand is an ideal place to enjoy a world-class education and outstanding quality of life, but there are several expenses to consider before you study overseas.
Tuition fees for international students vary according to the type and length of the course. Each university in New Zealand sets its own tuition fees, depending on subject and level of study. The average undergraduate (bachelor) degree costs between NZ$22, 000 to NZ$30,000 a year. The average postgraduate degree costs between NZ$25,000 and NZ$35,000 a year.
Teaching and learning style
New Zealand offers a very supportive environment for its international students. The number of students per classrooms is often smaller than other western countries, allowing for more personalised attention. As teaching methods are constantly developing, you will experience a wide range of teaching techniques and environments. The support for international students goes even further than the classroom, with the New Zealand Government being the first in the world to create a code of practice that outlines a standard of care for international students both in the classroom and outside of it.
You can study at all levels of education from vocational education and training (VET), English language courses to higher education (including universities), both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Tertiary education includes higher education (including universities) and vocational education and training (VET).
Higher education
Higher education courses can be taken by students to earn an advanced degree and continue their studies in New Zealand. There are three main types of higher education that lead to bachelor, master and doctoral degrees. Teaching at universities normally takes place in large group lectures and small group tutorials.
VET
A vocational education and training (VET) qualification can provide a pathway to entering the workforce or university. There are many vocational training courses in areas such as information technology, business services, art and media, tourism and hospitality, childcare, transport and logistics, construction, mining, manufacturing and rural industries.
Pathway programs
There are also many pathway programs to higher education for international students including foundation studies and English language preparation programs. These ensure that students receive the extra support and assistance they need to succeed.
Academic year
The New Zealand secondary school system starts each year in late January or early February, while vocational and university students start at the end of February/early March. Most secondary schools have three or four terms; universities and vocational colleges have two semesters. Exams are held at the end of each semester (June and November), with 2-4 week breaks between each semester and a longer break over the summer from November/December to February. In some instances, you may be able to choose a course that offers a summer program, which means you can do a third semester in the year.
Learning English
Learning English is probably the most important factor when planning your studies in New Zealand. If your proficiency in the English language is limited, you may be advised to enrol in an English language school before starting your program of study.
Courses are available from a wide variety of organisations and learning institutions and can be either full-time or part-time. Private English schools provide a variety of courses for all ages and can include a business or adventure focus! Some universities offer a Certificate of Attainment in English Language, which is a full-time course. When you arrive, your English is assessed and you will be placed in an appropriate level.
After graduation
The New Zealand Government offers pathways for recent graduates to live and work in New Zealand. Depending on the area of study, you may have the opportunity to stay and work in New Zealand for up to four years initially.
Your graduate pathway has two steps: a post-study work visa that offers you up to 12 months to find a job in a related field of study, or an employer-assisted work visa that allows you to stay in New Zealand for either two or three years to gain work experience related to a specific job with a specific employer.
Postgraduate study
If you are finishing your bachelor degree, how do you know if undertaking postgraduate study in New Zealand is the next step for you? Deciding to go on to postgraduate study is a big step. It means sacrificing more time and staying out of the workforce a bit longer, but it can also be a very worthwhile investment in the long term.
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