A Day in the Life of a Student

Explore Visa Options to Study 

The education system in NZ is governed and administered by a number of different agencies and providers at different levels. 
New Zealand’s education system has 3 levels:
  • Early childhood education – from birth to school entry age
  • Primary and secondary school – from ages 5 to 19 (school is compulsory between the ages of 6 to 16)
  • Further education – includes all higher and vocational education.

The New Zealand Curriculum 

Secondary schools deliver the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA). This secondary school qualification is usually assessed in the last 3 years of school, years 11 to 13.

National Certificate of Educational Achievement

Further education includes technical and vocational education providers and universities. In NZ this includes polytechnics and institutes of technology, private training establishments, government training establishments, Maori provider and wānanga and industry training organisations. Adult and community education, including some English language courses, are included at this level. Many of these education providers will accept international students.
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Make sure to find education providers that accept international students

Most Common Student Visas in NZ

You need a student visa, if you plan to study in NZ for more than 3 months. There are a range of visas that allow you to go to school, take a course, or do other training.

​There are many different visas that a student could study on. Some allow longer study durations than others. 

  • Student Visa (Dependent of a Worker)
  • Student Visa (Full Fee Paying)
​         ...among many others