Studying in New Zealand International guide for students who decide to 51Ʒ Mon, 29 May 2017 22:28:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Why 51Ʒ /why-study-in-new-zealand/ Mon, 16 Dec 2013 08:59:53 +0000 http://education-newzealand.org/?p=40 New Zealand, although it is the same size as Japan or Great Britain, but there are a lot of reasons that you should consider going there for your studies abroad. Many people will call natives of the country “Kiwis,” after the bird that only resides there and nowhere else in the entire world. There are […]

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New Zealand, although it is the same size as Japan or Great Britain, but there are a lot of reasons that you should consider going there for your studies abroad. Many people will call natives of the country “Kiwis,” after the bird that only resides there and nowhere else in the entire world. There are a number of reasons that you should consider instead of considering other countries; that’s what we’re going to look at in this section of our website.

1. The people

Kiwis are some of the most amazing, loving, and welcoming people that you will ever meet. If you are a stranger, a native New Zealander is going to treat you like you are a friend. They are used to meeting new people, first because they travel a lot themselves, and also because a lot of people come to visit New Zealand as well. The culture on the islands is quite laid back and easy going, as well. So you’re not going to feel tense like you would if you went to a large city like London or New York City to study. There are just over 4 million people who reside on the country, and it is one of the safest places to live in the world. Another cool thing about the people is that there are so many different kinds of people. For being such a small country, the diversity is greater than you see in many European countries.

2. The stability

Some people say that, because the country is in a small corner of the world that doesn’t really get bothered by anyone, that New Zealand seems to be secluded from the rest of the world. This isn’t true at all. As mentioned above, the people are really welcoming to outsiders. But, it can also be a great thing! The economy is actually incredibly stable, the cost of living is low, and the government is more stable (and less argumentative) than the governments that you will see in other countries. This is probably the reason that immigration is embraced, which we will talk about more in some of our later points.

3. The Weather

Nothing can get better than the weather in New Zealand. The winters are mild, with temperatures around 10ºC (50ºF) and slightly wet. In higher altitudes, you will see snow, but it’s not common in lower altitudes. In the summers, the climate is warm and dry with temperatures around 25ºC (77ºF). As you would expect in the southern hemisphere, the summer lasts from December to February; winter lasts from June to August. Spring and fall are similar, with cooler temperatures and little rain.

4. The educational system

This is the number one reason to go anywhere for school, but . First, the tuition is some of the lowest in the world. You get a British-based education (due to their British influences) for a percentage of the cost. The degrees are recognized around the world as being up-to-date and practical. You will get a high quality, hands on education that you deserve. The New Zealand even goes so far as to checking each and every course, program, and certificate for quality so that they can be recognized around the world as high-quality education. Not only that, but the support services for international students are among the best in the world. They have a lot of expertise and experience in helping international students so that they can succeed in their programs.

5. Never run out of things to do

This is an amazing opportunity for anyone who looks for adventure. In New Zealand, there are literally thousands of things to do. Do you like to hike? There are plenty of mountains for you to explore. Do you enjoy being a beach bum? Then you get to enjoy the beaches throughout the year. Want some excitement? There are always new things to do . The scenery is different depending on where you go; you could drive an hour and have a completely different geography. We’ll look at this more in our section.

6. Work opportunities

There are plenty of work opportunities available for international students. On a student visa, you are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week through the semester; during vacations you can work up to 40 hours. So, instead of having to worry about finances, you get to supplement your education with income. You may even be able to nab internships and other practical work. The international studies office at your university can help you find a job to sustain you during your time in New Zealand. Another great thing is that you can get a permit at the end of your degree program and work for 12 months in the country under a special “work permit” that is alongside your student visa, which is what we’ll look at closer in the last point.

7. Ease of visa acquisition and residency

The visa acquisition process is incredibly simple, and unlike many other countries, you will not be rejected right away. You get to talk to people and tell them your side of the story if there is something that may prevent you from getting a visa to come into the country. If you can explain why you’ve decided to go down there and your international studies program helps you to create a Statement of Purpose (a statement you give to the visa officer to tell them why you are coming to New Zealand to study), you will usually get a visa. The country is welcome to immigration, more so than almost any other country in the world. The last advantage is that, after you graduate, as mentioned above, you can work in the country for up to a year. If the job you are working at is related to the degree that you received, you can actually apply to get permanent residency, which you will most likely get within 6 months of your application. We look at visa acquisition and residency more in our .

Now do you see why there are over 100,000 people who go and 51Ʒ every single year? Will you join them and become an honorary Kiwi while getting your education in a beautiful and unique country like New Zealand? Then keep looking around our site; we can help you determine how to move forward with the application process and how to choose the right school for you. We want to give you everything that you need in order to help you to make the best decision on this site.

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Universities and Higher Education /universities-and-higher-educationuniversities-and-higher-education/ Mon, 16 Dec 2013 08:49:39 +0000 http://education-newzealand.org/?p=36 There are eight main tertiary schools that are in New Zealand and governed by the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. These tertiary schools vary depending on what programs that they offer, how much they cost, and where in the country they are located. But, one thing that does not vary is how good of an education […]

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There are eight main tertiary schools that are in New Zealand and governed by the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. These tertiary schools vary depending on what programs that they offer, how much they cost, and where in the country they are located. But, one thing that does not vary is how good of an education you will get by attending any of the universities that are located in New Zealand. As mentioned in other areas of the site, they are among some of the best in the world and you will be able to learn everything you need to succeed, no matter what area of schooling you decide to pursue.

The New Zealand Qualifications Framework

The New Zealand Qualifications Framework, referred to as the NZQF, was developed in July of 2010 in order to ensure that all educational endeavors in tertiary education are under the same framework. It basically works to make sure that schools are meeting these standards and are beneficial in a number of ways, including the following:

  • The NZQF works to convey and determine the skills that a university student should have upon completing their education.
  • The organization also sets standards for the knowledge and any other attributes that a university student has once their degree program has been completed.
  • It helps to enable and support any university that works to provide a quality education, no matter what type of education that that may be. It also helps universities develop programs that fit with their own standards.
  • The NZQF helps to give potential students and employees a certain level of confidence in the education that people obtain while they are in university in New Zealand.
  • The NZQF works to help the native Māori people by providing them with a quality education and helping them to attain their educational goals, no matter what they may be.

As you can see, the NZQF actually plays a very large role in ensuring that the money that you pay is going toward a high quality education. The organization as developed to make sure that, no matter where you attend university in New Zealand that you are getting the best quality education that you can get in the world.

The rest of this section will focus on the eight major universities that are located throughout New Zealand. This will not include information on technical schools and/or other tertiary education institutions that are not considered to be universities.

The Auckland University of Technology, also referred to as AUT, is a university that was developed back in 1895, but was renamed and redeveloped into its current incarnation at the beginning of 2000. The name change was due to the Auckland Institute of Technolgoy being granted status as a university, instead of just being a technological institute. Its main campus is in Auckland’s Central Business District, but it also has a number of different campuses throughout New Zealand.

Currently, there are over 27,000 students enrolled at the Auckland University of Technology every single year, with about 2,500 of those students as international students. The international student population is varied, with students from over 85 different countries around the world, giving it a very diverse student population. Obviously, most of the students are native Kiwis, but you’ve also got Asian, Maori, and other Pacific Islanders that attend the university every single year. You will also see that there is a high population of non-traditional aged students (over the age of 25). They offer a number of different educational programs, from traditional liberal arts degrees to more advanced post graduate degrees. There are currently about 2,000 graduate students.

Lincoln University was started in 1990, when the University of Canterbury split into two different universities based on the campus. It was formerly known as Lincoln College, Canterbury, and is located about 15 km from the center city of Christchurch, in Lincoln, Canterbury. It has a very large campus, with over 50 acres of land, which points back to its origins as an agricultural school (when it was first built in the late 19th century).

There are currently 4500 students that attend Lincoln University, and their degrees are still based in agriculture and other related fields, like environmental preservation, forestry, horticulture, landscaping, and recreation. Since their designation as a university, they also have degrees in more technological fields, like computing sciences and engineering. The campus has a very lively student life, which includes a number of different organizations that support a number of interests and lifestyles, including religious organizations, cycling groups, sporting clubs, sexuality organizations, and agricultural education organizations.

Massey University is one of the largest universities in the country of New Zealand, with over 35,000 students that are attending the school. They have one of the largest distance learning programs in the country, with over half of the population of the university taking classes via the internet and other distance learning techniques. There are currently over 3000 international students that study at Massey as well, representing more than 100 countries from around the world.

There are several different campuses that Massey University currently oversees. Two are in Palmerston North, one is in Wellington, and the other in Auckland. It is known for its quality business program, but it is also the only university in the country that offers aviation dispute resolution, nanoscience, and veterinary science degrees. Other universities may soon follow suit, but Massey is the first to pursue adding those programs to its roster.

Massey started as part of the University of New Zealand (which then split into many of the universities listed here), as an agricultural school. It was named after a former Prime Minister (William Massey) who passed away in 1925. They started accepting women in 1932, and in 1963, it split off from being part of the University of Auckland and became its own university. Since then, the population of the university has exploded and it has become a very popular educational institution, both for those who are from New Zealand and those who are coming from overseas.

The University of Auckland is located in Auckland, and is larger than any of the other university in the country. It is also ranked number 82 in the World University Rankings from QS, making it the highest ranked school in the country. It currently has six different campuses, and has over 40,000 students that attend the university every single year.

One unique thing about the University of Auckland is that it has over 50 programs that are known as conjoint programs. These degree programs are unique because they allow a student to earn multiple undergraduate degrees (usually in related disciplines) in less time than it would have taken if you tried to get both individually or if you took a “double major” at a different university.

This university was founded in May of 1883 as a part of the larger University of New Zealand, and was located in Auckland. The university stared with just a few degree programs and only 95 students. As time went on, enrollment continued to increase, most students attending the university were looking to become law clerks or educators. The research part of the university did not really expand until about halfway through the 20th century.

Now, the University of Auckland is one of the best known research universities in the world, with hundreds of well-known researchers in multiple fields graduating from the university every single year.

The University of Canterbury, usually called “Cant,” is the second-oldest university in all of New Zealand. It was founded in 1873 and is currently located in Ilam, which is a suburb of Christchurch. There are a number of degrees that they offer, from liberal arts to fine arts, forestry to health sciences and social sciences. Education is also incredibly popular at the University of Canterbury.

The University currently has over 16,000 students attending every single year, with about 12,500 in undergraduate studies and 3,500 in graduate studies. The campus is quite large, with over 190 acres of land that has many of the colleges and six halls of residence. Approximately 1800 students reside on campus every single year, and the six halls of residence have a number of different activities for students to enjoy, along with high-class facilities.

The University of Otago is the oldest university in New Zealand; it is located in Dunedin and has over 21,000 students enrolled in the university every single year. The research program is one of the best in the country, and has some of the best research staff in the country (only behind the University of Auckland). The University was started in July of 1871 and is known for its active and enjoyable student life, which offers attractive options for housing and a number of activities for students to enjoy and indulge in throughout the year. Otago is well-known because it was the first school in the country that actually allowed women to study to become lawyers, which was also well before many other countries allowed women to study any sort of

The University of Waikato, in Hamilton, was started in 1964 and was the only university that was not a break-off from the University of New Zealand. It currently has over 13,000 students enrolled in the university every single year. It started as a teacher’s college, and is still well known for its educational programs, even though since it became a university, it has expanded into a number of different educational fields and has provided a well-rounded education for a number of people. There are seven different schools, and is actually considered one of the top 500 universities in the world; it is also considered to be one of the top 50 “young” universities in the world.

The Victoria University of Wellington was started by the New Zealand Parliament in 1897 as a part of the University of New Zealand. It was (and still is) known for its degree programs in law, humanities, and life sciences. The Victoria University of Wellington is actually very unique, because it admits pretty much anyone that applies for the first year of general classes. When you are looking to apply for the second year in the more vigorous programs, you have to go through a special application process due to the restricted nature of these classes. It is actually considered the best research university in the country, and is 225th in the top 500 universities in the world.

As you would expect, the university is named after Queen Victoria. This is because it was opened during the year of the 60th anniversary of her coronation. It is currently located in Kelburn, in Wellington. There used to be another campus based in Palmerston North, but it merged with Massey College (as discussed above) in the mid 20th century. There are other campuses laocated in Te Aro, Pipitea, and Karori, all in Wellington. There are currently over 21,000 students that attend the university every year.

Did you get all of that? It’s a lot of information to soak in, but it’s good for you to know about each of the colleges so that you can make an informed decision that will benefit you in the long run. As you can see, we provided you with links to each of the different universities so that you can take a look at each of them on your own. Make sure that the university that you attend will meet all of your expectations and will help you achieve the goals that you are seeking to achieve during your studies in New Zealand. Good luck on applying (which we discuss more in our section) and get ready for the adventure that waits for you when you decide to 51Ʒ.

 

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Undergraduate Studies /undergraduate-studies/ Mon, 16 Dec 2013 08:46:30 +0000 http://education-newzealand.org/?p=34 Undergraduate studies in New Zealand are among some of the best in the world. Your degree will be recognized around the world as a degree that is on par with many British and Australian undergraduate degrees. Both employers and higher education institutions will recognize your degree as an important one. As with most schools, universities […]

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Undergraduate studies in New Zealand are among some of the best in the world. Your degree will be recognized around the world as a degree that is on par with many British and Australian undergraduate degrees. Both employers and higher education institutions will recognize your degree as an important one. As with most schools, universities have an academic year that runs from February to November, with the semesters split during June and July.

There are a number of different undergraduate degrees and certifications that you can earn, all of which vary depending on where you attend school. These degrees and certifications will have different distinctions, and will grant you different privileges when it comes to furthering your education later on.

Professional Certificates and technical schools

There are over 600 tertiary training schools located throughout the country of New Zealand, each of which provides a different type of education depending on the field of work that you plan on going into. These programs put you right into practical classes, and can take anywhere from 2 to 18 months to complete. These can include internships, apprenticeships, and other types of educational experiences that can help you go right into the work field when you complete your program. These programs can include civil engineering, electricians, plumbing, secretarial jobs and duties, and a number of other technical jobs that usually do not require a bachelor’s degree, but they do require specialized training that you will need in an educational context like a training program.

Associate’s Degrees

Associate’s degrees are a level of tertiary education that is a step above the certificates and technical school programs. These offer a number of classes; many of them are theory based, but some of them will be practical like in a professional certificate program. Many people who go for associate’s degrees go in because they don’t know if earning a Bachelor’s degree is for them. Instead, they will take courses and receive an associate’s degree, which will allow them to go into the workplace immediately after they complete their degree or they can decide to finish up and earn a bachelor’s degree with only a year or so of extra time. Most associate’s degrees are in liberal arts fields; some of them may have technical aspects.

Bachelor’s Degrees

Unlike countries like the United States that take four years to complete a bachelor’s degree program, New Zealand actually lets you finish within three years. This is because there are very few, if any, general education classes. You may have to take classes that are not directly in your major (nursing students may have to take an algebra class, etc), but every single class you take is geared toward your course of study. You aren’t wasting any time with classes that are not directly related to the major at hand. These degrees will give you a well rounded education that will prepare you for the work world or for higher education pursuits.

If you are looking to enroll in an undergraduate program in New Zealand, there are plenty of places to look. Most undergraduate programs are at the 8 main universities in the country, which we discuss in our of this website. You can also find more information atthe Immigration Department , and the Tertiary Education Commission’s .

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Scholarships /scholarships/ Mon, 16 Dec 2013 08:40:46 +0000 http://education-newzealand.org/?p=28 Because Kiwis see education as incredibly important, the educational system in New Zealand is incredibly important to the overall development and stability of the country, and the government and other organizations put a lot of money into scholarships and other programs that you can utilize so that you are able to afford your education, no […]

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Because Kiwis see education as incredibly important, the educational system in New Zealand is incredibly important to the overall development and stability of the country, and the government and other organizations put a lot of money into scholarships and other programs that you can utilize so that you are able to afford your education, no matter where you are coming from or what program you are studying.

There are a lot of opportunities available for students who are coming from other countries so that they can further their education and get proper opportunities that will help them bring their education home. Here is a brief look at those ones; you can learn more at the of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  • New Zealand Pacific Scholarships and New Zealand Regional Development Scholarships, which are specifically for those in the Pacific regions of the world. It is available for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. There are also Short Term Training Awards, which are for those who are coming from Pacific countries to study a trade skill in New Zealand.
  • New Zealand Development Scholarships, which were developed for those pursuing postgraduate 51Ʒ. These scholarships are from those who are coming from parts of Central America, South America, Africa, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Mongolia, and a small number of Chinese provinces.
  • ASEAN Scholar Awards, which are for students from Southeast Asia that performed well academically during their secondary schooling and are looking to attend university in New Zealand. These scholarships were developed to nurture diplomatic relationships with those countries and New Zealand.
  • Commonwealth scholarships, which are available to students in a number of different countries in Africa, parts of Latin America, Asia, and the Pacific. These are, essentially, scholarship programs that are shared across these regions so that people in the countries listed are able to go to other schools in this commonwealth organization. The list can be found .

Depending on the country that you come from, you may also be eligible for scholarships from your home country. That will depend on a number of factors, including the program that you are looking to pursue, where you attended high school, what your grades were like in high school, scores on any tests that you took for university admission, and other factors. Getting scholarships for studying in New Zealand really isn’t that much different than getting scholarships in another country, you just may need to do a little more research in order to find the ones that you are eligible for.

If you would like more information about scholarship programs in New Zealand, the international studies office at your university will also be able to help you apply for appropriate scholarships and other financial aid that you may need in order to attend university in New Zealand. The New Zealand government also has a number of resources that you can use over as well.

 

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Post Graduate Studies /post-graduate-studies/ Mon, 16 Dec 2013 08:36:58 +0000 http://education-newzealand.org/?p=26 Post graduate studies in New Zealand are similar to those that you would see in Australia and other similar countries. They all fall under the British educational system of higher education, and they are recognized as equivalent to getting a Master’s or Doctorate degree in the United Kingdom. Many of the universities in New Zealand […]

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Post graduate studies in New Zealand are similar to those that you would see in Australia and other similar countries. They all fall under the British educational system of higher education, and they are recognized as equivalent to getting a Master’s or Doctorate degree in the United Kingdom. Many of the universities in New Zealand are driven by research, which makes them some of the best out there.

As you likely know, postgraduate education is only available for those who have completed at least a Bachelor’s level degree at an accredited institution. These studies are much more focused than the ones you will find at the undergraduate level, and the classes are usually much, much more intense as well.

There are many different options that you have when you are looking to obtain a postgraduate degree in New Zealand. Let’s take a look at all of your options.

Professional Master’s Degree

These degrees enable students who earned a liberal arts degree or some other type of nonspecific or non-specialized degree to take classes that will allow them to work in another field of study. For example, if you went to school for sports medicine or biology and decided that you wanted to become a physiotherapist, you could get a professional Master’s degree to obtain the proper training in order to do so. Those who have a bachelor’s degree in a social science, mathematics, or any other field could get a professional master’s degree in education and be able to teach the subject(s) that they trained in. It takes approximately 2 years to complete your coursework for you to earn a Master’s level degree.

Traditional Master’s Degree

These degrees, as you would expect, are traditional degrees that help you to expand your knowledge in a particular area of work. They are usually research based, and result in you obtaining a Master of Arts or a Master of Science degree. They are meant to either give you the capacity to go on past your Master’s to receive a doctorate, or you can stop there and get a job in a research field or another field related to the subject that you did your coursework in. It takes approximately 2 years to complete your coursework for you to earn a Master’s level degree.

Graduate Certificates

Graduate certificates take approximately one year of extra coursework after completing your Bachelor’s degree. These degrees have a few roles. First, you can take them instead of going for a professional graduate degree. They take less time and will get you out into the workplace much more quickly than you would have if you’d gotten a professional degree. Another reason is because it’s an easy way to transition between fields. If you earned your undergraduate level degree in sociology, then decided that you wanted to study communications instead, you could go for a graduate certificate in communication studies so that you could take the required coursework before working on a full Master’s program in it.

Doctorate Degrees

These degrees are the highest level of education, no matter where in the world that you take them. These can include a number of different titles, including Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), law degrees (J.D.s, etc), and dental degrees (DClinDen). When you earn a doctorate degree, you are considered to have the highest level of expertise that you can in the field that you studied. Most people who hold a doctorate will work in medicine, research, or education. It can take 3 to 6 years to complete your doctoral education, depending on where you go and what field of study that you are in.

If you are considering going for your graduate degree in New Zealand, there are many places that you can look for more information. can help you out, or you can look at the individual websites of the eight different universities that are located throughout New Zealand, which we explore more in our section.

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English Courses /english-courses/ Mon, 16 Dec 2013 08:26:48 +0000 http://education-newzealand.org/?p=18 New Zealand is one of the best places for you to go when it comes to studying. We’ve talked about that in several areas of the site, but what are you supposed to do when you are not completely comfortable with English? English is the national language of New Zealand, so isn’t that a problem? […]

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New Zealand is one of the best places for you to go when it comes to studying. We’ve talked about that in several areas of the site, but what are you supposed to do when you are not completely comfortable with English? English is the national language of New Zealand, so isn’t that a problem? Not really. There are actually a number of ways for you to get past the problems that you may have with the English language, and actually learn how to speak it better if you decide to study abroad in New Zealand or any other country.

Of course, most universities in New Zealand require you to have some type of certification that says that you at least have a handle on the English language. In order to do so, you just have to take an exam that is internationally accepted and shows your skill in the English language. The most recognized exams are the International English Language Testing System ( and the . These are taken around the world and are accepted by each university that is located in New Zealand. The university that you are seeking to attend will give you information on which exams that you need to take before you are accepted for study at the university, and will let you know if there are any alternatives that you can look for.

After you’ve passed the exam and you get accepted to university, then you can worry about how you are going to learn better English. There are a few ways to do this. First, many of the New Zealand tertiary education institutions will offer extra courses for those who speak English as a second language. You can either take it before you start your other coursework, or you can take it as an extra class while you are pursuing your degree. These courses are incredibly intense and will push you to your limits (and probably past your comfort level) as you are learning English and adapting to the culture in New Zealand. These classes are usually smaller than standard courses, which help you get the individual attention that you need.

Another excellent resource for those in New Zealand is called . This organization is a group of well-established educational programs that help people learn how to speak English while they are studying. Students who are coming to New Zealand are actually encouraged to spruce up their English speaking skills by attending one of these schools, which last anywhere from 10 to 16 weeks. If you aren’t sure what you are looking for in one of these schools, check out English New Zealand’s . This can help you find the English school that is closest to where you are attending university so that you don’t have to travel a lot in order to get the resources you need.

As with any country you go to, you will have opportunities to get a more comfortable hold on the English language. If you are staying with native Kiwis, you will learn better English just by conversing with them on a regular basis. You can even ask them to help you out as you are trying to better understand the English language. You will hear English in all of your classrooms (unless you are learning a foreign language, of course). Immersion is considered to be the best way to learn any language, and by coming to New Zealand to study, you will be immersed in the English language.

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes; learning English takes time. It’s considered to be one of the most difficult languages to learn, especially because of all of the dialects and other changes that you will hear throughout the world. But getting immersed in the English language will do a lot for improving your speaking skills. You may also be able to use other tools in order to help you achieve your goals, like online courses and other resources that you can find on the internet. See if your university has any suggestions on any programs that you can try out in order to supplement the immersive nature of your New Zealand education.

New Zealand is known for being welcoming to outsiders, even those who may not be as proficient in English as other people are. Because of that, they do everything that they can to help those who speak English as a second language so that they can better adapt to the world around them. If you need help with learning English before your arrival, contact your potential university or contact the . The international studies office at your university will give you all of the resources that you need in order to achieve and so that you can learn English and come over to earn a world-class education.

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Educational System /educational-system/ Mon, 16 Dec 2013 08:18:06 +0000 http://education-newzealand.org/?p=16 The educational system in New Zealand is extremely varied and is one of the best in the world. According to scores, it has the highest levels of literacy, mathematics, and sciences in the country. The public educational system is one of the best funded in the world; New Zealand offers the highest percentage of public […]

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The educational system in New Zealand is extremely varied and is one of the best in the world. According to scores, it has the highest levels of literacy, mathematics, and sciences in the country. The public educational system is one of the best funded in the world; New Zealand offers the highest percentage of public funding in education in the world. Several indices rate New Zealand as the number one country in the world for education.

So what makes New Zealand so unique? What makes it different than all of the other developed countries that provide education to their children? It is based on several things; first, because New Zealand natives believe in giving everyone the education that they deserve. There are many private schools, but because the country is so great at giving their public schools the monies they need, many parents are just as happy using the public system.

The other reason is because the educational system focuses on both practical and academic achievement. Instead of sticking to a regimen that no one really understands and doesn’t really tell us anything, the New Zealand public education system focuses on being open-minded and letting children explore, thus allowing them to learn in the best way that they can. This gets them ready for college or the workplace upon finishing their secondary education.

Primary and Secondary Schools

Almost all primary and secondary schools have a set schedule, usually from 9 AM to 3:30 PM. They go to school throughout the year, with four different terms spread out evenly. The terms are as follows:

  • Term 1:February to mid-April
  • Term 2:Late April to early July
  • Term 3:Mid July to late September
  • Term 4:Mid October to mid-December

There is a two-week break between terms one and two, two and three, and three and four. Between term four and the following term 1, there is a 6 week summer break, lasting part of December and all of January.

There are three types of primary and secondary schools that you will see.

  • State-funded, or public, schools. These schools are free, with minor costs for books, school supplies, and uniforms (if they are used; most New Zealand schools have them). The school that a child attends is based on where they live; the divisions can be found .
  • State-integrated religious schools. There are a number of schools that are religious in nature (Catholic) which have been integrated into the public school structure. These are, of course, options for those who wish for their children to have a religious education. These schools are free, with minor costs for books, school supplies, and uniforms.
  • Private schools cost anywhere from $4,000 to $28,000 a year. These may be religious, but they can also be more academically intense or provide options according to what a parent may want.

There are differences between primary and secondary school, but students must attend school from the age of 6 until they are 16. Here are some of the differences you will see.

  • Primary school. From ages 6 to 12, a child attends primary school. Most primary schools have 23 to 29 students per teacher, sometimes less if it is a private or state-integrated school. Primary schools may include preschool, but there are also preschools that work on their own. Preschool is not required.
  • Secondary school. Referred to as “high school” or “college,” secondary school has one teacher per 17 to 23 students; sometimes it is as low as 10 if it is a private or state-integrated school. Each secondary school uses a practical curriculum to help students get prepared for either the work world or higher education, and the curriculum is regulated by the . Some secondary schools will allow their senior students to take the Cambridge International Exam or the International Baccalaureate, which grant them credits and recognition in higher education programs worldwide.

Higher Education

Higher education is incredibly important, and we will explore it more in our sections that focus on the higher education systems. There are eight universities throughout the country, along with 18 technology institutions and over 600 training schools which help with specialized skills. Five of the universities in New Zealand are considered to be in the top 50 of the world’s universities according to the rankings. New Zealand is known for its business, technology, engineering, medicine, and biological sciences, and the schools are world class. The higher education program is subsidized by the New Zealand government for permanent residents.

Like you would expect from the Kiwis, New Zealand’s higher education system is also quite laid-back. Even though you have to meet vigorous requirements and have to do particular tasks in order to stay on a student visa, it is nowhere near as intense as going into an Ivy League school in New England or the Group of Eight in Australia. You will get a great education without the cost of your mental health in the process, which is a great advantage no matter who you are.

As you can see, the educational system, from primary school all the way to college, is a big focus for Kiwis. This is why many people decide to allow their children to do exchange programs and why college students will spend their entire academic career in New England. The focus on education plays a very large role in the overall attitudes about education. It is considered to be important, and that attitude rubs off in every aspect of Kiwi life. You can achieve your goals, no matter what education you happen to pursue.

You can learn more about education in New Zealand in two places, first at’s website, where you can find more information about the way that the educational system is laid out and what laws and such are in place. The other place is 51Ʒ’swebsite, which can give you more information about those laws and about the schools around the entire country.

The post Educational System first appeared on Education in New Zealand.

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