Study Cost
Cost of Studying & Living in New Zealand
In order to study in New Zealand you will have to pay tuition fees. The cost of education can be expensive, so it’s worthwhile looking into the various scholarship options available. Each university in New Zealand sets its own tuition fees, therefore the fees you will need to pay will depend on your chosen institution, subject and your level of study.
Most international students must pay foreign student fees at New Zealand universities. Under certain conditions however, international students can be exempt from paying foreign student fees because they are classed as domestic students (one example of such a category of students are international students enrolled in PhD programmes).
An undergraduate degree generally costs between NZ$ 18,000 and NZ$ 25,000 per year. Postgraduate studies can cost between NZ$ 10,000 and NZ$ 30,000. Costs largely depend on your chosen subject. For example, most undergraduate studies, such as arts, humanities, social sciences, management or engineering cost between NZ$ 10, 000 and NZ$ 12, 000 per year whilst science and technology studies generally cost between NZ$ 14,000 and NZ$ 18,000 per year.
You will also encounter some additional costs when studying in New Zealand, such as Overseas Student Health Cover charges and various fees, however these costs shouldn’t take much of your overall budget.The cost of living in New Zealand will mostly depend on your location and can vary between NZ$ 7,000 and NZ$ 12,000 per year. A lot will depend on a student’s lifestyle and chosen accommodation options. You can choose between various housing/accommodation options while studying in New Zealand. There are private accommodations (approximately NZ$ 180 per week), flat accommodation (approximately NZ$ 120 per week along with a bond) or student hostels and halls of residence (approximately NZ$ 200 per week).
It’s important to note that tuition fees and living expenses vary greatly between different universities and locations. Therefore, it’s important to do your research and inform yourself about fees and costs in your chosen location. This may be a deciding factor so it’s important to get all the relevant info as soon as possible. It’s also good to have at least two options open so you can choose the one that is best for you.
To help your financial situation while studying in New Zealand you may apply to various scholarships. There are a wide variety of scholarships available to international students in New Zealand. These scholarships are provided by New Zealand government, educational institutions, private sources and foreign governments.
Another financial option is to work while you study in New Zealand. Please note that full-time international students are allowed to work for a maximum of 20 hours per week during studies and full time during holidays. If you wish to work while studying in New Zealand it’s important to check the exact conditions of your student visa. Some visas don’t allow you to work. If this is the case you must apply for a variation of the conditions of your visa. You can do this either at your initial visa application or later.