New Zealand is a land of contrasts. The South Island?s west coast drips with rain. Its forests are dense with tree ferns and towering pod carps, ancient remnants of conifer forests that existed when New Zealand was part of a gigantic continent called Gondwanaland. On the eastern side of the island, in the rain shadow of the Southern Alps, the hills are brown in late summer, back country travel is often across open slopes covered with tussocks of grass or through beech forests that smell like honey. Raw and young, this landscape is steep and rugged and its weather is capricious. You can go from hot sun in the morning to cold winds, rain, and snow in the afternoon. We leave behind the tourist routes and plunge deep into the forests or climb high up into remote alpine areas. Some courses float down its rivers or explore its coastlines, experiencing the countrys? rich marine life? whales, dolphins, and seals? and its wide variety of endemic birds. New Zealand is a dramatic place that engages your senses, challenges you physically and mentally, and promises to give you the adventure of a lifetime.
Why Study in Newzealand
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 studying in New Zealand instead of considering other countries; that’s what we’re going to look at in this section of our website.
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.
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.
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.
The educational system
This is the number one reason to go anywhere for school, but New Zealand is amazing for their educational system. 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.
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 sports and recreation section.
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.
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 Visa and Passport section.
Now do you see why there are over 100,000 people who go and study in New Zealand 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.
Student Life
There are a number of different things that you can do while attending university in New Zealand. International students are encouraged to interact with others in the community and to enjoy their educational experience. There are a number of different things that you can do, both on your university campus and off of it. Here are some ideas as to the adventures that you can have during your university career.
Athletics
If you are someone that has enjoyed athletics throughout your life, then athletics is a possibility for you to pursue. You can enjoy exercise, you can join a club or team on your university campus or you can join community sports. Kiwis love sports, so we’ve dedicated a whole section of the site to helping you understand the sports that are played in New Zealand. You can also take the time to exercise. Your health is a very important part of your university career, and you won’t do your best unless you take care of all parts of yourself, including your physical health. Take advantage of exercise
Social clubs and special interest organizations
Many universities in New Zealand have a number of different clubs and organizations that you can join. What are you interested in? What hobbies do you enjoy and what do you like to do in your spare time? Whether you like board games, are interested in a particular genre of movie, or want to get involved with student government, you have the ability to do so. You can find religious groups, groups related to the degree program that you are studying, or even groups that can help you to learn a new skill or take up a new hobby. Just ask your international studies office and they will point you in the right direction.
Residence life
If you live in campus-based housing (halls of residence, etc), take advantage of the activities that your wardens are doing. They may take trips, play games, enjoy sports, or even splurge on pizza or make you a homemade meal, depending on the size of your dorm. Interact with the other people in your dorm, and you will not regret it. You are in that close space for up to four years; you may as well advantage of it and make friends with both native Kiwis and those who are studying abroad, just like you. You may make some of the closest friends you’ve ever had, just because you decided to branch out a little bit and enjoy your residence life experience.
Arts and culture
There are literally dozens of ways for you to enjoy arts and culture, right on your college campus. Many universities have musical groups, dancing groups, social events, cultural events, and a number of other activities that are going on. As an international student, this could really help you to round out your experience and learn more about the world that you are staying in. Enjoy the arts and culture experiences that are available both on and off campus, and you will feel like your time has been well-spent.
Travel and explore
There are a number of places that you can travel while you are studying in New Zealand. If you have weekends or a holiday free, make sure that you take the time to go look at all the sites. Nowhere else in the world can you drive two hours and find a totally different geography than where you started. If you love the mountains, drive to the North Island and check out the beautiful mountains. If you like the beach, drive to the Southern part of the South Island and see what there is to see. There are usually a number of different discounts and such for students, if you know how to utilize your resources. You may also be able to take trips with the university; many universities offer trips throughout the year.
You don’t have to go far
Remember, you’re studying abroad; this isn’t where you’re from. You don’t even have to leave the part of New Zealand that you are in. You can look around your local area and take a walk. Check out the areas of town that you’ve never been to; try a new pub or restaurant that you’ve heard of but didn’t get to yet. Just go out and get some fresh air while checking out your little pocket of the world; that’s enough to get you going in the morning.
Socialize
This is probably the top tip that we have for you. The best thing about New Zealand is the people, no matter what part of the country you are studying in. People are friendly and loving, and many of them will be willing to chat with you. Find ways to interact with native Kiwis; they will be able to give you valuable information, unforgettable experiences, and a number of other things that you wouldn’t ever get if you just stayed in your flat and did work.
Studying is, of course, the most important part of student life while you are in New Zealand. But don’t let your studies get in the way of enjoying the time that you have in the country. When you study in New Zealand, you will never run out of things to do. Whether on campus or off campus, student life is meant to be enjoyed and you will get to see parts of the world that you would have never experienced otherwise. No matter what your interests are, there will be something for you to enjoy while studying in New Zealand. So, if you decide to study in New Zealand, step out of your comfort zone a bit and see what there is to do. You may be pleasantly surprised by the results.