Studying in New Zealand

What a year costs

There is no national tuition figure. Study with New Zealand says only that fees depend on the course, the provider and the length of study. The University of Auckland's published 2026 international undergraduate fees give a realistic picture for a large university:

• Bachelor of Arts: NZD 40,225
• Bachelor of Commerce: NZD 48,133
• Bachelor of Science: NZD 47,221-58,009
• Bachelor of Engineering (Honours): NZD 58,009
• Medicine, year 2 onwards: NZD 86,561

Add a student services fee of about NZD 1,133 a year. Auckland's taught master's fees in 2026 run from about NZD 47,700 a year in business to NZD 55,500 in engineering, and up to NZD 86,600 in some health sciences.

PhDs are the exception. New international PhD students at Auckland pay the same fee as New Zealanders: NZD 8,847.60 a year in 2026. Other doctorates are charged at international rates.

Living costs. Study with New Zealand gives these weekly figures:

• Accommodation: NZD 140 for a room in a shared house to NZD 484 for a catered hall of residence
• Groceries: NZD 80-120
• Transport: up to NZD 37
• Entertainment: about NZD 55

Add power at NZD 200-300 a month in a private house, internet at about NZD 90 a month in a shared flat and a phone plan. The visa minimum of NZD 20,000 a year works out at about NZD 385 a week. That covers a shared room and food, but not a catered hall, and not Auckland or Wellington rents at the upper end.

You must also hold travel and medical insurance for the whole time your visa is valid. It is a visa condition, not an optional extra.

The visa

You need a Fee Paying Student Visa. You apply online with an offer of place from an approved provider, evidence that you can pay the tuition (or that it is paid), and evidence of living funds. The visa can be granted for up to four years.

The fee: from NZD 850, depending on your nationality and where you apply.

The money: NZD 20,000 for each year of study, or NZD 1,667 a month for courses shorter than a year. This is separate from tuition. Acceptable evidence includes bank statements, a scholarship, or a sponsor's financial undertaking. The funds must be genuinely available to you, and Immigration New Zealand can ask where they came from.

Processing time: Immigration New Zealand reports that 80% of applications are decided within 8 weeks. Apply as soon as you have your offer and the funds in place, and before you book flights.

Working while you study

Up to 25 hours a week during term, and full-time during scheduled holidays. The weekly limit rose from 20 to 25 hours on 3 November 2025. The same change extended work rights to tertiary students on approved exchange and study abroad programmes, including one-semester courses.

Not every course carries work rights. Your visa conditions, not your provider's brochure, say whether you can work: check them in your visa grant or on Immigration New Zealand's site. Students aged 16 or 17 need written permission from a parent and their provider to work in holidays.

If you change provider, or move to a lower level of study, you will in most cases need a new student visa. Do not assume your work rights carry over.

After you graduate

The Post-Study Work Visa is the main reason many students choose New Zealand.

• Up to 3 years for a degree at level 7 or higher (bachelor's, master's or doctorate) studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks
• Open work rights for degree-level graduates: any job, any employer, anywhere in New Zealand
• Non-degree qualifications at level 7 or below qualify only if on an approved list, and the work must relate to what you studied
• Fee: from NZD 1,670
• You need at least NZD 5,000 for living costs
• Apply no later than 3 months after your student visa expires (6 months for doctoral graduates)
• Immigration New Zealand reports 80% decided within 5 weeks

A change from 16 November 2026. Immigration New Zealand announced on 10 September 2026 that graduates of a level 7 graduate diploma who already hold a bachelor's degree will become eligible, provided they studied full-time in New Zealand without cross-crediting. Check the exact conditions before you choose a graduate diploma on this basis.

From the post-study work visa, most graduates aim for an employer-sponsored work visa and then residence.

Language

Everything is taught in English. The University of Auckland's published minimums are typical of the universities:

• Undergraduate: IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80 with 21 in writing, PTE 50
• Postgraduate: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 90 with 21 in writing, PTE 58

Some programmes, such as law, education and health professions, ask for more. Check the programme page, and note the per-band minimums: a good overall score with one weak band fails.

When to apply

The academic year runs from February (Semester One) to November, with a second intake in July (Semester Two) for many programmes. Each university sets its own closing dates for international applicants, and some competitive programmes close much earlier than the rest: check the programme page.

Work backwards from the visa. With 80% of visas decided within 8 weeks, and time needed to gather funds evidence and a medical certificate if you are asked for one, aim to hold your offer at least four months before the semester starts. For a February start, that means applying by the preceding August or September.

What to watch out for

The funds figure is a floor, not a budget. NZD 20,000 is about NZD 385 a week. In Auckland or Wellington, a hall of residence alone can cost more than that. Budget from your university's own cost estimates and the Study with New Zealand weekly figures, not from the visa minimum.

Work rights depend on the course. Short courses and some lower-level qualifications carry no work rights. If working is part of your financial plan, confirm your visa conditions before you enrol.

Rules on post-study work depend on the qualification level, not only the provider. A non-degree diploma may give you a shorter visa tied to your field, or none. Check that your exact qualification leads to the post-study work visa you are counting on.

The PhD fee deal is not universal across doctorates. At Auckland only the PhD is charged at the domestic rate. Professional doctorates are charged international fees.

Timing matters after graduation. The three-month window after your student visa expires is firm. Apply while you still hold a valid visa if you can, so you are not left without status while you wait.

Where these numbers come from

Rules change, sometimes at short notice. Every figure above carries the date we checked it. Check the official source before you rely on it.