Did you know New Zealand houses 8 prestigious universities that are valued for their excellent education system, international standards of research facilities, and high employability ratio? Yes, you heard it right! Besides high academic standards, many other factors encourage international students to pursue higher studies at a reputed university in New Zealand. So, let’s discover these factors and interesting information like top New Zealand universities, popular master’s study programs, and more through this guide.

Key Highlights

• Benefits of studying in New Zealand
• Top New Zealand universities
• Best master’s degree programs to study in New Zealand
• How to apply to universities in New Zealand for masters?
• Eligibility criteria for universities in New Zealand for international students

Benefits of studying in New Zealand

• New Zealand’s government actively monitors the education system of the country to ensure quality learning and availability of state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities.
• Multiple post-graduate programs to choose from with flexible study options and post-study work programs for up to three years make New Zealand an excellent study abroad destination for Indian students.
• New Zealand holds a second rank as per the Global Peace Index 2022. This makes it one of the safest destinations for students.
• Last but not least, affordable tuition fees and cost of living motivate students to choose New Zealand.

Here is a list of the top universities in New Zealand, along with their Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Rankings and Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings:

Sr. No.	Name of University	QS World Rankings 2023	THE Rankings 2023
1	University of Auckland	1	1
2	University of Otago	2	3
3	Victoria University of Wellington	3	5
4	University of Canterbury	4	7
5	Massey University	5	8
6	University of Waikato	6	6
7	Lincoln University	7	4
8	Auckland University of Technology	8	2

Pro-Tip: Universities like Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University have a high acceptance rate of 60-70%. Therefore, if you have secured a seat in your preferred course at any well-ranked university, do not give up your academic aspirations due to financial constraints. Apply for a loan for education instead.

As per interests, students can choose to study master’s degree programs in a variety of domains, such as Engineering, Computer Science, and Business Management, to name a few. Tabulated below are the most popular master’s study programs in New Zealand and their course duration.

S.No.	Course Offered	Duration
1	Master of Business Administration (MBA)	1-2 years
2	Masters in Mechanical Engineering	1-3 years
3	Masters in Computer Science	2 years
4	Masters in Data Science	1-2 years
5	Master of Education (MEd)	1-1.5 years
6	Master of Architecture (MArch)	1-2 years
7	Master in Management (MIM)	1-2 years

How to apply to universities in New Zealand for masters?

• Research and shortlist the university and course that meet your interests.
• Visit the official website of the university and check out course-specific eligibility requirements, application deadlines, documents required, etc.
• Fill out the application form and submit it along with all necessary documents.
• Once you receive a letter of acceptance from the university, apply for a student visa a minimum of 3 months before the course commencement.

Eligibility criteria for universities in New Zealand for international students
Most universities in New Zealand for master’s degree programs have specific eligibility criteria that international students need to meet. These requirements may vary based on the course and university selected. Therefore, check the university and course-specific requirements before applying.
The general eligibility requirements are as follows:

• A bachelor’s degree from a recognised university in the relevant field.
• Appear for English Language proficiency exams - International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
• Take an entrance exam such as Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)
• Academic transcripts (higher secondary certificate, diploma certificate and bachelor’s degree)
• Work experience (for certain courses)

Additional documents necessary to submit along with an application form are:

• A valid passport
• Proof of funds
• Statement of Purpose
• 2-3 Letters of Recommendation
• Resume

 

So, if you are planning to pursue a master’s degree program but facing financial challenges, Avanse Financial Services will help you. At Avanse Financial Services, we offer an education loan for study abroad courses that covers expenses like tuition fees, accommodation costs, living expenses, and other education-related expenses. Our hyper-personalised student loan offers benefits like 100% finance, quick sanctions, and flexible repayment options. So, if you want to know more about student loans, such as education loan rate of interest, application process and more, please get in touch with us!