New Zealand is one of the most tourist reputed countries in the world that not only has outstanding wildlife but also some landscapes to behold visually, along with an amazingly rich cultural heritage which make the country and parallels to any other country. Along with this, the country also has an amazing reputation when it comes to education and houses some of the most globally recognised educational institutions and hence, has become one of the most preferred for pursuing studies by students that come to the country from all around the world. The country is one of the most opted places not only for studies but also to work and live, owing to the most student friendly communities and the flourishing industrial sector. The institutions that are in New Zealand not only provide amazing global exposure to students that come to the country to pursue the postgraduate degree but also has a varied range of research opportunities in the chosen field of study by the student. This article contains all the information that you might need to know about pursuing a masters in New Zealand.
Why should one pursue their masters in New Zealand?
Moving to a new country opens doors to a lot of new opportunities and experiences for students and if the country is New Zealand, then it only adds with those things. The foreign students go through an amazing diversity of learning and knowledge during the course of their education because of the local community culture of the country. Along with this the ever increasing research and development sector of the country has fastened and the growth of new age and modern day technology, thereby making New Zealand and efficient and prominent centre of scientific technology and innovation. The country is also known for its amazing cultural heritage and in order to preserve and promote the much renowned and celebrated art work and culture of the country, the government also takes regular measures. They also try to encourage students to pursue their higher studies in the field of arts literature, languages and the culture of the country. The country has around eight major academic institutions that have been recognised by the QS world university rankings 2021 for their amazing teaching quality and top class programs, the population of the country being very less compared to India.
Programs that are offered in New Zealand
There is a very wide range of options of STEM courses as well as Business courses for the students to choose from in the universities of New Zealand. there are a lot of management and commerce related programs available including MBA or a master’s degree in the fields of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. There is also an option of pursuing MBBS in New Zealand. along with this there are a lot of universities in New Zealand that offer interdisciplinary courses and double degrees that are in collaboration with other universities of the country and of around the world. One example of such a university is University of Canterbury. If you choose to study in New Zealand, you will not only have an excellent academic experience but you will also get a lot of experience by exploring the rich continental traditions, the diverse languages of the country and the ways and means of the local culture of the country and how it has evolved with respect to globalisation or other modern changes.
Universities in New Zealand that offer the Masters Courses
The Universities of New Zealand always hold a top spot in the rankings by The Times Higher Education and QS rankings and hence these universities are constantly appreciated and are becoming the most globally recognised institutions of the country. Universities of newzealand mostly follow the ways and paths of that of the United Kingdom and are comparable with all the prominent accepted global systems. The University of Otago is the oldest University of New Zealand being established in 1869. The location of the universities of New Zealand is mostly divided into two regions namely the North Island and the South Island. In the table given below, are some of the most esteemed and globally recognised universities that offer the best Masters for a lot of courses in New Zealand:
| University | Location |
| University of Canterbury | Christ Church |
| Wintec | Hamilton |
| University of Waikato | Hamilton |
| Lincoln university | Lincoln |
| University of Auckland | Aukland |
| University of Otago | Dunedin |
| Auckland University of Technology | Auckland |
| Victoria University of Wellington | Wellington |
What is the eligibility criteria an admission process for Masters in New Zealand?
The admission process and eligibility criteria my differ depending on the type of course you want which means if it is a conventional master’s program like an MBA or MSc or is it more like a professional degree like that of an MBA or MBBS. Study programs in New Zealand are of maximum 2 years aur could even be of 1 year. If it is a two year course then the first year of your course incorporates a balanced curriculum of theory and practical study while the second year mostly focuses on the exposure to industry and thesis related work. Apart from this, there are some other major points that need to be kept in mind while applying for Masters in New Zealand:
- If you are applying for courses such as MSc in biotechnology, MSc in mathematics, MSc in electronics or MSc in zoology, which are the masters degree in STEM, then it becomes mandatory for the applicant to have highly ranked graduate degree in the similar field.
- Inn case the applicant wishes to pursue their post graduate degree in courses of Social Science, business management and Art related specialisations, then students with diverse and varied educational backgrounds have an upper hand.
- Incase you wish to pursue a professional management course, then the University of applied in might require the student to have experience of relevant industry work.
- The students might also be asked to present a proof of their previous industry work along with the research proposal that outlines the nature of research that they intend to do at the University.
What is the cost of of pursuing Masters in New Zealand?
If you are wishing to pursue your masters degree in New Zealand, it is advisable to know of the complete cost that is involved from before hand. Broadly, the cost can be divided into two sections name the tuition fees and living cost. The cost of tuition fees that is involved for masters degree in New Zealand could approximately be 19000NZ$ i.e INR935000 to 29000NZ$ i.e INR1400000. Other than this that is the cost of living which includes accommodation, food, basic utilities, transportation and other daily expenses. Given below is a table that gives a detailed expenses of the living cost:
| Type of expenditure | Cost involved |
| Food | 130NZ$ i.e INR6400 TO 150NZ$ i.e INR7380 per week |
| Transportation | 80NZ$ i.e INR3931 to 90NZ$ i.e INR 4340 per week |
| Accommodation | 250NZ$(12310INR)-500NZ$(24620INR)/ week |
| Recreation | 65NZ$(3200INR)-70NZ$(3445INR)/week |
| Utilities | 200NZ$(9847INR)-250NZ$(12300INR)/week |
| Miscellaneous | 150NZ$(7385INR)-200NZ$(9850INR)/week |
Scholarships in New Zealand
Quality education is one of the most important factor in New Zealand and hence, scholarships are common thing here in order to prevent the meritorious students from facing any restraint. a large number of scholarships are made available to the international students annually that come here to pursue Master’s degree. Some of the major scholarships that the students are given here are listed down below:
- Victoria Master’s Scholarship
- New Zealand International Scholarship
- ADB Scholarships at University of Auckland
- Orion Masters Energy Scholarship at University of Canterbury
- University of Waikato International Excellence Scholarship
- Tongareva Scholarship at Victoria University of Wellington
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.Which is the best course in New Zealand for Masters?
A.Agriculture, animation, forestry, engineering and hospitality are the most popular and opted for courses that are taught at the masters level New Zealand. Research oriented courses along with practical training is provided at the universities here.
Q. What is the least IELTS score that is needed in order to study a masters degree in New Zealand?
A. A minimum score of 6.5 in IELTS is required to enroll yourself in a Masters program in New Zealand, that is acquired by most of the universities for most of the courses.
Q. Is New Zealand a good option for pursuing a master’s degree?
A.Yes, New Zealand is a good option if you wish to pursue a master’s degree because it is home to one of the most recognised and globally applauded universities of the world and it helps the students in gaining a degree that is valuable worldwide.
