Study in New Zealand: Scholarships, Low Visa Fees, and Lucrative Career Paths
TL;DR
- Government Support & Scholarships: New Zealand offers scholarships for international students, particularly from India, and is aligning education with high-demand sectors like agri-food and renewable energy.
- Visa Fees & Work Opportunities: Although visa fees have increased, they remain competitive, and graduates can apply for post-study work visas with strong demand for skilled professionals.
- Marketing Campaigns: The “Learn New Every Day” campaign promotes New Zealand’s study and lifestyle benefits, targeting students from countries like India and Vietnam until 2026.
- Ambitious Growth Targets: The government aims to enroll 100,000 international students by 2027, doubling the sector’s economic value to NZ$4.4 billion.
- Career Opportunities: Graduates are in high demand in fields like IT, engineering, and accounting, with visa preferences for those in occupations listed on New Zealand’s “Green List.”
- Economic Recovery: Despite current economic challenges, forecasts predict a recovery by 2028/29, enhancing job prospects for international graduates.
New Zealand is making substantial efforts to revitalize its international education sector. With a competitive edge in student visa fees, robust government marketing campaigns, and targeted scholarship programs, the country is positioning itself as a prime destination for international students, particularly from India. The government is not only aiming to increase enrollment but also to align educational offerings with high-demand sectors like agri-food, aerospace, and renewable energy. New Zealand offers post-study work visa options for qualified graduates, supported by a growing demand for skilled professionals.
Unlike in Australia, New Zealand places no cap on foreign student admissions. Institutions must only ensure students meet criteria like holding an offer from an approved provider and having adequate funds for their stay. While the economy faces challenges, forecasts suggest recovery by the late 2020s, enhancing New Zealand’s appeal as a study and career destination.
Marketing Campaigns to attract new students
The New Zealand scene for would-be international students is becoming more welcoming and less welcoming … both at the same time.
Less welcoming because on October 1, 2024, New Zealand increased its student visa fees from NZ $300 to NZ $485: Announcing the hike, the government explained that the intention was to make the immigration system more sustainable by shifting the financial burden from taxpayers to visa applicants. The new fees will also cover the costs of processing visas and managing higher-risk applications. The fee increases will also fund reforms such as payments for compulsory work experience and free preparation courses for university entrance.
Despite the increase, New Zealand’s student visa fees are still considered competitive compared to other countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom.
More welcoming because for the past year, the country’s Education Ministry has been actively reaching out to international students through an advertising campaign called Learn New Every Day.
To get an idea of the ENZ sales pitch Check out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggo9HQbn9Ic.
The campaign stresses New Zealand’s competitive edge in the international education market and high-quality study opportunities as well as aspects that appeal to students’ personal life expectations — adventure, social experiences, a chance to enter into a unique culture and landscape.
The campaign will run until 2026, targeting students aged 16 to 24 and their parents across all sectors including high school, university, technical institutes, English language schools and private training establishments.
Representatives of Education New Zealand (an agency of the Education Ministry) and the country’s institutions have been participating in education fairs, particularly in India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia. They are also addressing specific sectors in Japan and China.
Ambitious plans underway: Enroll 1,00,000 international students by 2027
Before the pandemic, international education was New Zealand’s fifth largest export earner, contributing NZ $3.7 billion annually to the economy. It now languishes in the doldrums, with student numbers at about half their 2019 levels. Writing in the New Zealand Herald of 27 June, 2024, journalist Roger Partridge, notes that Australia’s decision to cap international student numbers means it is set to jettison $9-10 billion of annual export earnings. If New Zealand could capture just 25 percent of this market, it would gain an extra $2.5 billion. This would be a tremendous boost to the country’s recovery. A great news indeed for Indian students.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Education is well aware of the potential. Between now and 2027, it wants to see the value of the international education sector expand to NZ $4.4 billion. That is a substantial increase over the 2023 figure of NZ $2.2 billion. The Ministry estimates that New Zealand’s institutions will have to enrol at least 1,00,000 international students by 2027 in order to achieve the 4.4 billion mark. Ambitious target! Adding another 40,000 international enrollments would be a 59 percent increase. What corporate stock on the market has made that sort of gain?
Beyond student numbers and the monetary component, the idea is to diversify the international student body by nation of origin. At present, China, the largest source market for New Zealand’s international students, accounts for about 36 percent; India and Japan both have a 10 per cent share, with South Korea and Thailand sending 5 percent and 4 percent respectively.
The ministry’s campaign appears to be working: comparing the 2022 figure with the latest figure for 2024, the number of student visas issued has increased by 209.6 percent. Do the math: according to the latest Immigration New Zealand data, 62,943 student visas were approved in the first nine months of this year – that’s nearly double the number issued in 2023 and more than three times the number issued in 2022. Of the 2023 figure, 11,610, or 19 percent, were granted to applicants from India
No cap on study visa
Unlike institutions in Australia, the New Zealand government does not lay down any cap on the number of foreign students that institutions can admit each year. Instead, institutions are required to ensure that international students meet specific criteria, such as having an offer of place from an approved education provider and sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay. Also the institutions must ensure that international students do not exceed the number of places available for domestic students. Naturally, the Kiwis are going after the brightest.
Scholarship Opportunities for Indian Students
The universities have started offering scholarships to attract international students generally and, at some institutions, scholarships have been created specifically for Indian students.
Here’s a quick survey of the scholarships. Further research into each university by name will yield more information.
| Institution | Scholarship |
| University of Auckland | India High Achievers Scholarship: can amount to as much as NZ$ 20,000 per year for either postgraduate study or undergraduate study |
| University of Canterbury | India High Achievers Scholarship: details above. |
| University of Waikato | Vice Chancellor’s International Excellence Scholarship for India; value NZ$ 15,000 peryear. Also, 15 different types of scholarships for international students Fee reduction for meritorious students |
| University of Otago | Scholarships for international students generally, but not specifically for Indian students ŌtākouWhakaihu Waka Global Scholarship: value NZ$ 15,000 for first year students. Additional NZ$ 35,000 for top international students. For postgraduate students: NZ $ 10,000 scholarship if grade point is above B+ |
| University of Wellington | Many scholarships for international students generally, but not specifically for Indianstudents |
| TeKunengakiPūrehuroa MasseyUniversity | Many scholarships for international students generally, but not specifically for Indianstudents |
| Lincoln University | Many scholarships for international students generally, but not specifically for Indian students |
| New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology | Specifically for Indian students: value: NZ$ 10,000; number of scholarships: 20. Offered in 12 out of the 16 NZISTs |
Auckland University of Technology India High Achievers Scholarship: details above.(AUT) Fee reduction for meritorious students: Undergraduates: NZ$ 5,000 in first year fees Postgraduates: NZ$ 7,000 reduction in first year fees Ministry of Education and 8 New Zealand Excellence Award: universities Fee reduction for meritorious students: Undergraduates: NZ$ 5,000 in first year fees Postgraduates: NZ$ 7,000 reduction in first year fees Total package of $320,000 For more information about specific universities, colleges and technical institute check out this official website. https://www.studywithnewzealand.govt.nz/en/study-options/higher-education/education-providers | |
New Zealand’s Open Doors to Skilled International Graduates
As in many other developed countries, the workforce in New Zealand is aging. According to the Report of the New Zealand Retirement Commission, among workers, the number of people aged 60 and above is growing faster than other age groups. By the late 2020s, the share of people aged 65 and over in the labour force is expected to increase from the 6 percent currently to 9 percent.
The Business New Zealand report (cited above) is extremely detailed and worth reading, but for the sake of brevity, we mention only their conclusion: Net migration is the most direct, requiring a plan to accommodate around 700,000 additional people.
According to Hays Industry report, ten fields are experiencing high demand for skilled professionals.
They are: Accountants, especially Technical Financial Accountants, Management Accountants, Assistant Accountants, Finance Managers, Accounts Payable Officers and Payroll Officers.
- IT Project Managers
- Administrators and Executive Assistants
- Business Development Managers, Account Managers, Sales Engineers and Telecom Sales Managers
- Engineers, all types but especially Structural, Grid and Civil
- Software Developers
- Procurement Specialists
- Communications Specialists:
- Business Analysts
For those who have studied in New Zealand, the transition from campus to workplace is fairly easy. Provided the student’s qualifications are on the eligibility list, he or she can avail of a post study work visa extending up to three years, depending on their level of study and how long they’ve studied in New Zealand. The country gives priority to visas for people who are in occupations on it’s Green List.
See these two websites for the complete Green List:
https://www.new-zealand-immigration.com/visa/the-green-list
https://www.workingin-newzealand.com/green-list/
Economic Outlook: Recovery on the Horizon?
It’s true that over the past year New Zealand has suffered an economic slowdown, marked by rising unemployment, inflation, high interest rates and generally anaemic economic growth. However, according to Business New Zealand, confidence is slowly returning. The latest Westpac Economic Overview forecasts a gradual upturn. Says Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold: “Combined with upward pressures on spending that may prove difficult to contain, we think a return to surplus is more likely in 2028/29 – a year later than the Treasury is forecasting at present.” Obviously, those who think of studying — and possibly settling — in New Zealand, have to imagine economic conditions four or five years down the road.
Meanwhile, the Education Ministry is beckoning.
New Zealand College System: Understanding the terminology
An Indian student thinking about studying in New Zealand does NOT want to ask about colleges. This is simply because what New Zealanders call a “college” is what Indians call a high school. Education in New Zealand is organized by “levels”. The vast majority of New Zealand’s international students enter the system at levels 9 and 10, with a smaller percentage coming in at Levels 7 or 8.
There are some other differences in terminology: a course is called a “paper”; graduate study is called “postgraduate”; and a university catalogue is called a “calendar”.
It’s also important to understand the difference between “university” and “TePūkenga”. (That’s a Maori word for Institute of Skills and Technology.)
Universities offer degree-level and PhD programs. They are research-oriented.
TePūkenga courses are vocationally oriented, emphasising practical experience and application to real-world work situations across various fields. These government institutions are up to degree level. TePūkenga, is not one institute but 16 Institutes located in different parts of the country.
Right now, the New Zealand government is decentralising TePūkenga. By January 1, 2026, the transition to a network of autonomous regional institutes will be complete. What won’t change are the fees, support services, access to apprenticeship programmes or the value of the degree
At least the doors to New Zealand’s universities are wide open for bright young Indians. But after getting a degree, then what? Is there a path to a successful career and a satisfying life in the country?
The answer is a resounding YES !