The flat horizon, continuous peaks, and paradise for extreme sports make New Zealand a popular country for studying abroad. New Zealand has many internationally recognized universities, but New Zealand’s strict immigration laws and higher education application requirements make the admissions process a nightmare. However, if you are fully prepared and meet the requirements, New Zealand universities are still willing to admit. This article is written to help you analyze the application of New Zealand schools.
1. Search for schools
It is recommended to start searching possible schools and optional courses as early as possible. University handbooks are usually updated every year, but basic information such as admission requirements and the areas in which courses are offered does not change much. Unlike other countries, undergraduate students in New Zealand do not need to meet the requirements of general education, so it is more difficult for international students to find subjects that meet the requirements of the courses they are studying in home country. It is necessary to confirm that the subject you are studying abroad meets the credit requirements of the domestic schools: after returning to home country, you will find that you can’t get credits, which will extend the study time of the degree and increase the tuition.
Some universities, such as the University of Otago, have online manuals detailing all the undergraduate and postgraduate courses offered. Information on most subjects and study courses can be found on the official website. Or you can use Course Finder to search for the courses in New Zealand and check the course details.
2. Application time
The New Zealand school year starts approximately at the end of February and runs until mid-November. Different institutions are slightly different. Most universities accept student applications from the beginning of the academic year, but also accept a small number of students in the second semester. Many universities will have the second and third rounds of admission in two semesters, and a small number of admissions will be issued.
The deadline for application varies according to the course and institution of study, but in general, if undergraduate students want to enroll at the end of February and early March of the next year (first semester), they should start applying in October. From early April to June, start to apply for courses in mid-July (second semester) of the next year.
Postgraduate applicants must enroll in the first semester of the next year, usually at the end of October, and apply for the second semester before the end of April. It is strongly recommended that applicants directly confirm application deadlines and requirements with relevant institutions.
You should apply for a student visa after receiving the admission notice from a New Zealand university.
3. Materials to be prepared
Whether applying for undergraduate or postgraduate courses, New Zealand universities require copies of passports, transcripts, and completed application forms. It may also be required to provide the latest resume, especially for graduate students. It is recommended that students provide copies of the above materials to the school, because the school often does not return them.
Depending on your course, you will also need to submit proof of English language proficiency such as IELTS transcripts. The IELTS score is valid for three years from the date of the test, so students should ensure that the IELTS score is valid from the date of application. If your IELTS is about to expire, please take the test again before applying. General undergraduate courses require IELTS scores of at least 6.0 and postgraduate courses at least 6.5.
Some schools may also have other special requirements, such as more identification or test scores.
4. How to apply
International students can apply directly online from the official website or through Course Application, a professional course search and application platform.
5. Academic culture
New Zealand’s academic culture tends to learn independently, and students need to actively manage their course volume and academic progress.
Like the education systems in Australia and the UK, students need to build their own conclusions based on what they have learned in the classroom. In the classroom, each student is an independent individual, able to form their own views on the content of the course, and have the courage to express them.
Professors will often assign small reading or comprehension homework, which students need to complete before the start of the next class. These assignments are not scored, and the professor will not ask the students whether they are completed. These assignments help students better understand the content of the next class so that students can look at the problem more critically.
6. Application tips
A personal statement is not necessary when applying for a university, but it can be used to express your enthusiasm to the admissions team, which will make you stand out. The personal statement also conveys what kind of person you are, which is not possible in the application form and may increase your chances of being admitted.
New Zealand academic papers should avoid redundancy and emphasize direct and clear style. The most important thing is the depth of your thinking and how you explain it to your readers. Avoid empty talk, it will make people think that your thoughts are not strong enough, and the professors will think that you have not done your research well.
The application date and details of different subjects vary greatly depending on the institution and semester. Therefore, you need to check directly with the relevant institutions to carefully check and confirm all relevant deadlines. Generally, universities in New Zealand will not be reminded of incomplete applications, and will not accept late applications.
This is how to apply for schools in New Zealand. Just follow the steps above and you will find that application for New Zealand schools is not as difficult as you think.