Did you finish the college race and you were left wanting more? Studying a master’s or postgraduate program at a New Zealand university may be the perfect plan to kill not two but three birds with one stone! Consolidating your English, traveling and coming home with an international degree on your CV is a real plan.
Today we tell you everything you need to know if you are interested in studying postgraduate programs in New Zealand. Take note!

Why study a postgraduate degree in New Zealand?
Most of New Zealand’s higher education institutions remain in the top position in the rankings of the best universities in the world. When you finish your master’s or postgraduate degree, you will have great added value in your CV with which you will be able to differentiate yourself when it comes to finding a job. Also, see that why to study in New Zealand?
And that’s not all, thanks to changes in the New Zealand Immigration Policy, when you finish your postgraduate studies, you will be able to apply for a three-year work permit. Everyone to study at the university of New Zealand!
How much does it cost to study a postgraduate degree in New Zealand?
Graduate programs are not cheap, but they are well worth it. New Zealand can boast of having prestigious internationally recognized educational institutions. To give you an approximate idea, the costs of this type of program range between 14,000 and 24,000 New Zealand dollars.
The good thing about studying Diplomas or university studies in New Zealand is that the student visa gives you the possibility of working 20 hours a week while you study and, in addition, during the school holidays you can work full time, the perfect time to fill the piggy bank! !
What level of English do I need?
In order to study at any New Zealand university, they will require a minimum level of English. You will need to prove that you have at least IELTS 6.5 for master’s programs and IELTS 6 for graduate diplomas. Kiwi universities also accept the TOEFL. In this case, the minimum grade required is 90.
Is there any kind of help for foreign students?
One of the biggest help we have is to get 6 months of English classes for free when you enroll in a graduate diploma or other higher education program. This will save you over NZ$6,000. WOW!
And the scholarships? Are there scholarships for foreigners who want to study in New Zealand?
Of course, of course there are scholarships! But you have to be very attentive to the dates of the calls. You can take a look at this post and see if you find one that interests you or you can also use this Kiwi government scholarship search engine.
What requirements do I need to do a master’s or postgraduate degree in New Zealand?
As an international student wishing to study in New Zealand, the first thing we recommend is to contact the university to which you wish to be admitted to find out about the admission criteria.
Although the requirements usually vary depending on the program you want to join and the educational institution you want to access, there are a series of general requirements common to most universities:
- Sufficient knowledge of English. Normally they usually ask for an academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with a medium-high overall score. This test assesses your ability to read, write, speak and understand English in academic contexts.
- Translated documents. The documentation that each university requires for access must be collated photocopies of the originals and it is very likely that they will ask you for official translations, carried out by a translation agency approved by the NZQA.
- Further studies related to what you want to study. To apply for a postgraduate program in New Zealand, you must have previously studied a degree that falls within the same field of study. For example, if your title is “Journalist” and/or “Graduate in Communication Sciences” you cannot opt for a business master’s degree in marketing.
What kind of master’s and postgraduate courses can I study?
The truth is that New Zealand universities have a very wide range of academic programs, you will surely find one that fits what you are looking for!
In New Zealand you can find the following postgraduate programs:
- Graduate Certificate (6 months)
- Graduate Diploma (1 year)
- Postgraduate Certificate (6 months)
- Graduate Diploma (1 year)
- Master (2 years)
- Doctorates (3 – 4 years)
Some of the most popular studies are Project management, Applied Management, Health Science, Information Technology or Digital Marketing.
As we mentioned before, if you study at least one Graduate Diploma you can get 6 months of English for free, so you can get started with English! What is a good idea? Do not hesitate to write to us if this option catches your attention.
Does studying in New Zealand give me an advantage to stay in the country once I finish my studies?
Of course! Depending on what you study, your post-study visa will give you the right to stay in the country legally for up to three more years after you finish your studies.
How to choose a university in New Zealand?
Any university you choose will be a good choice. They’re all good. We recommend that you focus on opting for places in those that teach the program in which you are interested.
Apart from universities, in New Zealand, there are more institutions that grant university degrees. An example of this are the technological institutes. They have agreements with the best universities in the country and offer similar programs at more competitive prices.
Once I choose what I want to study, what do I have to do?
Depending on the university and the study program you choose, the process will be slightly different, but, as a general rule, you will have to fill in the application form issued by the university and send it along with the following documents:
- Legalized photocopy of each undergraduate diploma.
- Legalized copy of the translation of each undergraduate diploma. Translations must be done by an official translator.
- Original academic transcript of undergraduate studies in Spanish or legalized photocopy.
- Legalized copy of the translation of the notes of the university studies. The translation must be done by an official translator.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Legalized copy of the English test (TOEFL or IELTS).
- Any additional information specified as a prerequisite for the chosen course.
- 2 letters of recommendation
- Legalized photocopy of passport.
Now that you know everything you need to study postgraduate programs in New Zealand, what are you waiting for to ask for more information about the country of the kiwis. Search for postgraduate programs in New Zealand on CatEight.com.
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