Study in NEW ZEALAND

Basics:

In order to apply for the student VISA the student needs to have good academics

Relevant background to the course of choice.

Justified intention to study in New Zealand

Proof of funds to support the tuition fees and the living expenses

Dependents information: Dependents can accompany if the applicant is traveling for the post- graduate course or a Level 7 course which is under skill shortage area.

Immigration on Arrival:Your passport will be checked when you arrive at the airport to make sure you’re allowed to come into the country. It must be valid for the whole of your stay.

Planning & Housing: It’s a good idea to have some accommodation organized before you arrive in New Zealand. As a student, you could stay in a hall of residence, rent a house with friends, or board in a homestay. Living in a homestay or a hall of residence are probably the best options for someone who is new to New Zealand, because it will allow you to make new friends quickly. Make sure you check how the accommodation you choose is heated, as some older houses in New Zealand are not insulated and can be very cold.

Another accommodation option is a homestay. You can live with a host family, in a room of your own, and they provide meals. Interacting with your hosts and meeting their neighbors and friends is a great way to advance your English and get ‘up close’ with New Zealand’s way of life and culture.

Restricted items to bring to NEW ZEALAND:

The importation of a limited number of goods is prohibited outright – for example, objectionable publications and certain dog tracking collars – and approval cannot be given to import them. Others may be allowed in if you have the required approval to import. Approval to import must be obtained before these goods are brought into New Zealand. Use the category filter to find the specific area of prohibited imports that interests you.

Welcome week:Welcome Week is your opportunity to make friends, learn more about studying at the university and living in the country. You will be invited to attend a number of events throughout Welcome Week – some of which are optional and others compulsory.

Travel to your institution:If you are staying near the university, there is shuttle service available. Else, you may chose to travel by trains or buses.

Opening a bank account:Although you open the bank account with ANZ Bank when you apply for the student VISA under FTS but still if you wish to open another account you will need two documents: one to prove your identity and one to prove your address. This applies both in branch and online. Proving your identity is simple. You just need your passport.

Traditions & Culture:Maori culture is a rich and varied one, and includes traditional and contemporary arts. Traditional arts such as carving, weaving, kapa haka (group performance), whaikorero (oratory) and moko (tattoo) are practiced throughout the country. Practitioners following in the footsteps of their tipuna (ancestors) replicate the techniques used hundreds of years ago, yet also develop exciting new techniques and forms. Today Maori culture also includes art, film, television, poetry, theatre, and hip-hop.

Food:Māori cuisine was historically derived from that of tropical Polynesia, adapted for New Zealand’s colder climate. Key ingredients included kūmara (sweet potato), fern root, taro, birds and fish. Food was cooked in hāngi (earth ovens) and roasted, and in geothermal areas was boiled or steamed using natural hot springs and pools. Various means of preserving birds and other foods were also employed. Māori were one of the few peoples to have no form of alcoholic beverage.

Safety: The 2015 Global Peace Index, which compares 162 countries for the risk of personal violence, rates New Zealand as the world’s fourth safest country just after Iceland, Denmark and Austria.

Welfare: All Education members are signatories to the Code or Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. This is a quality assurance document administered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Education institutions take this seriously and are committed to providing the best quality care for students. Long before students step off the plane, the education providers are there helping students with learning assistance, affordable accommodation, and ongoing care and support.

Health:Most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your visit, you may be liable for the full costs of that treatment. Full details on entitlements to publicly-funded health services are available through the Ministry of Health, and can be viewed on their website at www.moh.govt.nz

Transport: Most of New Zealand’s cities are relatively small, so it is easy to get around. Day to day commuting in the city is often by bus, biking or walking. There are good bus networks in the main cities (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin), plus Auckland and Wellington also have commuter rail and ferries.