• New Zealand offers a high-quality education system with globally recognized universities, providing Indonesian students with qualifications that are valued worldwide.


• The country’s safe and welcoming environment makes it easy for Indonesian students to adjust to life abroad, with robust support systems for international students.


• New Zealand is known for its diverse and inclusive culture, allowing Indonesian students to interact with peers from all over the world and engage in cultural exchange.


• With a focus on practical, hands-on learning, New Zealand’s universities provide Indonesian students with the opportunity to gain real-world experience during their studies.


• New Zealand offers a range of scholarships specifically for international students, making it an affordable study destination for Indonesian students.


• The cost of living in New Zealand is relatively low compared to other Western countries, allowing Indonesian students to live comfortably on a student budget.


• New Zealand's stunning natural landscapes provide a perfect setting for outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and surfing, offering a great work-life balance for Indonesian students.


• English is the primary language of instruction, providing Indonesian students the opportunity to improve their language skills in a native English-speaking environment.


• New Zealand’s growing tech industry offers Indonesian students the chance to study in fields like software engineering, AI, and data science, with many opportunities for internships and employment.


• The country's universities have strong connections with global industries, providing Indonesian students with access to a wide network of professional opportunities.


• New Zealand’s progressive education system encourages creativity and critical thinking, helping Indonesian students develop essential problem-solving skills for their careers.


• The relatively small size of New Zealand’s student population fosters a close-knit academic community where Indonesian students can easily access support and resources.


• The post-study work visa program in New Zealand allows international students, including Indonesians, to work in the country for up to three years after graduation, gaining valuable career experience.


• New Zealand’s low crime rate and high standard of living offer Indonesian students a safe and comfortable environment to focus on their education.


• The country's emphasis on sustainability and environmental conservation makes it an ideal place for Indonesian students pursuing degrees in environmental science, agriculture, and renewable energy.

Student Visa & Health Insurance

The student visa will be valid for one (1) year and renewed itself every year. Students applying from Indonesia must submit a confirmed offer letter from an approved New Zealand education provider (verified by NZQA), proof of financial capacity covering tuition and living expenses (typically NZ$15,000-25,000 annually for most courses), medical and chest X-ray certificates for stays exceeding six months, a police character certificate, a valid passport (with at least three months validity beyond the end of studies).

You also need proof of good health through a medical examination conducted by an approved physician designated by Immigration New Zealand. The visa processing time is approximately 63 calendar days from submission.

Students are allowed to work part time as many as 25 hours per week (effective November 3, 2025, increased from the previous 20-hour limit) and full time during semester breaks. Work hours must comply with visa conditions, and exceeding the 25-hour limit can result in visa cancellation and a five-year re-entry ban. Students can earn at the current minimum wage of NZ$23.50 per hour for those 16 years and older (updated April 1, 2025), which will increase to NZ$23.95 from April 1, 2026.

Post-study work visa (open) will be awarded to students after completing their studies as much as 12 months to find a study related job. The new simplified Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV) framework as of 2026 grants a single three-year open work visa for all graduates at Level 7 and above (bachelor's degrees and higher), replacing the previous tiered one-year and two-year work visa system.

For Level 4-6 qualifications (diplomas and certificates), international students receive one year of restricted work rights where employment must be directly related to their field of study. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of course completion, and applicants must maintain at least NZ$5,000 in available funds for living expenses while job-seeking. 

After getting a job, employers can help provide a reference letter so that students can get work visas for two (2) years. With the 2026 Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) changes effective August 2026, the required skilled New Zealand work experience to qualify for residence visa has been reduced from three years to two years for most applicants, significantly accelerating the pathway from post-study work to permanent residence.

All international students must also hold mandatory medical and travel insurance as a condition of their student visa. Insurance requirements under the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 mandate that policies must provide unlimited cover for medical care, diagnosis, hospitalization, surgery, and repatriation due to serious illness.

Insurance premiums for full-year students range from NZ$899-2,247.50 annually (for single/family coverage respectively) at most universities. Coverage must start from 31 days prior to the course start date and extend until the visa expiry date, including travel both to and from New Zealand. International students are not eligible for New Zealand's public healthcare system and must pay full private medical costs (a hospital overnight stay costs over NZ$1,000), making comprehensive insurance essential.

Accommodation

As in Australia, international students in New Zealand have a wide selection of accommodation such as boarding schools; rent an apartment until the selection of the homestay. Accommodation types and 2026 weekly costs include: University Halls of Residence (self-catered, NZ$280-450/week with fully furnished rooms, utilities, and internet); Shared Flats/Flatting (NZ$140-280/week, most affordable and common); Homestay (NZ$300-500/week, includes meals and utilities).

Private studios and one-bedroom apartments cost NZ$350-550+/week. Major cities have varying costs: Auckland halls cost NZ$350-450/week while Dunedin halls cost NZ$200-320/week. Off-campus shared accommodation is increasingly popular among second-year and postgraduate students seeking cost efficiency.

Part Time Work

At this time, full-time students can work part time 25 hours per week during term time (increased from 20 hours effective November 3, 2025) and full-time work 40 hours during the holiday period. Secondary and tertiary students must meet specific eligibility criteria: the course must be at least 2 academic years long and result in an NZQCF Level 4 qualification or above, or be part of an approved tertiary student exchange programme.

For English-language students, work rights of 25 hours weekly apply if the course is 24 weeks or longer with acceptable English test results (IELTS 5.0 band score). Even after graduation, international students are still allowed to work for one (1) year through the Post-Study Work Visa, with up to three years of work rights for bachelor's degree holders and above.

Before doing part time work, students are required to obtain a permit from the immigration office in New Zealand, where no fees are required to obtain it. However, as of 2025-2026, most students' visa conditions automatically include work authorization; a separate permit application is no longer required in most cases, though students must ensure their visa conditions explicitly permit the intended work. Employers are responsible for verifying work-hour compliance, and institutions conduct regular welfare checks and roster audits to monitor student working patterns.

The salary earned during odd jobs around NZD10-NZD15 per hour. The current minimum wage is NZ$23.50 per hour for workers 16 years and older (as of April 1, 2025), significantly higher than historical rates. This represents the base minimum; many employers in hospitality, retail, and student-friendly sectors pay NZ$23-26/hour. Students working 20-25 hours weekly at minimum wage can earn NZ$470-588/week, substantially offsetting accommodation and living costs.

NEW ZEALAND QUALIFICATION AUTHORITY (NZQA)

As one of the Commonwealth countries, New Zealand uses the British education system that is recognized in the world. The equality of quality in all educational institutions both public and private is regulated by NZQA, a part of the Ministry of Education. In 2026, NZQA will introduce the Integrated Quality Assurance Framework (iQAF), replacing the previous evaluation system for polytechnics and private training establishments, with Immigration New Zealand using existing External Evaluation and Review (EER) ratings for 12 months during the transition to ensure a consistent visa experience for international students.

NZQA was designed develop and ensure the quality of educational programs organized by the school teacher, polytechnics, institutes of technology, and other educational institutions except universities. For international students seeking to enroll in 2026, only providers meeting updated NZQA quality assurance standards can support student visa applications; institutions that fail to meet new requirements will lose the ability to enroll international students, with newly established tertiary providers requiring NZQA approval and Pastoral Care Code of Practice compliance before accepting overseas applicants.

Primary & Secondary Schools

The elementary school in New Zealand starts from the age of five (5) years. Their academic year begins in January and ends in December. In general, the length of primary and secondary education in New Zealand is 13 years. Primary School until year 8, then Secondary School until year 13.

Students complete NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) assessments from Year 11 onwards; however, the New Zealand Government announced in August 2025 plans to replace NCEA with new certificates (New Zealand Certificate of Education for Year 12 and New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education for Year 13), with decisions expected in early 2026 and implementation beginning that year.

Compulsory education in New Zealand is up to year 10. After completing compulsory education (Year 10), students may continue to obtain NCEA Level 1, 2, or 3 qualifications, which require 60 credits plus 20 literacy and 20 numeracy credits to achieve at each level. After year 10, students may continue to Diploma to master certain skills.

After students enter Secondary School and complete the study, they will obtain the NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) qualification, which is recognized throughout New Zealand. To qualify for University Entrance (UE) in 2026, students must achieve NCEA Level 3 with three approved subjects (minimum 14 credits per subject at Level 3), plus literacy (10 credits: 5 reading, 5 writing at Level 2 or above) and numeracy (10 credits at Level 1 or above) requirements; most New Zealand universities require NCEA Level 3 rank scores between 130-250 for undergraduate admission depending on programme selectivity.

Institute of Technology and Polytechnics (ITP)

As mentioned before, students can continue to take education and training after year 10. They may take Certificate, Diploma or Bachelor Degree in Technology and Polytechnic Institute in New Zealand. New Zealand's 15 polytechnics and institutes of technology offer qualifications from Level 1 Certificates to Level 7 Bachelor Degrees and Level 8+ postgraduate qualifications, all quality-assured by NZQA. Polytechnics in New Zealand include Wintec (Hamilton), Otago Polytechnic (Dunedin), SIT (Southland), and Eastern Institute of Technology (Napier).

The programs offered emphasize on experience and practical application in work situations, such as agriculture, art and design, building and construction, media studies, hospitality and tourism. All are developed based on cooperation with the advisory group representing the industry, so the program is relevant, up to date and innovative. 

Polytechnic programmes have direct industry partnerships including internships and placement opportunities; many ITP students transition directly into employment at 90%+ completion rates, and polytechnic qualifications are explicitly recognized by New Zealand employers as equivalent to university degrees for professional roles.

This vocational education graduates acquire equal status with university degrees. Polytechnic Institute of Technology & fees ranged between NZD 16,000-NZD 20,000 per year. International student fees for 2026 at polytechnics range from NZ$13,300-31,400 annually depending on programme level and subject area: Certificates (Level 3-4) cost NZ$13,300-26,600 yearly; Diplomas (Level 5-6) range from NZ$24,500-31,400 annually; Applied Science and Engineering programmes cost approximately NZ$26,600-27,650; Hospitality and Culinary programmes cost NZ$26,600; and English language programmes cost NZ$8,500 for 17-week courses. These fees are notably lower than university undergraduate costs.

3. Professional Degree Program (Undergraduate Degree) Professional & Graduate Program (Postgraduate Degree)

New Zealand has eight universities that offer an attractive learning environment and high-quality qualification, ranging from Bachelor level courses to PhD in the academic and professional studies. All eight universities are ranked within the world's top 600 by QS World University Rankings, with University of Auckland ranked #68 globally, Massey University #239, University of Otago #276, and University of Waikato #406.

These eight universities are spread throughout New Zealand. University located in the North Island is University of Auckland (27,800 students, ranked 1st in NZ), Auckland University of Technology (AUT; 25,270 students, founded 1895), the University of Waikato (14,065 students, established 1964), Massey University (26,505 students, established 1927, only NZ university offering aviation and veterinary medicine), and Victoria University of Wellington (20,605 students, established 1897).

The ones located on the South Island are the University of Canterbury in Christchurch (20,825 students, founded 1873, second-oldest NZ university), Lincoln University is also in the city of Christchurch (4,220 students, specialized in agriculture, forestry, and land-based studies), and the University of Otago in Dunedin (21,315 students, founded 1869, oldest NZ university with highly regarded medical school).

Tuition at the university level Undergraduate / Bachelor usually ranges from NZD 27,000-NZD 40,000 per year (depending on the major you take); 2026 fees at major universities range from NZ$35,000-55,000 for bachelor's degrees: University of Auckland charges NZ$40,225-52,148 for 2026 (Arts, Commerce, Engineering, Architecture), AUT charges NZ$36,521-48,921 for bachelor's (Arts, Business, Engineering, Design), Massey University charges approximately NZ$40,000-47,000 annually for bachelor's programmes, and Otago Polytechnic/universities charge within the NZ$35,000-48,000 range depending on field.

Whereas for the level Postgraduate / Master around NZD 31,000-NZD 40,000 per year. 2026 postgraduate fees range from NZ$20,000-45,000+ for Master's degrees, with Massey University charging NZ$38,840-50,190 for Postgraduate Diplomas in Arts and Business, AUT charging approximately NZ$39,000-59,582 for Master's programmes, and institutional variation based on programme type.

As for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), the international student tuition fee is the same as for locals or around NZD 6,000-NZD 7,000 per year. PhD fees for international students are significantly lower: AUT charges NZ$9,623.60 annually for onshore PhD study and NZ$47,321.60 for offshore delivery, while University of Otago and other institutions charge approximately NZ$6,500-9,000 per year for PhD study, with significant variations based on onshore vs offshore delivery and funding opportunities.