Studying in New Zealand post Covid19
New Zealand is the premier choice for thousands of migrants each year to wish to study abroad. There are multiple course opportunities and desirable post study visa options. At the heart of New Zealand’s education system sits the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) governed by New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). This includes both secondary and tertiary qualifications. NZQA is the government agency responsible for New Zealand qualifications, and for assessing qualifications gained overseas to determine the equivalent level in New Zealand terms.
Covid19 has presented unique opportunities for many migrants and Kiwis to return to studying in search of better and more resilient career options. Aims Global is well positioned to assist potential new and returning students in mapping their study and career pathways. Whether they choose to upskill or retrain due to employment impacts of Covid19 or naturally progress in their chosen field of study, we enable students and professionals to work through options and make a fully informed decision. We are able to deliver this for our clients through extensive partnerships with key education institutes around New Zealand. We’ve been doing this for over 15 years so we know the education landscape pretty well!
Commonly used categories of student visas
Whilst there are a few different kinds of student visas available to study in New Zealand, most common are dependent student visas and international fee-paying student visas.
International Full Fee Paying
These include both first-time offshore students and onshore returning students. Not every institute can provide offers of place to international students. Only those education providers that are signatories to the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016 can do so. This visa allows the holder to study full time with part-time work rights (full-time during holidays) in most cases. The student visa granted is normally for the same length of time as the study paid for. For these applications, a person’s bona fide (genuine intentions) and funds are very closely assessed. Immigration officers want to know why a particular course has been chosen, how this aligns to a person’s profile and that there is a genuine intent to study the course. Funds must be from a genuine source and are genuinely available to the student.
Dependent Student Visas
Dependent children of certain kinds of work and student visa holders can apply for a student visa to allow them to go school while their parents work or study in New Zealand. These students are treated as domestic students and do not require to pay international tuition fees. However, it is critical that applicants are aware of the cut-off age for dependency for temporary visas. Children aged 20 or over are not eligible to file a visa based on the relationship with their parents, but can file a visa in their own right. This age group will no longer be eligible for dependent student visas. To support an dependent student visa, a parent on Essential Skills Work Visa must earn atleast $43,322.76 pa before tax.