New Zealand university education
June 14, 2008
The main co-ordinating body for New Zealand Universities is the New Zealand Vice Chancellors’ Committee (NZVCC). This committee looks after the interests of the 7 NZ universities in Auckland, Victoria, Canterbury, Waikato, Massey, Lincoln and Otago.
The New Zealand Vice Chancellors’ Committee is the official governing body between the universities and the New Zealand Government. The NZVCC formulates, promotes and co-ordinates policy on behalf of the seven universities and the international unit works on the promotion and marketing of New Zealand as an international study destination.
All NZ universities offer Bachelor’s, Masters and Doctoral degrees which usually take between 3-6 years to complete. Postgraduate diplomas generally take 1 year of study after the Bachelor’s degree has been completed and a Master’s degree will require two years of work after a Bachelors degree has been completed. The Ph.D. usually takes at least 3 years of full-time study and research and is awarded on the basis of the students thesis.
New Zealand university education is recognised internationally with many New Zealand graduates continuing onto postgraduate study at universities in the UK, Canda and the United States before beginning careers overseas or back home in NZ.
The New Zealand academic year goes from February to November with a long summer break from late November to early February with most universities operating on a two-semester system.
The grades that are achieved in tests, assignments and practical work experience count towards the final grade for a degree with most courses having a final written examination that is held either mid-year or the end of the academic year around November.
To study in New Zealand students need to have fluent English language skills. There are many English language colleges in NZ to assist international students reach the level of English language competence requried for university studies. For example NZ universities have minimum levels of competence in IELTS which is 6.0 or 550 in TOEFL. This applies to most undergraduate degrees.
Admission is generally the same across all of the New Zealand university system but some individual universities can require higher standards for admission to courses which are in higher demand.
New Zealand living and tuition fees compare favourably with those of other countries and their universities.
A recent research report prepared by Deloitte confirms that the cost of study for international students in New Zealand is internationally competitive.
In late 2007, Education New Zealand commissioned an independent report by Deloitte to examine the real costs of study abroad for international students, both in New Zealand and in other selected English speaking countries.
“The cost of an education in New Zealand for international students is very competitive with our English speaking competitors on the global education market,” said Robert Stevens, Chief Executive of Education New Zealand, on release of the report.
“When you compare the cost and the quality, New Zealand stacks up as a smart choice for students seeking excellence and value.”
The study took into account course costs, living costs and other essential costs such as visa charges and insurances.
Key findings include:
-New Zealand’s tertiary tuition fees at a Bachelors level are markedly less than UK and USA, and generally less than Australia and Canada
-Doctorate study costs are significantly less due to New Zealand’s international fees policies at this level
-Masters level costs are not generally less due primarily to differing course lengths across countries
-New Zealand secondary school costs are lower than other countries
-English language costs are competitive
-Canada has the most competitive price structures along with New Zealand
-UK and USA are generally significantly more expensive than Australia, Canada and New Zealand.
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Study in New Zealand
i like 2 study in new zealand .im in srilanka now.i pass G.C.E O/L and G.C.E A/L in srilankan level.now i like 2 study information technology in new zealand so i want some information beliow these things,
* What are Good universities
* How much i have paid for the first semistre
* What are education quelifications you want from me
* what are the other quelifications you want from me
so send me the reply to these soon
thanks,