Students may be in New Zealand for just a few weeks or they may be here for a long time. The first few weeks are often exciting and bewildering. Then the process of settling into New Zealand life begins.

It can be a lonely and anxious time for many young students.

All New Zealand education providers that enrol international students must sign and follow the Ministry of Education’s Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.

The Code provides a framework for looking after international students. It covers pastoral care, accommodation and provision of information. 

It also sets out minimum standards of advice and care, gives good practice procedures, and provides a complaints procedure for providers enrolling international students.

Education providers must monitor student progress and attendance, and inform Immigration New Zealand if students have stopped attending the course or programme they're enrolled in.

Many of our educational institutions have staff whose job is to look after the welfare of international students. It is wise to make sure that such a role is adequately factored into the planning for establishing a new international programme or expanding an existing one.