In this section we’ve given you a description of New Zealand qualifications from secondary school upwards. Study can also be a stepping stone to work or residence in New Zealand.

An overseas student may be hoping to study at a university in New Zealand. There are eight in New Zealand, located in:

• Auckland
• Wellington
• Hamilton
• Palmerston North
• Christchurch
• Dunedin.

There are also polytechnics, institutes of technology and language schools in many different towns and cities. And students can study extramurally with some of our education providers, so they can live away from the campus.

Most of our institutions offer similar subject options, although there are some that are regionally specific. And some qualifications are offered only in a few cities. For example, if a student wants to study medicine then it’ll have to be either Dunedin or Auckland.