I’m a PhD student. Can I stop studying to work full-time?
PhD students usually have unlimited work rights.
Study
- Can I change my course and education provider?
- Can I change my sponsor?
- Can I do unpaid work while studying in New Zealand?
- Can I extend my visa if I failed one of my papers?
- Can I stay in New Zealand after my studies?
- I’m a PhD student. Can I stop studying to work full-time?
- Can I undertake 2 courses at the same time if one course is by correspondence?
- Can I work full-time and study part-time?
- Can I work while studying?
- How long can I travel or be away overseas?
- I am unable to leave New Zealand before my visa expires. What can I do?
- Staying for a graduation ceremony after your studies
- My scholarship funding has stopped. Can I apply for a further student visa?
- Can I get a refund of my application fee?
Option A: Check your visa conditions
PhD students usually have unlimited work rights.
You don’t need to suspend your studies in order to work full-time but you must still be studying your PhD full-time.
Option B: Talk to your education provider
If your education provider lets you suspend your studies for an extended period of time, they may need to notify us of this. They will advise you of this and any next steps.
If your education provider doesn't let you suspend studies, and you don’t want to continue studying your PhD full-time, you may need to apply for a new visa.
Option C: Apply to stay longer
If you have completed your PhD thesis and it has been submitted for examination, you can apply for a Post Study Work Visa.
If you don’t want to continue studying your PhD, but you want to remain in New Zealand, you must apply for a new visa.
Explore visas that let you visit, work, study, live or invest in New Zealand.