U13.15 Work conditions for students enrolled at a tertiary institution or private training establishment
- For students enrolled at a tertiary institution or private training establishment, a student visa may be granted with conditions to allow the holder to work during the academic year, and during any scheduled vacations, including within the academic year.
- Students aged 16 or 17 years of age enrolled at a tertiary institution or private training establishment must have written permission from their education provider and written parental consent to be granted conditions allowing work.
U13.15.1 Work conditions for up to twenty hours in any given week
A student visa holder may be granted with conditions to work for up to 20 hours in any given week during the validity of the visa if the student is:
- undertaking a full-time programme of study (see U6.1.1) of at least two academic years’ duration; or
- undertaking a full-time programme of study, culminating in a New Zealand qualification at level four or higher on the New Zealand Qualification Framework; or
Note: Micro-credentials are not qualifications, even if they are listed on the NZQF. They are therefore excluded when assessing eligibility for work rights under (b).
- undertaking a full-time programme of study of at least one academic year’s duration as part of an approved tertiary student exchange scheme (see E11.45); or
- engaged in a full-time programme of study of at least 24 teaching weeks duration; and
- an immigration officer is satisfied that the primary purpose of the programme of study is to develop English language skills; and
- the student can provide acceptable English language test results, as set out at U13.15.20 (no more than 2 years old at the time the application is lodged); or
- undertaking full-time English language study of at least 14 consecutive weeks’ duration at an education provider that:
- is a university; or
- holds Category One status under the NZQA EER quality assurance system; or
Note: When assessing eligibility for work rights under (e) for an applicant who holds a current student visa, all consecutive previous English language study undertaken on this and any previous student visa can be counted towards the 14 consecutive week period provided the programme of study the applicant is applying for: - follows directly from their current study and - is with the same provider as that on their current and any previous student visa.
- undertaking a full-time foundation programme that commenced on or before 28 February 2014 and that programme of study is of at least one academic year’s duration at level four or higher on the New Zealand Qualification Framework at an education provider in Canterbury that:
- is a university; or
- holds Category One status under the New Zealand Qualifications Authority’s (NZQA) External Evaluation Review (EER) quality assurance system; or
U13.15.5 Full time work rights during Christmas-New Year vacation period
A student visa may be granted with conditions to allow the holder to work full-time during the Christmas-New Year vacation (summer vacation) period provided that the student is:
- studying full-time (see U6.1.1); and
- enrolled in a programme of study that has a minimum duration of at least two semesters during a period of at least eight months.
U13.15.10 Full time work rights during scheduled vacations
- A student visa may be granted with conditions to allow the holder to work full-time during all scheduled vacations, if the student is undertaking a full-time programme of study (see U6.1.1); and of at least one academic year’s duration.
- Despite (a) where scheduled vacations are more than one third of the programme of study duration for programmes of study offered by tertiary providers other than universities, full-time work rights may not be granted.
Note: An academic year means a programme of study of a minimum of 120 credits during a period of at least eight months (minimum of two semesters)
U13.15.15 Work conditions for masters by research or doctoral students
A student visa may be granted with conditions to allow the holder unlimited work rights if:
- the student is undertaking a Masters by Research or Doctoral degree, and
- the qualification is awarded by a New Zealand tertiary institution.
U13.15.20 Acceptable English language test results
The following English language test results are acceptable:
Test
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Minimum score required
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International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - General or Academic Module
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Overall score of 5.0 or more
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Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT)
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Overall score of 35 or more
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Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic)
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Overall score of 36 or more
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B2 First (First Certificate in English) (formerly Cambridge English: First (FCE))
or
B2 First for Schools (First Certificate in English) (formerly Cambridge English: First (FCE) for Schools)
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Overall score of 154 or more
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Occupational English Test (OET)
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Grade C or higher in all four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)*
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* A score of Grade C or higher in all four skills is required for the OET as there is no overall grade for this test.
Effective 29/07/2024
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