New Zealand is experiencing strong demand for IT professionals. Its tech sector is made up of more than 20,000 businesses, most of them small to medium. Together, they employ around 114,000 people currently, and there’s a forecasted need for about 5,000 more people every year. In 2019 alone, 3,683 immigrants were welcomed into the country for various IT roles.

NZ’s tech sector is diverse and exciting. NZ leads the way in IT, with places like RexBionics (robotic exoskeletons), Xero (accounting software), Rocket Lab (space travel), and Toku Eyes (diagnostic software).

This need is acknowledged by the New Zealand government, that has 12 ICT roles on the skills shortage ‘Green List’. This list expedites immigration for qualified and skilled people. The following list of roles are ‘tier one’, which indicates the visa type is straight to residence:

  • ICT Project Manager (ANZSCO 135112)

  • ICT Managers nec (ANZSCO 135199)

  • Multimedia Specialist (ANZSCO 261211)

  • Developer Programmer (ANZSCO 261312)

  • Software Engineer (ANZSCO 261313)

  • Software Tester (ANZSCO 261314)

  • Software and Applications Programmers nec (ANZSCO 261399)

  • ICT Security Specialist (ANZSCO 262112)

  • Systems Administrator (ANZSCO 262113)

  • Chief Information Officer (ANZSCO 135111)

  • Analyst Programmer (ANZSCO 261311)

  • Database Administrator (ANZSCO 262111)

Added to this exceptional PR opportunity, IT professionals in NZ are well paid. Many businesses also offer flexible employment and working from home options too.

About half of New Zealand’s IT roles are based in Auckland, 14% in Wellington and Christchurch with the remainder (almost 24,000 workers) spread through regional areas of New Zealand.

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How Studying IT in New Zealand Can Lead to PR

The professionals listed on the Green List are eligible for straight-to-residence visa. This makes the IT career pathways in NZ exceptionally attractive.

  1. Get a student visa for the duration of your course

  2. Apply for your post-study work visa. This allows you to live and work in NZ in any role for up to two years

  3. Find relevant employment in your Green List role

  4. Apply for your straight-to-residence visa

Top Information Technology Courses and Universities in New Zealand

There are several broad categories of IT professionals in demand. New Zealand degrees are highly respected around the world, and are tailored to suit the needs of the industry, ensuring graduates are highly employable.

Depending on which role you want to work in, there are a range of entry bachelor’s degree options:

  • Bachelor Engineering (Hons) in Software Engineering

  • Bachelor of Information Technology

  • Bachelor of Information Sciences

  • Bachelor of Applied Information Technology

  • Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences

  • Bachelor of Science

For these, you’ll have a range of majors to choose from. Depending on your interest, this could be:

  • Software Development

  • Networks and systems administration

  • Information systems and management

  • Cybersecurity

  • Data science and analytics

  • Artificial intelligence

From there, you can choose a masters, PhD, or a huge range of post graduate diplomas and certificates. These allow you to truly specialise in your field, giving you better employment options and higher salary bands.

  • Master of Cyber Security

  • Master of Information Technology

  • Master’s in information sciences

  • Master’s in computer and information sciences

  • Master’s in information governance

  • Masters in Artificial Intelligence

  • Master’s in bioinformatics

  • Master’s in computer science

IT Certifications, Micro-Credentials, and Short Courses

Rather than a full MA or PhD, there’s also the option of short courses. These help to hone your skills, enhance employability, and increase your knowledge.

5 Popular IT Course Providers in New Zealand

There are three types of providers in New Zealand. Privately owned institutes, public universities, and public institutes of technology. University degrees tend to be more theoretical, technology institutes are more hands-on, and private institutes need to be judged on their own merits.

Whitecliffe School of Information Technology

Whitecliffe have everything from short micro-courses only nine weeks long, through to bachelor and post graduate qualifications. These courses focus heavily on growing skills that are much needed in the industry. Learning is very hands-on and likelihood of employment after graduating is good.

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

One of the leading computer science providers in NZ, AUT offers two Bachelor options, and eight postgraduate courses. With strong international partnerships and an emphasis on research, this is a solid option for anyone wanting to get into the industry.

University of Canterbury

UC is known for their excellence in engineering courses. They offer computer science, data science, and software engineering studies. There are eight post-grad qualifications including honours years. If you want to be living in the South Island, this is a fantastic location.

University of Auckland

University of Auckland is home to New Zealand’s largest, most diverse, and most accomplished computer science school. A focus on research and a varied range of courses, you could specialise in artificial intelligence, software systems, data science, digital security, or almost any other facet of IT. Moving beyond code, app development, and networks, UT offer in depth specialisations that will assist with your career.

Victoria University Wellington

Victoria University has a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, in AI, cybersecurity, electronics, and computer graphics and games, alongside the more traditional software engineering and computer science.

IELTS Score Requirements for IT Courses

The IELTS score required for an undergraduate degree will differ across universities. On average, you can expect they will be required an IELTS (Academic) minimum overall score of 6.0 with no sub-score below 5.5 for undergraduate courses.

Scholarships for IT Students in New Zealand

In addition to these scholarships, also check out the individual scholarships offered by your institution.

Study IT in New Zealand and Get PR, Fast

If you want to get PR in New Zealand, you can plan strategically to engineer the best result for your IT career pathways in NZ. By choosing the in-demand IT courses and gaining relevant experience, you can maximise your chances of securing PR. There’s huge need for IT professionals in NZ, and it offers a clear pathway from studying to residency.

If you want to study IT in New Zealand, get in contact with IDP today. We can help with choosing your provider, the best course for your goals, and even your applications and visa process. There’s no better time to start than today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I study IT in New Zealand for permanent residency?

Yes. There are a large number of IT careers that are straight-to-residency visa types because of skill shortages in NZ.