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New Zealand is a country famous for its world-leading education, which is the dream of countless young people. However, the cost of studying in New Zealand is still something that parents and students are not really clear about and still have many concerns. This article will answer all the questions about the costs of studying in New Zealand, let's find out in detail with IDP.
How much is the tuition fee to study in New Zealand? New Zealand tuition fees will depend on each program and level of study, each program will have to pay a different fee. In addition, New Zealand also has a diverse system of private and public schools, with each form, the fees are also different, the average fees are as follows:
Level of study | Estimated Tuition Fees |
English | $499-548/week |
High School | 19,500 - 45,000 NZD/year |
University Preparation | $25,080- $31,250 NZD/ year |
College | $30,096-39,800 NZD/year |
University | NZD 29,425 - NZD 55,247 per year |
Postgraduate | $34,650 - $53,030 NZD/year |
This fee is not expensive at all compared to other European countries, even cheaper than countries such as the UK and the US. However, compared to developed countries in Asia such as Japan and Korea, tuition fees may be higher but not much, in return you will receive a European-standard education and develop more in thinking.
To study in New Zealand, you first need to prepare the cost of the visa, which includes the visa fee to be paid to the New Zealand consulate
After completing the visa application steps required by Immigration New Zealand, you will have to pay the fee to the Immigration Department. This fee is NZ$375, which will vary depending on the period and the redemption price. From 1 October 2024, this fee will change from NZ$750
Normally, each New Zealand student will have to pay a health insurance premium of $697 - 750 per year, which will be valid for 12 months. However, when buying health insurance, after studying and living in New Zealand, in case of illness, you will only need to pay a small fee for a medical examination.
As for where to live, you have a lot of options when studying abroad, depending on the type of house and place of stay, the fee is also quite different. Here are 3 forms of accommodation that are considered the most popular for international students when studying in this country, specifically:
Type of Housing | Average cost |
School Dormitories | About $346 (about more than 8,500,000 VND) without food) to $484 (nearly 12,000,000) (food) per week140 |
Shared house | From $140 to $293 per week (about more than 3,000,000 VND to more than 7,000,0000), depending on the city |
Homestay (meals included) | $285 or more/ 1 week (about more than 7,000,000) |
You can completely choose your place of residence depending on the price you can afford, so that it is the most reasonable. If you do not have relatives, you should stay in the school's dormitory during the first period of studying abroad to avoid being deceived or inconvenienced in daily life.
However, staying in a hostel is also an option worth considering. In addition to being able to save on room costs, you can expand your relationships and get to know more people in a foreign country.
According to the regulations of the New Zealand Consulate, the minimum living expenses for high school students are $17,000/year, and for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students, it is $20,000/year. For a more specific and detailed view of living expenses, you can refer to more information about travel expenses, utility bills, and entertainment expenses as listed below.
5.1 Travel expenses
All cities and towns in New Zealand have reliable and inexpensive public transport such as buses (some buses have cheaper fares for students). Auckland and Wellington also have train services to the suburbs.
If you live in areas close to campus, you will save money on travel expenses. If you live farther, the cost of moving can be up to $37 per week. Private cars are also one of the means of transportation, however most students will choose walking or public transportation to save money.
5.2 Other costs
Cost Type | Average cost | Note |
Food | About $80-$120 per week | Prices may vary depending on where you live. If you choose to live in a dormitory with catering or homestays, this cost will include the cost of your accommodation |
Telephone | From $19 per month or more | Choose from monthly account plans or prepaid plans for mobile. The prepaid plan that includes calling, texting, and data starts at around $19 a month. |
Internet | $90 dollars a month | This price is the average price for unlimited wifi for a shared apartment (shared between roommates) |
Entertainment | $55 per week | This is the suggested cost from the University of Auckland (may include an outdoor dinner and a movie) |
Electricity bills | $200-$300/ month | This is the electricity bill if you river in your own house. If you live in an apartment, this cost will be cheaper |
This fee is based on an average calculation only and is not fixed, so it is for reference only. To calculate the details, you need to rely on many different factors, including your level of education, personal needs, and place of residence,...
Level of study | Estimated Tuition Fees |
English | $499-548/week |
High School | 19,500 - 45,000 NZD/year |
University Preparation | $25,080- $31,250 NZD/ year |
College | $30,096-39,800 NZD/year |
University | NZD 29,425 - NZD 55,247 per year |
Postgraduate | $34,650 - $53,030 NZD/year |
The above fee is not fixed for anyone, there will be many changes based on the needs of each person. However, the cost of living in New Zealand may be slightly lower than in other countries such as the UK, Australia, and the US,...
In addition to the fixed costs mentioned above, you can completely reduce the cost of studying in New Zealand in the following ways:
Apply for scholarships to study in New Zealand: The New Zealand government has always created conditions for international students, so it offers a wide variety of government scholarships. In addition, there are school-level scholarships, which also reduce costs quite a lot.
Part-time work: International students in New Zealand are allowed to work 20 hours a week or full-time during holidays.
Reduce personal needs: Cook by yourself or buy things at wholesale markets, choose a place to live near the school to save on travel costs, make the most of your student ID card to get discounts in some cases, limit traveling too much, buy liquidated goods for cheaper prices, etc. ...
There are many ways to save money on studying in New Zealand
The above is the entire cost of studying in New Zealand, although this fee is not completely accurate for all cases, but it is also an average cost worth referring to for parents and students. The cost of studying in New Zealand is not too expensive, but the experience in this country is completely worth it.
It can be seen that, although the cost of studying in New Zealand is quite expensive, you can completely realize your dream of studying abroad in the most economical way. Coming to IDP, you will be advised on the route, choose a school, choose a major as well as describe in detail the fees that you will have to pay when studying in New Zealand to be able to save money the most economical. With more than 50 years of experience, and over 80 admissions offices in 30 different countries, IDP Education promises to help make your study abroad dreams come true.
Article updated on 09/23/2024
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