| New Zealand (or Aotearoa, the Maori name for New | | | | operated by the Ministry of Education, provides a |
| Zealand) situated south-east of Australia in the South | | | | framework for looking after international students. It |
| Pacific Ocean, is famous mainly for two reasons - | | | | covers pastoral care, accommodation and provision |
| amazing scenery and quality education. It is a | | | | of information. All members of Education Tauranga |
| wonderful place for tourism, and also a superb | | | | are signatories to this code. Schooling is compulsory in |
| destination for study. This feature is corroborated by | | | | New Zealand for all children from their sixth until |
| thousands of international students from various | | | | sixteenth birthday. Schooling is free at state |
| countries like South East Asia, the UK, North Asia, | | | | (government funded) schools until the age of 19. |
| Japan, South America, India and Australia, and many | | | | There are 10 levels of study in New Zealand schools |
| others.Travel to New Zealand is easy, with many | | | | and universities. The lowest level is a Certificate and |
| cities offering direct flights. The two main international | | | | the highest is a Doctoral degree. Each level is more |
| airports are in Auckland and Christchurch. Wellington, | | | | complex than the one below it. These are the names |
| New Zealand's capital city is also connected to | | | | of qualifications and their levels: . Levels 1 to 4 - |
| Australia.New Zealand has an excellent reputation as a | | | | Certificates . Levels 5 and 6 - Diplomas . Level 7 - |
| place where education is synonymous with quality, | | | | Bachelors degrees and Graduate Diplomas . Level 8 - |
| offering a safe learning environment and excellent | | | | Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas, and |
| study opportunities. Various types of courses are | | | | Bachelors degrees with Honors . Level 9 - Masters |
| available for academic, professional and vocational | | | | degrees, and . Level 10 - Doctoral degrees. There are |
| studies at universities, polytechnics, colleges of | | | | eight national universities offering degree programs at |
| education, secondary schools and private training | | | | undergraduate and postgraduate levels in academic |
| establishments. The education system of New | | | | and professional studies.All universities offer a broad |
| Zealand provides a progressive education to | | | | spectrum of subjects for degrees in commerce, |
| students, thus helping them in achieving a leading | | | | science and the arts. Each university has also |
| position in the global scenario. Many New Zealanders | | | | developed its own specialist subjects, such as |
| are working internationally and are involved in | | | | technology, engineering, computer studies, medicine, |
| collaborative research with prestigious universities | | | | agriculture and environmental studies. There are 20 |
| world wide. Students can enroll on short-term course | | | | Polytechnics and Institutes of Technology. These |
| such as English language programs, secondary schools | | | | provide education and training at tertiary levels |
| for ultimately enrolment into tertiary institutions. They | | | | ranging from introductory studies through to full |
| can also enroll in vocational courses and degree | | | | degree programs. Specialized training for teachers is |
| programs.There are many reasons for choosing New | | | | available at Colleges of Education. Additional university |
| Zealand over others. High standards of education, | | | | studies may be undertaken as part of the courses. |
| internationally recognized qualifications, excellent | | | | All colleges offer advanced courses for trained |
| facilities and study support for international students | | | | teachers. There is a comprehensive system of |
| are to name a few. Students have access to more | | | | distance education, providing courses similar to those |
| advanced technology than they could wish for. New | | | | in conventional New Zealand educational institutions. |
| Zealand produces top graduates who can take their | | | | There are also private (i.e. not state-funded) tertiary |
| place with confidence in the international arena. Also, | | | | institutes and training providers, including over 100 |
| English being the everyday language of New | | | | English language schools.English language is one thing |
| Zealanders (English and Maori are the two official | | | | about which international students have to take |
| languages), it proves to be a big help to international | | | | special care. It is especially applicable for those who |
| students, specially for those who don't have English | | | | are not well-versed in English. The English language |
| as a native language in their home country. Since the | | | | requirements for international students are strict in |
| education programs and degrees are based on the | | | | most tertiary institutions. IELTS (International English |
| British education system and are well recognized | | | | Language Testing System), is used at most tertiary |
| internationally, it is possible to do an undergraduate | | | | institutions in the United Kingdom, Australia, New |
| degree in New Zealand and a post-graduate degree in | | | | Zealand and Canada and increasingly used in the |
| another English-speaking country. Foreign students | | | | United States too. It assesses the ability to read, |
| are accepted at all levels of learning and there is a | | | | write, speak and listen in English. Care should be |
| wide variety of subjects to choose from.The cities | | | | taken to find out what standard of English is exactly |
| are quiet, clean and beautiful and are ideal for | | | | needed for the course chosen for study. But it's also |
| studying in. The cost of living and education is not | | | | true that most of the universities offer English |
| high when you compare it to other places with the | | | | language tuition for students who are already enrolled |
| same standard of education. It is not difficult to | | | | and also to those who want to study there.Even |
| obtain a visa and the country is stable and safe. The | | | | though ample choices are available in respect to |
| climate is relatively mild, wet winters and warm, dry | | | | institutes and courses, it is important to choose an |
| summers. The weather can also change dramatically | | | | institution according to the field of specialization and |
| and very quickly, so that people joke about | | | | the institution's reputation in that field.One point |
| experiencing "four seasons in one day". The weather | | | | worth mentioning is the Quarantine regulations. The |
| varies a lot between different geographical regions. | | | | Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry enforces very |
| Since New Zealanders are well-traveled and have a | | | | strict quarantine requirements in order to protect |
| great interest in people from other cultures, | | | | New Zealand's agricultural, horticultural and forestry |
| international students can acclimatize much sooner | | | | industries. Live animals or plants, or animal or plant |
| than they would in other countries. Students from all | | | | products, including seeds, or perishable food, are not |
| corners of the globe studying and socializing together | | | | allowed into the country. It's a good idea to follow |
| also help them in feeling at ease.A Code Of Practice, | | | | these regulations to avoid unpleasant situations. |