Education in New Zealand

Hello Jūlija,

Happy New Year!

All international students have to pay for studies, college or school. Some courses are free for Resident Visa holders. But you may still want to mail the immigration department or any of the college directly to get a more accurate answer.

Since you most likely would be coming over on Student Visa, you can check about scholarships to offset some of your cost.

if you come on any Visa other than Resident Visa, you will have to pay for your kids too. If you come on Resident Visa or once you acquire Resident Visa education is basically free in state schools.

Another thing, children start school after their 5th birthday. For kids younger than that you can send them to playschools/pre-school but they are a bit expensive. Though if you are on Resident Visa most preschools provide 20 hours free.


Check out these links:
https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/livin … -preschoolhttp://www.studyinnewzealand.com/faqshttp://www.nzqa.govt.nz/studying-in-new … w-zealand/

As for working while studying: For masters degree courses you can work full time. For all other courses, students are allowed to work part-time (I believe 20 hours) when semesters are on. And full time during the holiday period.

http://www.studyinnewzealand.com/live-w … -you-study

As a disclaimer: I'm not an immigration advisor so the best advice you can get is from the immigration department. Feel free to mail them, they reply within a reasonable time.

Hope you can find out something that works for you and your kids! All the best.

Cheers,
- A

Hi.  I would just like to say that public schools are not free if you consider the cost of books, uniforms & other incidentals which can all add up.  For a single child attending primary school it can cost up to $500 NZD per year.  The majority of all schools in New Zealand now require children to wear a school uniform even for public school.  As for the Visa's,  you have to be able to prove that you can financially support yourself and your children for the period you intend to study here before a residential visa will be granted.  There are of course student visa's if your coming here to study, but i think they may not grant you a student visa until all your course costs have been met first.  That ensures you are really coming to New Zealand for the purposes that you state (such as to study).  This is just what i have been told from my foreign friends who study here.  Hope this helps.