These are usually located on the campus or nearby, with single or twin rooms. Bed linen and cleaning facilities are provided. Meals are eaten in a communal dining hall, with special dietary needs catered to. A warden lives on site, and social and cultural activities are organized for residents. Hostels usually have computer laboratories and recreation rooms. Some institutions provide "self-catering" hostels where 6-8 students have their own bedrooms and share a kitchen and living room.
Cost: approximately $200 per week.

Some cities have self-catering private or in

dependent hostels. Cost of furnished room, shared kitchen and lounge facilities is $90 - $130 per week, plus utilities (power, water, etc.)

* Home stay/Private Board

This is a room of your own in a suburban house, usually with a garden and lawns. Your host family provides meals. Interacting with your host family and meeting their neighbors and friends is an excellent way to improve your English. The host family helps you make phone calls, read bus timetables, find a doctor and so on. But home stay is not like living in a hotel. Some "give and take" is expected, as you become part of the family.
Cost: approximately $180 per week, plus one-time administration fee of about $150.

* Going "flatting"

This term means renting a house or flat (apartment) singly or with other people. Choose your own flat mates of the same or opposite sex with mixed accommodation, ranging from a two-bedroom apartment to a large house on its own land. Most rental properties are unfurnished, other than an oven, a laundry facility, curtains and carpet. The landlord does not have to provide heating. You pay for electricity, gas, telephone and water, including connection charges. A "bond" of up to four weeks' rent is held by Tenancy Services and refunded when you move out, if the flat is still in good condition. Tenancy Services, a division of the Ministry of Housing has information about dispute resolution procedures and your rights and obligations.

The accommodation office at your institution will probably have a notice board with advertisements for flats. The newspaper classified advertisements list rental properties available, mostly on Wednesday and Saturday nights. Rental agents charge you for services provided.

Flatting gives you more freedom, but requires a lot of maturity. You'll have to co-operate with flat mates to organize cooking and cleaning and paying the bills.

Cost: bond, plus about $120 per bedroom per week (cheaper in smaller cities) plus food, power, telephone, etc.

What is the Climate in New Zealand?
New Zealand is in the southern hemisphere, so there is a climate reversal. January and February are the warmest months, autumn is from March to May, winter from June to August, and spring from September to November. The climate is temperate with relatively mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The weather differs a lot between different geographical regions.

Four Seasons Capsuled in One Day
The weather can also change dramatically and very quickly, so that people joke about experiencing "four seasons in one day". It is a good idea to keep a coat or jersey with you, even if it looks bright in the morning. Warm, waterproof, clothing is essential if you go hiking.

Outdoors
The mild climate means outdoor recreation is an important part of the Kiwi way of life. Water sports and tramping or hiking are very popular. In summer, people are encouraged to "slip, slop, slap" (slip on a long-sleeved shirt, slop on some sunblock, and slap on a hat) to protect them from the strong sun.

Keeping Warm in Winter
While New Zealand does not get as chilly as some countries in the northern hemisphere, most houses are stand-alone houses built of wood and do not have central heating. So, the families wear warm clothing and use open fires, wood burners, gas or electrical heating in winter. Generally, people only heat the room they are occupying, rather than the whole house. Home stay bedrooms will have a heater, and the bed may also have an electric blanket, hot water bottle.

What are the Employment options in New Zealand?
If you are studying a three-year course, you are allowed to work during the summer holidays and up to 15 hours per week during the academic year. You will need a ''variation of conditions'' to your student permit. This is issued by the New Zealand Immigration Service. A fee may be charged.

These rules do not apply if you are a postgraduate student or need to get work experience in order to fulfill course requirements.

Taxes
Everybody who works in New Zealand must pay tax on what they earn.

Job Hunting
Student Job Search is a national organization that helps students find work. It has offices on tertiary institution campuses. For student jobs, such as working in a restaurant or bar, or doing manual labor, you could expect to earn about NZ$9 - $15 per hour before tax.

What are the Insurance Requirements?
As part of the Code of Practice essential that all international students have travel and medical insurance when enrolling for a New Zealand education. This can be done prior to your arrival in New Zealand, or else your institution will ensure that you obtain insurance as part of your enrolment (application forms will include a question on insurance). There are many well-known insurance companies in New Zealand who can offer you competitive insurance premiums to cover all your basic needs.

What is the Application Procedure?
Once you have found the New Zealand institution and course of study you wish to apply for, take the following steps to enroll yourself :

1. Complete the relevant application form(s) for your chosen course/s and return them to our office. Include a photo, educational documents (originals or certified photocopies) and certified translations, as required.
2. We will obtain an 'Offer of Place' letter confirming commencement dates and course details, and an invoice for the tuition fee.
3. Pay the fee.
4. The institution will send you a confirmed offer of place and confirmation of payment.
5. If you intend to study for more than 12 weeks, you need a student visa. Our office will assist you with this.
6. Let the institution know when you are arriving, so accommodation can be arranged and you can be met at the airport.

What are the English Language Requirements?
The language of instruction in New Zealand is English. Your institution will therefore want to know whether your English skills are adequate for the course of study you are applying for.

* An IELTS (International English Language Testing System) band score of 6 with no band less than 5.5. It assesses your ability to read, write, speak and listen in academic or general training contexts.
* A pass in English in the GCE (General Certificate of Education) 'O' level examination
* A TOEFL (Princeton Test of English as a Foreign Language) paper test (not the computer test) score of 550 and a TWE (Test of Written English) score of 4 (paper-based test) or 213, Essay rating 4.0 (Computer-based test)

English Language Schools

Language schools offer courses from beginner level, i.e. for people who can say 'hello' and 'goodbye' and have basic knowledge of the alphabet. For absolute beginners, who have no previous language learning experience, private tuition can be arranged.

How are your Credits Transferred?
If you want to get credit for prior study, this is called "cross-credit" or "exemption". It means that if you have done the first year of a course in your own country and want to go straight into the second year in New Zealand, you can apply to do so. This must be negotiated with the institution you are applying to study at. If your previous study was in an English-speaking country, the process will be easy. If not, it may simply be a matter of providing the faculty department (science, hospitality, geography, etc.) with a detailed description of the course you have studied so far.

In other cases, it may be necessary for the Qualifications Evaluation Service at NZQA to assess your incomplete qualification. They will only do this if the purpose is further study, i.e. if you intend to complete the qualification by studying in New Zealand. The fee is NZ$450 and the process takes around eight weeks.

How much are the tuition fees in New Zealand?

Type of Tuition Fees ($NZ)

English Language Courses approximately NZ$320 - NZ$400 per week
Polytechnic Courses: these range from NZ$10,000 - NZ$15,000 per year depending on the course or degree
University Degrees from NZ$10,500 - NZ$16,000 per year for most under-graduate degrees
Post-graduate Degrees begin from NZ$15,000 per year and MBA Degrees are about NZ$22,000 per year.
What are the other expenses in addition to your Fees?

Additional costs vary according to your age, the course you are taking, and the type of accommodation you choose, so the following estimates are only a guideline.

* Textbooks and stationery $500 per annum
* Student ID card $20
* Student membership $30
* Photocopy cards $100
* Transfer from airport up to $50 (may be included in orientation programme fee)
* Bus fares $30 - $60 per week
* Tea-Coffee $1 - $3 per cup
* Nights snacks $7 per one-course meal

What do your Fees cover and what are the payment methods?

You will need to pay in advance, because proof of payment is needed to get a student visa or permit. There is usually an application or processing fee that is not refundable, even if your application is not successful.

Method of Payment: Through the institution's agent in your country

If you cancel before the course starts, for instance because your visa or visa extension is not granted, or you are transferring to another institution, most or all of your tuition fee will be refunded, except for the registration and processing fees. If you cancel in the first week or so of the course, only part of your fee will be refunded. After that, you probably will not get any refund at all.

What the Fees cover :
(NZ$18,000-$25,000 per annum, contingent on your course. Up to $40,000 for postgraduate courses.)

* GST (tax)
* Registration and enrolment
* Student health and counseling
* Language support
* Use of most campus facilities

What is the cost to live in New Zealand?
The total cost depends on each student’s spending habits. However, a student should be able to live in New Zealand for a total cost of living of between NZ$8,000 and NZ$10,000 a year including accommodation, transport and entertainment.

What is GST ?
GST stands for Goods & Services Tax. All goods and services in New Zealand including tuition fees have GST Tax of 12.5% included in the fee. There are some items that do not have GST and these include bank fees and residential rental payments.

How do I apply to study in New Zealand?
The first step is to select an institution and course and then make an enrolment application for that course. The easiest and quickest way is to our office and we will locate a suitable institution and course to meet your requirements.

Is there an age limit to study in New Zealand?
There is no limit on the age of a person wishing to study in New Zealand however the New Zealand Immigration Service needs to be satisfied that the applicant is a genuine student when they process the student visa application.

How many education institutions are there in New Zealand?
New Zealand has 8 Universities, 25 Polytechnics and/or Institutes of Technology and about 440 secondary schools.

What is the difference between Universities and Polytechnics and Institutes of Technology?
Historically the main difference had been that Universities focused on academic programs and the Polytechnics focused on practical training. Over recent years both types of institutions have expanded their range of programs and now there is significant overlap between Universities and Polytechnics. Over recent years the Polytechnic programs have been expanded to include a wide range and number of degree programs. A number of Polytechnics have also merged together and have changed their names from Polytechnics to Institutes of Technology to better reflect their focus. Cross-credits for courses completed at the Polytechnic can be credited to ongoing University study in most instances.

What is a tertiary institution?
This is the collective name given to all institutions like Universities and Polytechnics who offer course for students to continue their studies after secondary school.

How long does it take to get a Bachelor’s Degree in New Zealand?
Most degrees in New Zealand are for 3 years but there are also a number of degrees which take 4 years.

Are New Zealand degrees recognized internationally?
New Zealand degrees are recognized internationally and will be accepted when applying for post-graduate study in most countries.

How much can I earn when I work in New Zealand?
Those students who are able to work under their visa will probably work in casual jobs either tutoring at their institution or working in restaurants or other service industries. The normal hourly wage rate will be from NZ$8.00 - NZ$15.00 per hour and you will have tax deducted from your wages before you receive your payment. On these amounts, the tax will normally work out at about 20 cents per $ and you should be able to obtain a full tax refund at the end of the financial year in April.

What happens when I finish my degree?
Students who have completed their degree in the normal time and have a job offer related to their studies can obtain a work visa for another 2 years to work in the job they have been offered as may qualify for residence.

Can I extend my student visa in New Zealand?
There is no problem in extending your student visa in New Zealand and this should be done in 1 or 2 days. You need to obtain a new school offer of place and pay the tuition fee, complete the student visa application and show that you have sufficient money or a financial sponsor to cover your living expenses in New Zealand.

Can my student visa be cancelled?
Yes. Your student visa can be cancelled and you may be requested to leave New Zealand if you do not meet the requirements of your student visa. The main requirements are that you must attend the classes and do not commit any crime or unlawful acts in New Zealand. If you have your student visa cancelled this is very serious as it will be noted in your passport and you will have difficulty traveling out of your home country in the future.

What happens if my student visa expires?
This is very serious. You should make every effort to extend your student visa before the expiry date. If your student visa expires you have to make a special submission to the New Zealand Immigration Service which they may or may not approve. There is total responsibility on you to extend your student visa and keep the visa current at all times.

Can I change my student visa in New Zealand?
If you have completed your course of study and you wish to remain in New Zealand as a visitor or apply for residence this is possible provided you have not got a Limited Purpose Visa.

What is a Limited Purpose Visa?
A Limited Purpose Visa is issued when the New Zealand Immigration Service considers the applicant does not meet the normal criteria to study in New Zealand but is prepared to allow the applicant the opportunity to show that he or she is a genuine student or a genuine visitor as the case may be. Limited Purpose Student Visas are issued for a specific period of time to allow the applicant to study a particular course. The applicant must meet the requirements of the visa and return to his/her home country before the expiry of the visa. In some special circumstance it may be possible to extend or change a Limited Purpose Visa to a normal visa.

Can I apply for New Zealand Residence?
If you meet the requirements of the current immigration policy in New Zealand it is possible for you to apply for residence at any time. In particular the immigration policy encourages students who have completed their degree in New Zealand to proceed to apply for permanent residence.

What happens if I lose my passport?
In this situation you should report the loss to the local Police Station and then forward a copy of the Police Report to your Consulate or Embassy to complete the requirements to have a new passport issued.

Can my parents visit me in New Zealand?
It should be no problem for parents to apply for a visitor visa and to visit their children in New Zealand provided they meet normal visitor visa policy requirements.

How long can I study in New Zealand?
Provided you pass your course and continue to meet the requirements of your student visa you can continue to extend your visa for as long as you wish. There is no limit on the time you can spend in New Zealand as a student.