Study in New Zealand: courses, costs and next steps

Start with the qualification you want to earn

Write down the subject you want to study, the qualification level you need and the work or further study you want it to support. Read the compulsory subjects, major options, practical requirements and assessment approach before narrowing your list.

The programme comparison covers three Bachelor of Commerce degrees. Use the same questions to compare your own shortlisted programmes in another subject.

For a profession that requires registration, check the relevant professional body’s requirements as well as the university’s description. Ask the provider to explain which requirements its programme meets and what additional steps graduates may face.

Put two realistic options beside each other

For each option, record the campus, qualification, duration, intake, published academic and English requirements, and the international tuition year. Check that a fee covers the same number of points or the same study period before comparing amounts.

An annual estimate may change with your courses. A three-year degree also means planning for later years, including possible fee increases. Ask the provider for a written estimate for your proposed enrolment and retain its date.

Compare the three programme examples →

Work out the full cost and when you need the money

The student budget brings tuition, compulsory fees, insurance, accommodation, everyday spending and setup costs together. Start with one option and add another when you are ready to compare. Payment commitments can be added later without counting the same expense twice.

Build the budget with money you have or funding that has been confirmed. Keep a possible scholarship or a job you have not secured as a separate possibility. Families helping to pay should agree how much they can provide, when it becomes available and who will cover an unexpected expense.

You can download the editable budget and send it privately to a parent or sponsor. They can reopen it on the same budget page. The website link alone carries no personal figures.

Choose accommodation for the months you will be there

Compare a catered hall, homestay and shared residence on the full contract cost, included meals and bills, location and dates. A short academic-year contract can leave a summer gap. A furnished room may remove most of the furniture purchases in an ordinary household move.

Compare student accommodation →

Check the offer before paying

Keep the offer, fee statement, accommodation agreement and refund policy together. Resolve conditions and deadlines with the provider before making a payment. Use the before-you-pay checklist to record what is confirmed and what still needs an answer.

Read Immigration New Zealand’s fee-paying student visa guidance for the current public requirements, including the financial evidence INZ requires. Use your everyday budget to plan what you will spend; it does not determine whether your visa application meets INZ’s requirements.

Prepare for arrival once the plan is workable

Use the moving checklist, banking worksheet and arrival-cost helper for the practical steps. Check what your accommodation supplies before adding beds, appliances or kitchen equipment.

Use the eight-week moving budget for arrival timing. Keep the student budget for the longer study period and avoid counting the same arrival expenses in both totals when discussing how much you need.