Why Study in New Zealand

Why Study in New Zealand?

For a relatively small pair of islands located just southeast of Australia, New Zealand has a lot more to offer than its size suggests. Perhaps chief among its strengths and appeals is its education opportunities, which thousands of students from around the world take advantage of each year. New Zealand is one of the most popular study abroad destinations, and there’s little mystery as to why this might be, especially when you learn about the country.

Many already recognize it as a trendy place to visit in travels, but its popularity is more than just a fad. These travels are extending their reach into the realm of international study – and here are 5 reasons this is the case:

High-Quality Education System

For students looking to take their studies to a different and unfamiliar setting often begin their search with the quality of a country’s education system in mind. This is natural, as the main reason for going abroad is to experience a country while continuing your education at a high-quality university with global recognition. Luckily, for those interested in New Zealand, the country is home to one of the top-ranked education systems on the planet.

Ranking 14^th in terms of best education systems in the world, New Zealand attracts the best and brightest students from around the globe, largely thanks to its British-emulating education system. Because the British education system ranks 6^th in the world, the fact that New Zealand has mirrored it in so many capacities has not only lent to its rising through the ranks of education systems, but also explains its popularity in international study options.

World-Renowned Academic Institutions

Within its world-renowned education system is a plethora of some of the most well-known and highly-regarded universities on earth. In addition to dozens of private institutions, New Zealand has eight public universities – all funded by the government, and all of which are ranked in the top 3% of world universities by QS University Rankings. The schools enroll fewer students, meaning admissions is highly competitive, but this results in top-notch students studying in one of the world’s lowest student to teacher ratios.

Universities in New Zealand such as the University of Aukland are largely famous for the world-class programs and courses that make them up. All the programs offered by the state-funded universities in New Zealand go through stringent quality checks and even non-university education programs must be approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), a New Zealand government organization responsible for quality control.

Post-Graduate Job Opportunities

New Zealand is an incredibly popular destination for young adults to take some time off and do some volunteering during a gap year before, during, or even after their studies. But not everyone is prepared to set aside a year or even a few months without the structure they’re used to from the education system. There is good news if this sounds like you: New Zealand is not just a place for volunteer work – it has a thriving job market in a wide variety of industries.

New Zealand has impressive statistics when it comes to graduate employment: 97% of university graduates are employed after graduation, and 90% are in a field directly relevant to their study. Those are odds students like to see. But the good news doesn’t stop there. New Zealand also makes it easier than many other countries to stay after you graduate. The country’s immigration regulations include a post-study pathway for international students who have completed a New Zealand qualification, allowing you find a job and get work experience in a field directly related to your studies.

Multicultural Hub

According to the country’s 2013 census, New Zealand is home to more ethnicities than there are countries in the world. This, of course, speaks to how multicultural the islands that make up the nation truly are. But, it’s not only the country’s natives and locals that make the society so multicultural – New Zealand welcomes a large temporary and permanent immigrants, travelers, expatriates, and students from around the world, all of whom contribute to and shape its society.

Universities in particular are a hub for multicultural activity. The institutions are attended by a huge number of international students, and estimates suggest that 120,000 international students studied in the country in 2016. Some top backgrounds represented include Europe, Japans, India, South America, the US, and Australia.

Natural Beauty

You will recognize many of the most famous scenery in New Zealand from its prominent role in major films like Lord of the Rings. The country has been recognized for its beauty, and companies, travelers, and films have all flocked there to get a taste of it. Students, of course, came along with them.

New Zealand strikes a perfect balance, offering world-class cities with all the amenities one could ask for, with conveniences that outrank those in many other countries. On the other hand, it also has stunning natural beauty in the form of high mountain peaks, deep crystal lakes, dark caves, bright skies, and more. Plus, regardless of when you study there, you will never be lacking activities: in the winter, it has some of the best winter sports available, and in the summer, the outdoors are perfect for hiking, beach trips, swimming, and more.