Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees are offered by all New Zealand universities. A range of undergraduate and postgraduate diplomas is also available, along with honors programs (usually requiring an additional year of study)
Bachelor’s Degree
Students complete a prescribed number of units or courses for their degree. In some courses, field trips provide opportunities for on-site study of natural phenomena or social processes. Personal reading and research supplement these learning contacts. Students are expected to develop independent study skills with a minimum of professional supervision. Students must successfully complete the requirement for one stage before beginning work on the next. Student can do an additional “honor” year upon completion of their degree program. Honor is generally the first year of graduate work in the student’s field of study.
Graduate Diploma
A one-year, full-time program for graduates. It does not always require its students to have prior learning or experience in the subject matter of the diploma.
Postgraduate Diploma
A one-year, full-time program, designed for graduates, which builds on the subject matter in the academic field of the previous degree. A postgraduate diploma usually requires one year of full-time study after the bachelor’s degree and builds on the subject matter in the academic field of the bachelor’s degree. Some graduates may be required to study towards a Graduate Diploma as a first step to confirm their step to confirm their academic level before proceeding to postgraduate studies.
Master’s Degree
The Master’s degree is open to those who have completed a Bachelor’s degree. The program is usually of one or two years full-time study or it’s equivalent in part-time study. The work required normally builds upon the prior knowledge gained in the major part of the Bachelor’s degree, and most or all of it is in that discipline. It is at a more advanced level.
Doctorate
The main Doctorate offered by New Zealand universities is the PhD or Doctor of Philosophy. A student is required to prepare under supervision a substantial thesis that represents original research into an approved topic normally carried out over a minimum of two to three full-time years. Candidate prepares thesis on the conduct and result of their research. Admission to PhD study requires a first or class Master’s degree, acceptance is also subject to the availability of staff for supervision and appropriate facilities.
Choosing an Institute / University
In the New Zealand education system, it is important to make your choice of institution or university according to the course you wish to take and the institution’s reputation in that field. While selecting the right course and university keep in mind the following points:
- Your academic grades (including achievements).
- Test scores (IELTS, etc).
- Your financial capacity.
- • Major (Specialization) subjects that you are interested in.
- Term of entry (Feb / June).
- The reputation of the Institution.
- The student to faculty ratio of the Institution.
- The location of the Institution (big city / small town / rural setup).
- The climatic conditions (not to be stressed, unless you have health constraints).
Scholarships
New Zealand offers a limited number of scholarships, with the amount depending upon the institution. Generally, for undergraduate programs, the average scholarship can be NZD2000 to 2500. For masters and doctorate degrees, scholarships can range from NZD6000 to 13,000 annually