Courses in New Zealand Part I

As soon as the new academic year in New Zealand approaches, many students are eagerly awaiting the updated course catalog. At the beginning of the semester or trimester, the students choose their appropriate courses from the wide range of universities in New Zealand.

For international students who spend a semester abroad in New Zealand, the class crashing familiar from the USA is not necessary. They usually name their desired courses when they apply and adjust them on site if necessary. The practical and almost familiar courses are one of the many reasons for many international students to study in New Zealand.

Types of Courses in New Zealand

According to petwithsupplies, in New Zealand, students choose their courses from a wide range of courses that match the qualifications they are aiming for. At universities in particular, they put together their own timetable. In the undergraduate courses, students take lectures and the associated tutorials in the first semesters. Depending on the subject, the practical supplement can also consist of laboratory work or internships. Later, more and more seminars and project work are added, so that the students can concentrate even more intensively on their respective major fields of study or the future professional field. Masters by thesis students, however, usually do not take any courses.

To study at a university, students choose a subject, i.e. a subject, as a major. This major makes up about two-thirds of the courses required. For example, history is a major in a Bachelor of Arts. Sometimes students choose two majors to complete an interdisciplinary course. In addition to the major, it is possible to choose a minor. However, studying such a minor is optional.

Studying in New Zealand consists of courses:

  • Courses or Papers: These are the building blocks of a study program for the desired qualification. Students take courses or papers for one or two semesters and collect credit points when they pass. Each course corresponds to a certain level.
  • Core or Compulsory Courses: These compulsory courses are taken as part of the major or minor.
  • Elective Courses: Courses from other subject areas or subject areas that are not compulsory for the selected major or minor.
  • Bridging or Foundation Courses: These pre-university courses provide specific skills and background knowledge to prepare students for studying in New Zealand’s tertiary education sector.

Courses in New Zealand include the following types of teaching:

  • Lecture: In this course, a lecturer teaches all students who have registered for the course. This form is comparable to a lecture at a German university. If there are a large number of students, however, the university divides the course into groups or streams. The event is about 50 minutes long.
  • Tutorials: These interactive courses take place in addition to the courses or lectures. The mostly hour-long sessions include labs, workshops and online discussions.
  • Laboratory Session: These sessions are a compulsory part of the corresponding courses,especially in scientific or medical courses. The students research and experiment in the laboratory under supervision.
  • Field Trip: During this course, students visit research facilities with the lecturers or go on excursions in the context of their course. In some cases, the participants accompany particularly unusual activities online from the course room, such as a flight with an ambulance aircraft. These hands-on courses are very popular at New Zealand universities.
  • Practicum: Students gain practical experience at a cooperating company and are actively involved in the workflow. Both the company and the university accompany the participants.
  • Supervisory session: Students receive feedback about their work and discuss it with a supervisor. This can be the final thesis, but also an internship or your own research project.

The courses in New Zealand usually take place during the lecture period from February to November or in special summer sessions. Some courses are offered every semester, others depend more on the teaching staff or the capacities of the university.

International students who spend a semester abroad in New Zealand should discuss their choice of course with their home university in advance in order to ensure later recognition. It is advisable to select more courses than required so that a change on site is also possible. According to the New Zealand student visa, three to four courses are usual during a semester. At some universities, the number of courses determines the amount of tuition fees. Attendance is compulsory at all New Zealand universities and a visible progress of the study is a requirement for the student visa in New Zealand.

Courses in New Zealand Part I