The Maori call Aotearoa, the “land of the big, wide cloud”, the Maori their homeland New Zealand. In an area just as large as Great Britain there are numerous exotic animal species such as the national symbol of New Zealand, the flightless kiwi bird, and a breathtaking diversity of nature.
In addition to the untouched nature, the cities of New Zealand also fascinate with their unique young, multicultural flair and provide unique study conditions for a Master’s in New Zealand.
Five reasons to do a Masters in New Zealand
Doing a master’s degree in New Zealand is ideal for those who have already fallen in love with the land of the big white cloud during a semester abroad or who want to expand their experience abroad. Because there are enough good arguments for a master’s degree in New Zealand:
New Zealand has an excellent education system. The Tertiary Education Commission (TEAC) continuously reviews the quality of teaching.
The New Zealand study system has many years of experience in the Bachelor-Master system. It is based on the British system and is therefore just as flexible and internationally recognized.
There are a number of specialized master’s programs that do not exist in Germany. For example, there are special master’s programs in the field of marine and polar research, in which New Zealand occupies an important position worldwide.
Students benefit from the multiculturalism of the country, which makes it easy to train the intercultural skills and foreign language skills that are repeatedly required in professional life.
There is a high quality of life and New Zealand is a very safe country.
The Masters in New Zealand at a glance
According to weddinginfashion, masters programs in New Zealand last between one and two years. As in the bachelor’s degree, there is the option of either concentrating more on professional practice or on a career in research in the master’s program. A distinction is made here between a Master by Research and a Master by Coursework:
· Master by Research
The Master by Research primarily focuses on writing supervised but largely independently carried out research. Graduates typically include doctoral program (Doctor of Philosophy) to their master’s degree.
· Master by Coursework
The Master by Coursework is based on course participation, which is concluded with exams or homework. In addition, a smaller thesis is written. The prestigious MBA (Master of Business Administration) and LLM (Master of Laws) degrees are classic Masters by Coursework.
Some Masters in New Zealand consist of a year of coursework and a year of research to ensure that students learn to work independently and gain practical experience.
Requirements for a Masters in New Zealand
The prerequisite for participating in a Masters program in New Zealand is at least a first degree (Bachelor, Magister or Diploma). In addition, sufficient foreign language skills are required, which applicants usually prove in the form of a standardized language test.
Recognition in Germany
A master’s degree in New Zealand enjoys a very good international reputation and is generally recognized in Germany without any problems due to quality assurance. The ministries of culture and science of the individual federal states and the state examination offices decide whether the academic title is recognized in Germany in individual cases.
The anabin database of the Conference of the Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) provides an overview.
Financing a Masters in New Zealand
All New Zealand universities charge tuition fees for attending a Master’s degree. These are similar to those of neighboring Australia. The cost accounting for a master’s program in New Zealand varies depending on the number of courses attended, subject and university. For a year of master’s degree, they are between NZ $ 24,000 and NZ $ 87,000, i.e. between approx. € 14,500 and € 52,400. In addition, there is the cost of living, which can be estimated at around NZ $ 15,000 to NZ $ 20,000 per year, i.e. around 9,000 € to 12,000 €. Particularly gifted students have the chance to get hold of a scholarship to cover these costs.
German scholarships
On the German side, scholarships are awarded by various foundations that cover at least part of the tuition fees and living costs of a master’s degree in New Zealand. For example, the DAAD and various foundations offer partial and full scholarships for students with particularly good performance.
New Zealand University Scholarships
The New Zealand universities themselves award scholarships to international students with particularly good grades.
Student and Education Loans
Students can also take out an education or student loan. These offer low interest rates and a flexible repayment system to make the dream of a Masters in New Zealand come true.
Tips for a Masters in New Zealand
If you have secured a place at a New Zealand university, you should apply for a student visa online at Immigration New Zealand or at the Visa Application Center (VAC) in Hamburg at least five weeks before departure. Applicants will only receive this once the tuition fees have been paid and they are officially enrolled. In addition to the certificate of enrollment, proof of sufficient financial means must also be provided.
Work permit
The visa includes a work permit that allows students to work up to 20 hours a week, and more during the semester break for a Masters course in New Zealand.
Health insurance
All international students are also required to have travel and health insurance while studying a Masters in New Zealand. Since the guidelines of the New Zealand government are very strict in this regard, the simplest solution is to take out insurance recommended by the host university. If you want to take out insurance in Germany, you should make sure that it complies with New Zealand guidelines.
