Being a necessity to secure a rewarding career in this modern competitive landscape, a viable education plays a critical role. Every year, thousands of students look for international degree opportunities to enhance their educational profile. However, with universities asking for a lump sum of tuition fees, it can become challenging.

New Zealand being a forerunner in the key international organizations assists students in this regard. University tuition is relatively affordable in New Zealand since the government gives substantial support to institutions. In 2023, the government allocated NZ$6.2 billion to universities.

Along with Government support, several universities offer scholarship opportunities and lower tuition fees to foreign applicants. In this article, we will take a look at the best New Zealand universities that cater to this.

What are the General Requirements to Study in New Zealand?

To be eligible for New Zealand university admission, prospective students must have completed the required NCEA Level 3 qualifications. These include the following general requirements.

  • The minimum educational requirement for admission is completion of secondary school. It is considered to be the same as New Zealand’s 13th grade. Examples of these include the UK GCSE A, Hong Kong A levels, or the Malaysian Australian Matriculation Year 12 certificate.
  • Getting a student visa to study in New Zealand is a mandatory step for international students. On the New Zealand Immigration website, the applicant may submit an online application for a student visa.
  • A student who wants to enroll at a university in New Zealand must provide proof that he is proficient in English. This may be achieved by taking an IELTS or TOEFL exam.

Check Also: Available Programs for International Students

Do Universities in New Zealand Offer Fully-Funded Scholarships to International Students?

Financial assistance is a big provision in New Zealand. Scholarships are available from the government and several individual institutions in New Zealand. The amounts and requirements for these scholarships vary widely, but some of them provide full funding.

The University of Auckland provides foreign students ample opportunities through its scholarship programs with substantial fee waivers. As much as $20,000 is being awarded to deserving candidates as a part of their tuition fee, adjustment. Other additional monetary benefits are also offered.

Affordable Universities in New Zealand for International Students

Having several prestigious universities, New Zealand excels in the education sector. The top of them which offer affordable educational opportunities are as follows.

1. Southern Institute of Technology

#1 on our list of acclaimed institutes is the Southern Institute of Technology. It is widely known for its tertiary education system and has played an excellent role in various research areas. In the World WS Rankings 2023, it comes under the top 300 universities of the world. Students from over 80 countries worldwide are enrolled in different programs here.

From teaching practical skills to in-depth industry techniques, they offer a range of programs. Undergraduate and graduate opportunities are available in the fields of business, hospitality, nursing, engineering, and many others. They also provide training opportunities and internships. It is also considered among the cheapest academic institutes in New Zealand, making it highly accessible for international students.

2. Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology

From quality education to global exposure, Toi Ohomai is a leading institute with an affordable cost of study. All of Toi Ohomai’s degree plans have been approved by the NZQA. New Zealand Qualifications Authority is the country’s official accreditation agency. The institute’s close association with the business sector allows its students to get valuable hands-on expertise in their chosen area of study.

Accommodation, financial assistance, and career guidance are just a fraction of the student facilities provided by Toi Ohomai. There is a vast variety of courses available at Toi Ohomai, from undergraduate to graduate degrees. Among the many disciplines represented at the institution are business, the arts, engineering, forestry, healthcare, etc. Toi Ohomai also provides several training opportunities.

3. UCOL Te Pūkenga Whanganui

Next, we recommend the Whanganui UCOL which has polished students for years to assist them in the fields of intellectual discovery. An experienced and passionate faculty supports them with modern learning approaches. It is an all-inclusive space and has given rise to a notable line of alumni. Industry-equipped learning facilities are one of their specialties.

Courses of study at Whanganui UCOL span from both bachelor’s and graduate degrees and postgraduate certifications with fewer fees. Among the courses they offer, applied science, design, and business are the most popular. Each course is meant to give students the edge they need in their chosen profession. There is a significant demand for the institute’s graduates owing to the prestige of the degrees it offers.

4. Ara Institute of Canterbury

Ara Institute of Canterbury is a forward-thinking, revolutionary higher educational institution. It is a university completely funded and managed by the New Zealand government. A century and a half of educational efficiency is attributed to it. It equips students with a top-notch educational atmosphere and career growth prospects.

As a Level 1 NZQA-recognized institution, it has international recognition. It is a registered service provider for the Pathway visa pilot program run by Immigration New Zealand. It’s the biggest tech institution on the South Island. Ara is dedicated to providing students with an innovative digital education that will render them competitive in the workforce.

It offers several undergraduate programs with affordable fees for foreign students. Subjects offered here include architecture, engineering technology, and many others. The institution also has several industry-sponsored courses that help students become ready for high-demand careers.

5. University of Auckland

University of Auckland is the most comprehensive provider of higher education programs. The institute has the biggest student body. Many different types of advanced degrees are provided here. In addition to being one of the most distinguished establishments in the country, it is routinely ranked among the globe’s top 100 universities by the most reputable international rankings.

Some of its most popular majors are Business, Engineering, Medicine, Law, and Technology. The school’s curriculum is based on extensive research into regional employment market trends. It is adapted to match the demands of the community. Admission to this institute is not that easy, and it requires prior educational excellence along with some other requirements.

6. University of Waikato

The University of Waikato is a comprehensive educational institution in Hamilton, New Zealand. Founded in 1967, the university was established to fulfill the academic needs of citizens in the Southern Auckland region. With the tuition fee starting from $18,725 a year, the University of Waikato is the cheapest in New Zealand for international students.

Waikato offers various undergraduate and graduate programs, including that of Arts, Law, Psychology, Health, Engineering, Computing Science, Education, Indigenous Studies, and Management.

29% of Waikato’s 10,250+ students represent various nations from all around the world.

7. Victoria University of Wellington

Known in Maori as the Te Herenga Waka, the Victoria University of Wellington is an affordable public university in New Zealand founded in the year 1897. Formerly a constituent college of the University of New Zealand, it was established following the passing of the Act of Parliament.

The university’s three campuses are located in Kelburn, Pipitea, and Te Aro. Here, students can dabble in the studies of Education, Engineering, Science, Social Science, Humanities, Health, Management, Law, Government, Finance, Economics, Information Management, Architecture, and Design.

8. University of Canterbury

The University of Canterbury – or Cantuar for short – was founded in 1873 in Christchurch, New Zealand. As the first constituent college of the University of New Zealand, it is etched in history as the second-oldest educational institution in the country.

Here, foreign students can major in either the arts, business, law, education, health, human development, engineering, or science, to name a few.

More than just having a 1:1 ratio of female and male students, Cantuar is also known for its diverse student population.

9. University of Otago

Next on our list of cheapest universities in New Zealand is the University of Otago, a public educational institution located in Dunedin, Otago. However, it also has satellite campuses in Christchurch, Wellington, Invercargill, and Auckland.

Founded in 1869 by Thomas Burns, the university is heralded as the oldest in the entire country. With its long history of education, it offers various undergraduate and graduate programs through the Schools of Business, Science, Humanities, and Health Science.

10. Massey University

Massey University is a public institution based in Palmerston North – with branches in Wellington and Albany. Founded in 1927, it is the only university in the country to offer programs in veterinary medicine, aviation, dispute resolution, and nanoscience.

Apart from these unique degrees, this cheap university in New Zealand also offers degrees in the fields of Business, Health, Creative Arts, Humanities, Health, Science, and Maori Knowledge.

11. Lincoln University

Lincoln University or Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki was founded in 1990 following its separation from the University of Canterbury. Based in Lincoln, Canterbury, it is recognized as one of the country’s 8 public educational institutions.

The university offers various programs in the fields of Agribusiness and commerce, Agriculture and Life Sciences, and Environment, Society, and Design.

Despite being one of the smallest universities in terms of enrollment, it does come with a big foreign student population. As of date, 42% of its 2,500+ students hail from various nations all across the globe.

12. Auckland University of Technology

The Auckland University of Technology, another affordable university in New Zealand, is a former technology school founded in the year 1895. After more than a century’s worth of operation, it was finally granted university status in the year 2000.

To date, it has 3 campuses in the North, South, and City of Auckland.

Although AUT is known for its technological courses, it also offers degrees in the fields of art and design, business, clinical science, communications, education, hospitality, law, and public health.

 

International education and degrees hold prime importance in expanding employment possibilities for students globally. New Zealand offers the cheapest universities with the lowest tuition fees. We hope this article helped you in the best way.

 

We hope that this article on the cheapest universities in New Zealand for international students was helpful. If you are interested in knowing more information like this, check out the Available Programs for International Students!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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10 Comments

  1. rachel - Reply

    What is cheap here ? $20,000 are cheap universities?

    • Hyun Lee - Reply

      Hello unfortunately, education is expensive. Whether $20,000 is cheap or not is relative to tuition fees of other universities in New Zealand. We will try to find universities in New Zealand that are cheaper and update this article.

  2. Sonia Madad - Reply

    Can you please be specific and tell us about scholarships offered by universities for masters programs. And tell us how to apply

  3. Jimoh Mustapha - Reply

    Looking for a university that is very cheap.

    • Hyun Lee - Reply

      Hello, check out our list of cheap universities in New Zealand above for more information

  4. Anonymous - Reply

    Some of us came from a countries that we struggle to pay the fees….That is not a cheap fees.

    • Hyun Lee - Reply

      Hello, I do understand, but these are the cheapest universities in New Zealand. We will do some more research to see if there are even cheaper universities. If you cannot pay the tuition of these universities, I highly recommend looking at Europe’s free tuition universities or look at scholarships offered in New Zealand. This list is the cheapest tuition fees universities in New Zealand that we could find, and if you cannot pay those fees, you should look at other options such as other countries where tuition fees are more affordable (or even free) or find scholarships in New Zealand to fund your studies.

  5. Okechukwu Chinwendu - Reply

    By any parameters this universities is not cheap; please do more to research the universities in New Zealand that’s cheap.

    • Hyun Lee - Reply

      Hi, we will definitely do so and update this article. Thanks for your input!

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