Still growing.New universities and courses are added most weekdays (not weekends), each checked against the university's own page before it goes live — worth checking back. Sources last read 1 Oct 2026. How we verify →

StudyPath
QS #198Dunedin, New Zealand· QS World University Rankings 2027

University of Otago

What stands out

  • Highest in New Zealand

    NZ$42,840a year, lowest here

    Highest undergraduate fees of the 7 universities in New Zealand we have priced

    The lowest-fee course we list here, Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), costs more than the cheapest we list at any of the others. The dearest of those is Auckland, at NZ$42,818 a year.

    See how it compares ↓

University of Otago, in Dunedin, New Zealand, has 24 undergraduate courses listed on StudyPath. International tuition runs from NZ$42,840 to NZ$89,775 a year depending on the course. University of Otago publishes its own accommodation prices, from NZ$21,488 per academic year (2027). All of them publish an application deadline. 1 named scholarship is recorded against these courses. Every figure above was read from University of Otago's own published pages and last checked on 20 September 2026.

Courses
24
Fees verified
24 / 24
Scholarship entries
9
otago.ac.nz ↗
International tuition across 24 courses

NZ$42,840toNZ$89,775a year

Lowest: Bachelor of Commerce BCom and BCom - Tourism BComHighest: Dentistry BDS
Applies everywhere on the site, on this device — change it any time.
Not set — every fee below is the international rate. Home and EU/EEA rates are often far lower.

courses

24 courses

Bachelor of Science — Computer Science

BSc · 3 years · Computer Science

International tuition

NZ$47,145 per year

~NZ$141,400 for the whole 3 years, at today's fee
Verified

2027 · Priced for this course · International students

Otago prices its BSc by major subject rather than one flat science-wide rate — this is Computer Science's own published 2027 figure, distinct from every other major on the same fee schedule (Mathematics and Statistics are cheaper at NZ$44,520; Data Science and Software Engineering both sit near NZ$47,000). The page itself flags the figure as 'an estimate only' since a student's actual fee is calculated per paper, and warns fees may rise up to 5%/year for continuing students. The double asterisk on this major's semester listing means a July (Semester 2) start may be possible but could extend the programme's length or limit paper choice.

Show the fee on the university's site
✓ Word for wordRead 1 Sept 2026
“Computer Science $47,145 S1, S2**”
Sciences international fees | University of Otagootago.ac.nz
Open the official page ↗
Intake
Not verified
Application deadline
10 December
Source

What you'll study

Not yet added.

Scholarships1 available

  • University of Otago International Academic Excellence Scholarship

    About NZ$35,000 over a three-year tenure: in the first year a fee waiver covering accommodation in a University-owned or affiliated residential college (around NZ$19,000, up to the standard room rate), then NZ$7,000 towards tuition fees in the second and third years, subject to conditions.

    Eligibility: Open to students who completed secondary school outside New Zealand (or at another approved institution granting University Entrance overseas) and who intend to enrol in full-time degree-level undergraduate study at Otago, studying from 100-level through to degree attainment and on campus throughout. Diploma and certificate programmes do not count as degree programmes and are not eligible.

    No payment is made for year one if the student chooses not to live in a University-owned or affiliated residential college. Students sponsored by their home government or by the New Zealand government are not eligible, and the scholarship cannot be deferred. Applicants opt in through the eVision study application and are invited to apply properly once they hold an offer of place.

    Source
Entry requirementsEnglish · grades

English language

  • IELTS Academic, 6 overall, no individual band below 5.5
  • TOEFL iBT, For tests taken from 21 January 2026 onwards: Overall score of 4 and a writing score of 4. For tests taken before 21 January 2026: Overall score of 80 and a writing score of 20.
Source

Academic offer

Otago requires a recognised university entrance qualification; the exact bar is assessed against the applicant's own country/qualification (a large country-by-country table on Otago's own site) rather than one universal number, so no single grade threshold is recorded here.
Source
Convert your grade to compare →

Bachelor of Science — Mathematics

BSc · 3 years · Mathematics

International tuition

NZ$44,520 per year

~NZ$133,600 for the whole 3 years, at today's fee
Verified

2027 · Priced for this course · International students

Otago prices its BSc by major subject rather than one flat science-wide rate — this is Mathematics' own published 2027 figure, among the lowest on the schedule (tied with Statistics; Computer Science and most lab-based sciences run NZ$2,000-6,000/year higher). The page itself flags the figure as 'an estimate only' since a student's actual fee is calculated per paper, and warns fees may rise up to 5%/year for continuing students.

Show the fee on the university's site
✓ Word for wordRead 1 Sept 2026
“Mathematics $44,520 S1, S2”
Sciences international fees | University of Otagootago.ac.nz
Open the official page ↗
Intake
Not verified
Application deadline
10 December
Source

What you'll study

Not yet added.

Scholarships1 available

  • University of Otago International Academic Excellence Scholarship

    About NZ$35,000 over a three-year tenure: in the first year a fee waiver covering accommodation in a University-owned or affiliated residential college (around NZ$19,000, up to the standard room rate), then NZ$7,000 towards tuition fees in the second and third years, subject to conditions.

    Eligibility: Open to students who completed secondary school outside New Zealand (or at another approved institution granting University Entrance overseas) and who intend to enrol in full-time degree-level undergraduate study at Otago, studying from 100-level through to degree attainment and on campus throughout. Diploma and certificate programmes do not count as degree programmes and are not eligible.

    No payment is made for year one if the student chooses not to live in a University-owned or affiliated residential college. Students sponsored by their home government or by the New Zealand government are not eligible, and the scholarship cannot be deferred. Applicants opt in through the eVision study application and are invited to apply properly once they hold an offer of place.

    Source
Entry requirementsEnglish · grades

English language

  • IELTS Academic, 6 overall, no individual band below 5.5
  • TOEFL iBT, For tests taken from 21 January 2026 onwards: Overall score of 4 and a writing score of 4. For tests taken before 21 January 2026: Overall score of 80 and a writing score of 20.
Source

Academic offer

Otago requires a recognised university entrance qualification; the exact bar is assessed against the applicant's own country/qualification (a large country-by-country table on Otago's own site) rather than one universal number, so no single grade threshold is recorded here.
Source
Convert your grade to compare →

Bachelor of Science — Physics

BSc · 3 years · Physics

International tuition

NZ$46,935 per year

~NZ$140,800 for the whole 3 years, at today's fee
Verified

2027 · Priced for this course · International students

Otago prices its BSc by major subject rather than one flat science-wide rate — this is Physics' own published 2027 figure. The page itself flags the figure as 'an estimate only' since a student's actual fee is calculated per paper, and warns fees may rise up to 5%/year for continuing students.

Show the fee on the university's site
✓ Word for wordRead 1 Sept 2026
“Physics $46,935 S1, S2”
Sciences international fees | University of Otagootago.ac.nz
Open the official page ↗
Intake
Not verified
Application deadline
10 December
Source

What you'll study

Not yet added.

Scholarships1 available

  • University of Otago International Academic Excellence Scholarship

    About NZ$35,000 over a three-year tenure: in the first year a fee waiver covering accommodation in a University-owned or affiliated residential college (around NZ$19,000, up to the standard room rate), then NZ$7,000 towards tuition fees in the second and third years, subject to conditions.

    Eligibility: Open to students who completed secondary school outside New Zealand (or at another approved institution granting University Entrance overseas) and who intend to enrol in full-time degree-level undergraduate study at Otago, studying from 100-level through to degree attainment and on campus throughout. Diploma and certificate programmes do not count as degree programmes and are not eligible.

    No payment is made for year one if the student chooses not to live in a University-owned or affiliated residential college. Students sponsored by their home government or by the New Zealand government are not eligible, and the scholarship cannot be deferred. Applicants opt in through the eVision study application and are invited to apply properly once they hold an offer of place.

    Source
Entry requirementsEnglish · grades

English language

  • IELTS Academic, 6 overall, no individual band below 5.5
  • TOEFL iBT, For tests taken from 21 January 2026 onwards: Overall score of 4 and a writing score of 4. For tests taken before 21 January 2026: Overall score of 80 and a writing score of 20.
Source

Academic offer

Otago requires a recognised university entrance qualification; the exact bar is assessed against the applicant's own country/qualification (a large country-by-country table on Otago's own site) rather than one universal number, so no single grade threshold is recorded here.
Source
Convert your grade to compare →

Bachelor of Science — Chemistry

BSc · 3 years · Chemistry

International tuition

NZ$46,515 per year

~NZ$139,500 for the whole 3 years, at today's fee
Verified

2027 · Priced for this course · International students

Otago prices its BSc by major subject rather than one flat science-wide rate — this is Chemistry's own published 2027 figure. The page itself flags the figure as 'an estimate only' since a student's actual fee is calculated per paper, and warns fees may rise up to 5%/year for continuing students. The double asterisk on this major's semester listing means a July (Semester 2) start may be possible but could extend the programme's length or limit paper choice.

Show the fee on the university's site
✓ Word for wordRead 1 Sept 2026
“Chemistry $46,515 S1, S2**”
Sciences international fees | University of Otagootago.ac.nz
Open the official page ↗
Intake
Not verified
Application deadline
10 December
Source

What you'll study

Not yet added.

Scholarships1 available

  • University of Otago International Academic Excellence Scholarship

    About NZ$35,000 over a three-year tenure: in the first year a fee waiver covering accommodation in a University-owned or affiliated residential college (around NZ$19,000, up to the standard room rate), then NZ$7,000 towards tuition fees in the second and third years, subject to conditions.

    Eligibility: Open to students who completed secondary school outside New Zealand (or at another approved institution granting University Entrance overseas) and who intend to enrol in full-time degree-level undergraduate study at Otago, studying from 100-level through to degree attainment and on campus throughout. Diploma and certificate programmes do not count as degree programmes and are not eligible.

    No payment is made for year one if the student chooses not to live in a University-owned or affiliated residential college. Students sponsored by their home government or by the New Zealand government are not eligible, and the scholarship cannot be deferred. Applicants opt in through the eVision study application and are invited to apply properly once they hold an offer of place.

    Source
Entry requirementsEnglish · grades

English language

  • IELTS Academic, 6 overall, no individual band below 5.5
  • TOEFL iBT, For tests taken from 21 January 2026 onwards: Overall score of 4 and a writing score of 4. For tests taken before 21 January 2026: Overall score of 80 and a writing score of 20.
Source

Academic offer

Otago requires a recognised university entrance qualification; the exact bar is assessed against the applicant's own country/qualification (a large country-by-country table on Otago's own site) rather than one universal number, so no single grade threshold is recorded here.
Source
Convert your grade to compare →

Bachelor of Science — Statistics

BSc · 3 years · Statistics

International tuition

NZ$44,520 per year

~NZ$133,600 for the whole 3 years, at today's fee
Verified

2027 · Priced for this course · International students

Otago prices its BSc by major subject rather than one flat science-wide rate — this is Statistics' own published 2027 figure, among the lowest on the schedule (tied with Mathematics). The page itself flags the figure as 'an estimate only' since a student's actual fee is calculated per paper, and warns fees may rise up to 5%/year for continuing students. The double asterisk on this major's semester listing means a July (Semester 2) start may be possible but could extend the programme's length or limit paper choice.

Show the fee on the university's site
✓ Word for wordRead 1 Sept 2026
“Statistics $44,520 S1, S2**”
Sciences international fees | University of Otagootago.ac.nz
Open the official page ↗
Intake
Not verified
Application deadline
10 December
Source

What you'll study

Not yet added.

Scholarships1 available

  • University of Otago International Academic Excellence Scholarship

    About NZ$35,000 over a three-year tenure: in the first year a fee waiver covering accommodation in a University-owned or affiliated residential college (around NZ$19,000, up to the standard room rate), then NZ$7,000 towards tuition fees in the second and third years, subject to conditions.

    Eligibility: Open to students who completed secondary school outside New Zealand (or at another approved institution granting University Entrance overseas) and who intend to enrol in full-time degree-level undergraduate study at Otago, studying from 100-level through to degree attainment and on campus throughout. Diploma and certificate programmes do not count as degree programmes and are not eligible.

    No payment is made for year one if the student chooses not to live in a University-owned or affiliated residential college. Students sponsored by their home government or by the New Zealand government are not eligible, and the scholarship cannot be deferred. Applicants opt in through the eVision study application and are invited to apply properly once they hold an offer of place.

    Source
Entry requirementsEnglish · grades

English language

  • IELTS Academic, 6 overall, no individual band below 5.5
  • TOEFL iBT, For tests taken from 21 January 2026 onwards: Overall score of 4 and a writing score of 4. For tests taken before 21 January 2026: Overall score of 80 and a writing score of 20.
Source

Academic offer

Otago requires a recognised university entrance qualification; the exact bar is assessed against the applicant's own country/qualification (a large country-by-country table on Otago's own site) rather than one universal number, so no single grade threshold is recorded here.
Source
Convert your grade to compare →

Bachelor of Science — Data Science

BSc · 3 years · Data Science & AI

International tuition

NZ$47,250 per year

~NZ$141,800 for the whole 3 years, at today's fee
Verified

2027 · Priced for this course · International students

Otago prices its BSc by major subject rather than one flat science-wide rate — this is Data Science's own published 2027 figure. The page itself flags the figure as 'an estimate only' since a student's actual fee is calculated per paper, and warns fees may rise up to 5%/year for continuing students.

Show the fee on the university's site
✓ Word for wordRead 1 Sept 2026
“Data Science $47,250 S1, S2”
Sciences international fees | University of Otagootago.ac.nz
Open the official page ↗
Intake
Not verified
Application deadline
10 December
Source

What you'll study

Not yet added.

Scholarships1 available

  • University of Otago International Academic Excellence Scholarship

    About NZ$35,000 over a three-year tenure: in the first year a fee waiver covering accommodation in a University-owned or affiliated residential college (around NZ$19,000, up to the standard room rate), then NZ$7,000 towards tuition fees in the second and third years, subject to conditions.

    Eligibility: Open to students who completed secondary school outside New Zealand (or at another approved institution granting University Entrance overseas) and who intend to enrol in full-time degree-level undergraduate study at Otago, studying from 100-level through to degree attainment and on campus throughout. Diploma and certificate programmes do not count as degree programmes and are not eligible.

    No payment is made for year one if the student chooses not to live in a University-owned or affiliated residential college. Students sponsored by their home government or by the New Zealand government are not eligible, and the scholarship cannot be deferred. Applicants opt in through the eVision study application and are invited to apply properly once they hold an offer of place.

    Source
Entry requirementsEnglish · grades

English language

  • IELTS Academic, 6 overall, no individual band below 5.5
  • TOEFL iBT, For tests taken from 21 January 2026 onwards: Overall score of 4 and a writing score of 4. For tests taken before 21 January 2026: Overall score of 80 and a writing score of 20.
Source

Academic offer

Otago requires a recognised university entrance qualification; the exact bar is assessed against the applicant's own country/qualification (a large country-by-country table on Otago's own site) rather than one universal number, so no single grade threshold is recorded here.
Source
Convert your grade to compare →

How University of Otago compares

Against the other universities in New Zealand on StudyPath, using each one's verified international fees and its own published housing prices. Universities are only compared with others charging in the same currency (and, for housing, for the same period), so no figure here has been converted. A ~ marks a year worked out from a per-term or whole-course fee.

University of Otago's lowest undergraduate fee for international students is NZ$42,840 a year, for Bachelor of Commerce (BCom). Of the 6 other universities in New Zealand we list with undergraduate fees in NZD, 6 charge less. Their lowest undergraduate fees run from NZ$34,220 (Massey) to NZ$42,818 (Auckland).

Living costs. The living-cost figure for a student visa to New Zealand is NZ$20,000 for each year, on top of tuition (figure for as published on Immigration New Zealand's student fund requirements page; read 19 Aug 2026 from immigration.govt.nz). The authority attaches conditions that can change this amount; see them in full on student finance.

By subject
SubjectLowest fee hereAgainst other universities in New ZealandTheir lowest fees
AccountingundergraduateNZ$44,520BCom - Accounting1 of 6 charge moreNZ$35,000 to NZ$48,133
FinanceundergraduateNZ$45,570BCom - Finance1 of 6 charge moreNZ$35,000 to NZ$48,133
MarketingundergraduateNZ$44,940BCom - Marketing1 of 6 charge moreNZ$35,000 to NZ$48,133
Business & ManagementundergraduateNZ$42,840Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)1 of 5 charge moreNZ$37,920 to NZ$48,133
ChemistryundergraduateNZ$46,515Bachelor of Science — Chemistry1 of 5 charge moreNZ$42,235 to NZ$47,221
Computer ScienceundergraduateNZ$47,145Bachelor of Science — Computer Science1 of 5 charge moreNZ$41,910 to NZ$47,221

Subjects taught at University of Otago

Each one opens every course in that subject, at every university we hold, with the same verified fees.

Where these figures come from

9 sentences from University of Otago's own site each back several figures above. Each is quoted once here; every course that uses one still opens it and links to its own source page.

  1. Used for application deadline on 22 courses

    “10 December Science Horizons scholarships applications due. Applications due for all new students for the following programmes: Bachelor of Applied Science Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Arts and Commerce Bachelor of Arts and Science Bachelor of Commerce Bachelor of Commerce and Science Bachelor of Entrepreneurship Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Theology”
    Key dates for applications, University of Otago, New Zealandotago.ac.nzread 20 Sept 2026
    Open the official page ↗

  2. Used for course length on 10 courses

    “If you are new to tertiary education, you enrol in an undergraduate degree, the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom). This requires three years of full-time study to complete.”
    Study Business at Otago — Otago Business School, undergraduate studyotago.ac.nzread 3 Sept 2026
    Open the official page ↗

  3. Used for scholarship on 9 courses

    “Value Accommodation fees in a Residential College (around $19,000) in First Year. $7,000 towards tuition fees in Second and Third Year (subject to conditions) ~ $35,000”
    International Academic Excellence Scholarship | University of Otagootago.ac.nzread 2 Sept 2026
    Open the official page ↗

  4. Used for course length on 9 courses

    “Bachelor of Science (BSc) ~ 360 3”
    Sciences international fees | University of Otagootago.ac.nzread 1 Sept 2026
    Open the official page ↗

  5. Used for entry requirements on 9 courses

    “You need a recognised university entrance qualification and English language skills.”
    International student entrance requirements | University of Otagootago.ac.nzread 1 Sept 2026
    Open the official page ↗

  6. Used for entry requirements on 9 courses

    “IELTS (Academic module) (including IELTS Online) Overall score of 6.0, no individual band below 5.5 Overall score of 6.5, no individual band below 6.0 TOEFL iBT For tests taken from 21 January 2026 onwards: Overall score of 4 and a writing score of 4. For tests taken before 21 January 2026: Overall score of 80 and a writing score of 20.”
    Language Requirements | University of Otagootago.ac.nzread 1 Sept 2026
    Open the official page ↗

  7. Used for course length on 3 courses

    “Bachelor of Science (BSc) A three-year degree offering flexibility to explore a major in Science along with other subjects”
    The same sentence appears on 3 pagesotago.ac.nzread 3 Sept 2026 to 13 Sept 2026
    Open one of them ↗

  8. Used for international fee on 2 courses

    “Tourism $42,840”
    List of international fees: Otago Business School - University of Otagootago.ac.nzread 3 Sept 2026
    Open the official page ↗

  9. Used for application deadline on 2 courses

    “13 August Applications due for all new students for the following programmes: Bachelor of Dental Surgery Bachelor of Dental Technology Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (excluding Alternative category) Bachelor of Oral Health Bachelor of Pharmacy Bachelor of Physiotherapy Bachelor of Radiation Therapy”
    Key dates for applications, University of Otago, New Zealandotago.ac.nzread 20 Sept 2026
    Open the official page ↗

More about University of Otago

About & contact

Dunedin, New Zealand· view on Google Maps ↗otago.ac.nz ↗

Find nearby

Halal food ↗Mosque ↗Supermarket ↗Pharmacy ↗Bank / ATM ↗SIM card ↗

These open a map search near Dunedin. StudyPath isn't listing or vouching for specific places — what the university itself publishes about on-campus facilities appears under On-campus amenities, cited like everything else here.

No admissions email, phone number, or address verified for this university yet. Not yet collected, not necessarily unavailable.

Accommodation

NZ$21,488–NZ$25,580per academic year (2027)

A place in one of the fifteen residential colleges the University of Otago recognises, which are fully catered. The range covers all fifteen; the quoted passage names ten of them, including the cheapest and the dearest.

  • Aquinas CollegeNZ$21,488
  • Arana, Caroline Freeman, Carrington, Cumberland and Hayward CollegesNZ$22,651
  • Salmond CollegeNZ$22,988
  • Knox CollegeNZ$24,800
  • Selwyn CollegeNZ$25,580

The fee is fully catered and includes weekly linen and laundry at every college. St Margaret’s is published as a “from” price and Te Rangihīroa as a range, so those two can run higher than their headline figure. Parking costs extra at most colleges, and the University warns that providers outside these fifteen are not University-sanctioned colleges.

Published by the university itself, not a live listings price. Actual cost depends on room type, availability and when you apply.

Show the source
✓ Word for wordRead 20 Sept 2026
“Aquinas College Walking Time: 15 mins Beds: 224 2027 Fees: $21,488 Arana College Walking Time: 3 mins Beds: 342 2027 Fees: $22,651 Caroline Freeman College Walking Time: 6 mins Beds: 300 2027 Fees: $22,651 Carrington College Walking Time: 6 mins Beds: 241 2027 Fees: $22,651 Cumberland College Walking Time: 4 mins Beds: 324 2027 Fees: $22,651 Hayward College Walking Time: 3 mins Beds: 174 2027 Fees: $22,651 Knox College Walking Time: 15 mins Beds: 260 2027 Fees: $24,800 St Margaret’s College Walking Time: 0 mins Beds: 227 2027 Fees: From $23,753.80 Salmond College Walking Time: 12 mins Beds: 260 2027 Fees: $22,988 Selwyn College Walking Time: 0 mins Beds: 214 2027 Fees: $25,580”
Residential colleges, Student Accommodation | University of Otagootago.ac.nz
Open the official page ↗

Search student housing near Dunedin → (partner link)

After you graduate

Rules read 16 Aug 2026. Check the current rules, this may be out of date

What New Zealand's own immigration authority currently publishes. Not a ranking, not a guarantee, and not the same as what any agent or forum will tell you. Whether someone actually obtains residence depends on occupation, points, funds and policy that can change between application and graduation.

Money you must prove before the visa

NZ$20,000for each year, where the study is tertiary level, English language or other non-compulsory study and lasts 1 year or more — a shorter course is NZD $1,667 for each month instead

Shown as a balance in a bank account. You keep control of it.

Figure published for: as published on Immigration New Zealand's student fund requirements page, which carries the issue stamp 'Issued: Monday 02 Mar 2026' and was read on 19 August 2026 This amount is revised regularly, so check it again before you transfer anything.

This is living costs only. On top of it the applicant must prove they can leave New Zealand — either a fully paid outward ticket or enough extra money to buy one — and, if pregnant, a further NZD $9,000 for maternity health and medical costs. Prepaid accommodation can be deducted from the living-costs figure (for example money already paid to a school for homestay), but any shortfall must still be evidenced. A child in primary, intermediate or secondary school (years 1 to 13) needs NZD $17,000 for each year, or NZD $1,417 a month for a shorter stay. The funds do not have to come from one place: they can be money held by or for the applicant, an acceptable sponsor, or a guarantor or third party, and different costs can be covered different ways. A sponsor is legally responsible for all the applicant's living costs even where the applicant intends to pay some themselves; an organisation sponsor must be registered in New Zealand with a clear link between its activities and the sponsorship, an individual sponsor must be a New Zealand citizen or resident and a family member or friend, the sponsor cannot be changed, and someone unsponsored on their first visa cannot be sponsored on a second. Accepted primary evidence is bank statements showing the account holder's name and the last 3 months of transactions, fixed-term deposit certificates held at least 3 months, a scholarship award letter, an education loan disbursal and sanction letter from a nationalised or multinational bank secured on the applicant's own fixed assets, or withdrawable provident funds. Large deposits (over NZD $2,000), many small ones, or a recently opened account trigger a request for secondary evidence explaining where the money came from.

Show the source
✓ Word for wordRead 19 Aug 2026
“If your studies are tertiary level, English language or other non-compulsory study, you must have: NZD $20,000 for each year, if you are studying for 1 year or more, or NZD $1,667 for each month, if your study is shorter than 1 year.”
Student fund requirements - Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nz
Open the official page ↗
Compare this against other countries →

Work during study

Most student visa holders may work part-time up to 25 hours a week (raised from 20 hours, effective 3 November 2025) alongside full-time study, and full-time during mid-year study breaks and the Christmas/New Year holiday period — the exact conditions are printed on each student's own visa. PhD and Research Master's students enrolled at a New Zealand tertiary institution have no hours limit at all, provided they keep studying full-time.

Show the source
✓ Word for wordRead 16 Aug 2026
“With a student visa, you may be allowed to work part-time for up to 25 hours a week, and during mid-year study breaks and the Christmas and New Year holiday period.”
Working on a student visa :: Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nz
Open the official page ↗

Post-study work visa

Post Study Work Visa . Up to 3 years
Lets a recent graduate of an approved New Zealand qualification stay and work in New Zealand for up to 3 years. Applicants must have a degree-level (NZQCF level 7 or higher) qualification studied full-time for at least 30 weeks in New Zealand, or an eligible non-degree qualification (level 7 or below, on the list of qualifications eligible for this visa) tied to a job related to what they studied. Length of stay depends on the qualification: applicants with a Master's or Doctoral qualification (at least 30 weeks of full-time NZ study) get 3 years; other eligible graduates — including a bachelor's degree — get a visa matching the length of their study, as recorded on their offer of place. From 16 November 2026, eligibility is due to extend to an NZQCF level 7 graduate diploma studied full-time in New Zealand combined with a bachelor's degree completed in New Zealand or overseas.

Show the source
✓ Word for wordRead 16 Aug 2026
“Apply for this visa if you want to work in New Zealand soon after you have completed your studies here. It allows you to stay and work in New Zealand for up to 3 years, depending on what you studied.”
Post Study Work Visa » Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nz
Open the official page ↗

Route to permanent residence

A Post Study Work Visa can lead to a resident visa but does not itself grant one. The main points-based route is the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa, which (under the rules current as of this reading) requires at least 6 'skilled resident points' built from having a skilled job or job offer, plus 3 to 6 points for the applicant's highest New Zealand (or NZ-equivalent) qualification level — 6 for a doctoral degree, 5 for a master's degree, 4 for a bachelor honours degree or postgraduate diploma, 3 for a (level 7) bachelor's degree or postgraduate certificate — or for occupational registration or income instead, plus up to 3 more points for skilled work experience in New Zealand. Immigration New Zealand has announced changes to this points system taking effect 24 August 2026, after which a New Zealand bachelor's degree is due to be worth 5 points rather than 3, alongside two new non-points-based SMC pathways and a reduced New Zealand work-experience requirement. Separately, a Green List Tier 1 job with an accredited employer can qualify for a Straight to Residence Visa, and a Tier 2 Green List job can lead to residence via a Work to Residence visa after 2 years of qualifying work.

Show the source
✓ Word for wordRead 16 Aug 2026
“You can claim between 3 to 6 points depending on the highest level of qualification you have. New Zealand qualifications and international qualifications with a New Zealand equivalent If you have a New Zealand qualification or your IQA confirms your qualification has a New Zealand equivalent, you can claim: 6 points — for a level 10 doctoral degree 5 points — for a level 9 master's degree 4 points — for a level 8 bachelor honour's degree or postgraduate diploma, or 3 points — for a level 8 postgraduate certificate or level 7 bachelor's degree.”
Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa » Immigration New Zealandimmigration.govt.nz
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Route to citizenship

New Zealand citizenship by grant is administered by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) — a different department from Immigration New Zealand, which runs the visa system. An applicant must hold a Resident Visa or Permanent Resident Visa and have been entitled to reside in New Zealand indefinitely for at least 5 years, and must have been physically present in New Zealand for at least 1,350 days during those 5 years, with at least 240 days present in each of the five 12-month periods. Applicants must also show they intend to keep living in New Zealand, hold a basic conversational level of English, and be of good character. New Zealand allows dual citizenship or multiple citizenship — becoming a New Zealand citizen does not require renouncing an applicant's existing nationality, though govt.nz notes some other countries do not extend the same allowance.

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✓ Word for wordRead 17 Aug 2026
“at least 240 days in each 12-month period, and 1,350 days across the 5 years.”
Presence in NZ requirements | New Zealand Governmentgovt.nz
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What the government currently prioritises

Immigration New Zealand maintains a Green List of roles the country needs workers for, split into Tier 1 (qualifies for a Straight to Residence Visa immediately, given the stated qualification/registration/experience and remuneration) and Tier 2 (qualifies for a Work to Residence visa leading to residence after 2 years). Reading the operational manual's own Appendix 13 (the Green List's full table, current as of 9 March 2026) directly, rather than only the search tool, shows real depth on StudyPath's fields. ICT, Electronics and Telecommunications names on Tier 1 include ICT Project Manager, ICT Managers nec, Analyst Programmer, Developer Programmer, Software Engineer, Software Tester, ICT Security Specialist, Software and Applications Programmers nec, Database Administrator and Systems Administrator — each gated on a stated remuneration floor (e.g. at least NZD 70.00/hour, about NZD 145,600/year on a 40-hour week, rising to NZD 87.50/hour for a Straight to Residence application based on a contract for services plus 10 years' relevant work), not just the occupation title. Engineering names on Tier 1 include Chemical, Materials, Civil, Geotechnical, Structural, Electrical, Electronics, Industrial, Mechanical, Production/Plant, Aeronautical and Environmental Engineer, each requiring a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (or an accepted equivalent) plus New Zealand registration, or a certifying letter from Engineering New Zealand, as a Chartered Professional Engineer. Health and Social Services names on Tier 1 include Resident Medical Officer and other Medical Practitioner grades (NZ Medical Council registration), Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses across more than a dozen named specialisms (Aged Care, Critical Care and Emergency, Mental Health, Surgical, Paediatrics and others), Medical Laboratory Scientist, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Medical Imaging Technologist, each with its own required qualification and NZ professional registration. Green List contents and remuneration thresholds are reviewed and change periodically — StudyPath’s list above is a snapshot of the 9 March 2026 table, not a live feed, so re-check the current Appendix 13 for a specific occupation before relying on it.

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✓ Word for wordRead 17 Aug 2026
“Analyst Programmer (261311) Developer Programmer (261312) Software Engineer (261313) Software Tester (261314) ICT Security Specialist (262112) Software and Applications Programmers nec (261399) Database Administrator (262111) Remuneration for the employment must be $70.00 per hour or above, or the equivalent annual salary ($145,600 per annum based on a 40 hour week)”
Appendix 13 - Green List (09/03/2026) :: Immigration New Zealand Operational Manualimmigration.govt.nz
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Four universities on StudyPath are in New Zealand (Waikato, AUT, Lincoln and Massey) — this note previously said none were, which was already stale by the time of this correction. Two upcoming changes matter for anyone timing an application: Post Study Work Visa eligibility is due to extend on 16 November 2026, and the Skilled Migrant Category points system is due to change on 24 August 2026 (a New Zealand bachelor's degree rising from 3 to 5 of the 6 points needed). Read 16 August 2026, shortly before the August 2026 SMC change — re-check the current rules before relying on this, especially the residence-points figures. Deepening pass, 17 August 2026: inDemandOccupations previously described only the Green List's mechanism and explicitly declined to name any occupation, deferring to 'the live tool'. StudyPath instead read Immigration New Zealand's own operational-manual Appendix 13 (the Green List's full published table, immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/89117.htm, dated 09/03/2026 on the page itself) directly and archived it, so specific Tier 1 ICT, engineering and health occupation names, ANZSCO codes and remuneration floors could be cited rather than described only in the abstract. immigration.govt.nz was already an allowlisted New Zealand domain; no domain change was needed. Tier 2 was checked too and, as before, contains no ICT/engineering/health roles relevant to StudyPath’s fields (it is concentrated in trades). citizenshipRoute added 17 August 2026, cited to govt.nz (the presence-requirements page, 4d817320f89a9694, and the changing-your-citizenship-status/dual-citizenship page, 9fe2acf3f160398f, both already covered by the existing 'govt.nz' entry in the accepted government-source list since it matches any *.govt.nz host). The Department of Internal Affairs' own site, dia.govt.nz, hosts only downloadable policy-manual PDFs rather than a plain-text current-requirements page, so the citizen-facing govt.nz pages it links to were used instead — both are official New Zealand Government pages, just not on the dia.govt.nz subdomain specifically. naturalisationStatus set to 'published-route' on 18 August 2026: the authority already cited under citizenshipRoute publishes criteria a foreign resident could actually follow, which is the only claim this field makes. It is deliberately not a judgement about how attainable that route is in practice. studentVisaFunds added 19 August 2026. Both the annual and the monthly rate appear in the cited quote; the annual figure is stored as the amount because it is the one that applies to degree-length study, which is what StudyPath carries. Immigration New Zealand states no separate commencement date for the figure, so effectiveFrom records the issue stamp the page itself carries (02 Mar 2026) rather than inventing one.

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