The OECD 2013 Better Life Index rates New Zealand as a “top-performing country” for the quality of its education system.
New Zealand’s consistently high standards are maintained with comprehensive quality control systems. Every institution is covered by our thorough assurance and regulatory system.
New Zealand Quality Education.
You can be confident that any school you’re considering in New Zealand will meet the highest educational standards. The standards our schools adhere to are rigorously monitored and tested by the government, providing a consistently high level of education, wherever you choose to study.
This commitment has its rewards: New Zealand educated young students’ Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores are amongst the highest for reading literacy, maths and science in the world today.
If you need further reassurance about the quality of the education you’ll receive in New Zealand, PISA rankings also rate New Zealand first in the OECD for all-round education.
The quality of our education is maintained in the following ways:
New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF)
The NZQF is a comprehensive list of all quality assured qualifications in New Zealand. All qualifications listed on the NZQF have been approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority or Universities New Zealand as being high quality, relevant and fit for the purpose of education.
New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)
NZQA assures the standard of education delivered by our institutes of technology and polytechnics, private training establishments and wānanga through the approval of programmes, training schemes and qualifications and a regular system of external evaluation and review. In addition, private training establishments enrolling international students must be registered with NZQA.
Universities New Zealand
Universities must meet educational quality rules established by NZQA. Financial and management quality requirements are set by the Government’s Tertiary Education Commission and managed by Universities New Zealand. This process includes regular reviews of academic quality by independent panels including international auditors.
Qualifications that really take you somewhere new
New Zealand’s higher education system consistently passes the toughest quality test of all: how well other countries and employers regard it.
Bachelor degrees listed on the NZQF gained from New Zealand are widely recognised internationally in the job market and for enrolment in postgraduate programmes.
As members of the Lisbon Qualification Recognition Convention, New Zealand qualifications are recognised in 50 countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, United States, Canada and Australia.
If you’re interested in learning English, you have the choice of general English classes with no specific qualifications, and courses with internationally recognised qualifications.
A new fast track masters degree
Universities around New Zealand are now offering 180-point taught masters qualifications in a wide range of subjects, from business and engineering, to education and information management. A 180-point masters degree is an excellent option for busy professionals wanting to advance their careers without leaving the workforce for a long time or undergraduates looking for a postgraduate qualification to advance their careers.
You can be sure of its quality: this new qualification has gone through the same robust quality assurance process as all other New Zealand university degrees.
It’s possible to complete it in three semesters, sometimes in a calendar year. It’s fast-tracking, thanks to new thinking.
A New Zealand PhD
New Zealand is a great option for doctoral students. You’ll pay the same fees as New Zealand students. You will experience a collaborative and supportive research culture that’s connected to business and industry around the world.
There are a number of scholarships available for international PhD students, including the New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS).
