An overview of New Zealands university courses

New Zealand has 8 state funded universities.   While all have a main location, some campuses spread to different regions.  All offer a variety of English Language and/or Foundation Study programmes.  Research Centres/Institutes are part of all universities – including 7 government-funded Centres of Research Excellence.

1.    University of Auckland

Location:     Auckland – four main campuses and four satellite campuses

Academic Programme:    Wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across nine faculties and schools:  Arts, Education, Business & Economics (including Property), Engineering, Law, Medical and Health Sciences, the National Institute for Creative Arts and Industries (including Architecture, Fine Arts, Music, Performing Arts and Planning), Science and Theology.  The University of Auckland is the NZ member of Universitas 21 and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, a prestigious consortium of major international research-intensive universities.

2.    AUT University

Location:              Auckland (Wellesley and Akoranga campuses)

Academic Programme:    Wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through the Faculties of Business and Law, Design and Creative Technologies, Health and Environmental Studies, Applied Humanities, and Te Ara Poutama (Maori Development).  Originally an Institute of Technology, AUT was given university status in 2000.

3.    Waikato University

Location:              Hamilton with satellite campus in Tauranga

Academic Programme:    Wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through seven Schools of Studies – Arts and Social Sciences, Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Education, Law, the Waikato Management School, Maori and Pacific Development and Science and Engineering.

4.    Massey University

Location:    Palmerston North (original), Albany (north of Auckland) and Wellington

Academic Programme:    Wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through five colleges:  Business, Creative Arts, Education, Humanities & Social Sciences and Sciences.  Massey is particularly known for its teaching and research leadership in Applied Science – including veterinary medicine, food technology, information sciences and agriculture.

5.    Victoria University of Wellington

Location:    Wellington – 4 city campuses

Academic Programme:    Wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate through seven faculties:  Architecture and Design, Humanities and Social Sciences, Law, Science, Engineering, Education, and Commerce and Administration.  Victoria’s capital city location gives opportunity for relationships with the arts community, government, industry and research industries.

6.    University of Canterbury       

Location:            Christchurch   

Academic Programme:    Wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate through six colleges:  Arts, Business and Economics, Engineering, Science, Education and the School of Law.  One unique feature of Canterbury and its South Island location is the five field stations it operates on the coast and in the mountains.

7.    Lincoln University

Location:            30 minutes drive from Christchurch City

Academic Programme:    Wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate through 3 faculties:  Agriculture and Life Sciences, Commerce and Environment, Society and Design.  Lincoln is particularly well known for its research and teaching in land-based sectors, including agriculture and agricultural science, horticulture, viticulture and oenology, environmental management and landscape architecture

8.    Otago University       

Location:    Dunedin, with additional campuses in Southland, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.  Schools of Medicine and Health Sciences in Wellington and Christchurch

Academic Programme:    Wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate through 4 academic divisions:  Commerce / School of Business, Health Sciences, Humanities and Sciences. 

The Study in New Zealand Handbook of Courses and Costs includes a summary of all university courses.  These summaries are listed in subject order.

An Overview of Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs)

ITPs in New Zealand are public tertiary institutions that focus on applied, technical, vocational and professional education.  They are very flexible in their delivery of education and concentrate on practical learning. 

There are 18 ITPs spread throughout the country:

Aoraki Polytechnic, Timaru
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Tauranga
Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Christchurch
Eastern Institute of Technology, Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne (Tairawhiti)
Manukau Institute of Technology, Auckland
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, Nelson
NorthTech, Whangarei
Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin
Southern Institute of Technology, Invercargill
Tai Poutini Polytechnic, West Coast (South Island)
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, Wellington
Unitec New Zealand, Auckland
Universal College of Learning, Palmerston North/Wanganui/Masterton
Waiariki Institute of Technology, Rotorua
Wintec, Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton
Wellington Institute of Technology, Wellington
Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki
Whitireia Community Polytechnic, Porirua

ITPs offer programmes at all levels – community interest courses, certificates, diplomas, degrees and some post-graduate opportunities.  Some also deliver the first one or two years of selected university degree programmes.  An ITP degree has the same value as university degree, and has an exit qualification for each year of study.  For example, this means that a student may enrol for a 1 year Certificate programme, obtain this qualification but then choose to continue study and complete a 3 year Degree programme.  Students vary from school leavers to older adults, full-time or part-time, on-campus and off-campus.

Part of the ITPs’ flexibility is the way they are able to develop programmes to meet the particular needs of local industries and businesses, and the special interests of the local community.  This leads to a broad range of topics and courses, including applied learning programmes that combine practical experience with academic education.  For example, some courses include teaching hours in workplace environments such as hospitals, workshops, laboratories and studios.  ITP programmes focus on relevance, innovation and providing clear pathways to employment.   

The Study in New Zealand Handbook of Courses and Costs includes a summary of most ITP courses.  These summaries are listed in subject order.

Private Training Establishments (PTEs)

There are many private training establishments (PTEs), located throughout New Zealand. 

Many are specialists in a particular area of education. 

Like all other tertiary providers, many PTEs offer English language programmes and pre-university/foundation studies. 

Masters and Postgraduate Programmes

Masters and postgraduate degree programmes offered in New Zealand are of high quality and reputation.  All require a Bachelor’s Degree as minimum qualification for the student to be eligible for admission. 

There is a wide range of postgraduate degrees and diplomas available throughout all New Zealand universities.  A Postgraduate course of study is usually one to two years of full-time study or its equivalent in part-time study. It is at a more advanced level in the same discipline and this is normally reflected in:

•    the content of the work
•    the style of teaching, which is likely to emphasize seminar presentation
•    required research experience.

Masters programmes take two years to complete.  A successful Masters student is expected to show a real understanding of the subject, a capacity to reflect upon it and an ability to undertake research into it.  Many Master's degrees include a thesis component. 

Doctorate Programmes

The main doctorate degree offered by New Zealand Universities is the PhD or Doctor of Philosophy. PhD degrees are offered not only in the subject of Philosophy but also in the larger range of subject areas.

New Zealand higher tertiary education maintains a high level of research activity within the universities – resulting in an impressive list of publications.    New Zealand PhD study requires a research-based thesis under supervision of an academic guide, in the student’s chosen subject.  2 – 5 years of intensive study is generally required to complete a Doctorate programme.

Domestic Fees for PhD Students

The cost of doing PhD study in New Zealand is considerably less than other countries.  This is largely due to New Zealand government policy that allows international PhD students to pay the same fees as New Zealand domestic students when they are supervised by leading researchers in New Zealand universities.

As part of this policy, the dependent children of all international PhD students are classified as domestic students in New Zealand state schools.

The partners of international postgraduate students are able to apply for an open work visa valid for the duration of the student’s course of study. This policy change came into effect on 4 July 2005.