The academic year in New Zealand matches the calendar year and is divided into two semesters – starting February and July. Some educational providers have a third semester which starts at the end of the year and may run over summer.
Length of study programmes ranges from a few weeks to up to four years. Classes are held Monday to Friday, with libraries and some other support services open on weekends. Exams sometimes take place on a Saturday.
Students are advised to start their application and enrolment process as early as they can, to allow plenty of time to arrange visas and accommodation.
For universities, each semester is about 12 weeks in length, with a 1-2 week break in the middle and a longer break between semesters 1 and 2 (which may include examinations). Students may need to use this break time for research and study.
Some courses are ‘full year’ courses taken over both semesters, while other courses only take one semester. This means it is sometimes possible to start university study in July. Some universities offer ‘summer school’ courses from November to February,
Most semesters begin with a busy, social orientation week organised by the university, featuring live music and events.
Most Private Training Establishments run on a calendar year. Depending on the chosen course and its length, there may be flexible start dates.