Key Secondary sector information

The school year starts at the beginning of February and ends in early December. There are 4 terms of approximately 10 weeks each. 

The first national examination (School Certificate) is taken at the end of the 5th form (year 11) when students are typically 15-16 years old. Entrance to University is based on the academic results achieved in the Bursary examination taken at the end of the 7th form (year 13). Students are typically 17-18 years old. Entry to certificate courses at Polytechnics and Institutes of Technology can be at the end of the 5th form year and to the undergraduate diploma courses after the 6th form (year 12).

Key Tertiary sector information

Academic year: most Universities and Polytechnics have two main semesters, the first starting in March and the second in July. Nearly all institutions offer some courses in a summer semester starting in December, but this is not the norm. International students can enter in March or in July. 

Universities offer courses leading to 

Undergraduate (bachelor’s) degrees
6 semesters or three normal academic years. There are some cases eg Engineering, where 4 years are required

Batchelor’s degree with honours
Two additional semesters of coursework after completing the bachelor’s degree.

Masters degree
Dissertation or thesis normally taking 1 academic year after the honours degree, or a 4-year bachelor’s degree.

Doctorate
Research based normally taking 3 academic years. Above average students may gain entry to a PhD programme directly after the honours degree year.

Post Graduate Diplomas
International Students with a B average or better entering New Zealand Universities after completing an undergraduate degree in their home country will be offered a place in a P/G diploma course rather than the Master’s programme. This consists of the coursework of a Masters degree and can be completed in one year. If the grades achieved are very high the student may be offered a place in the PhD programme (3 years) or they can go on to complete a thesis for their Masters degree (1 year). If a pass mark only is achieved at least the student has the P/G diploma to take home.

Graduate Diploma
When the student’s undergraduate degree does not have a good match with the subjects requested for a P/G diploma they might be offered a place in a graduate diploma course. This usually consists of a mix of Under- Graduate and Post Graduate papers. If a B average grade is achieved the student may pathway through the P/G diploma to a Masters or PhD degree.

Polytechnics and Institutes of Technology offer courses:

Certificate - Courses range from 13 weeks to two years in over 150 subject areas.
Diploma - Two years of study.
Bachelor’s degree - 3-4 years of study or two years after the completion of the diploma course.
Post graduate diplomas and degrees - Increasingly available