University of Auckland announces new pathway programmes that start in China and finish in NZ

The University of Auckland has collaborated with British company NCUK to establish International Study Centres across several countries, with the first centre set to launch in China in 2021. This is part of a new government initiative that would see the country’s universities recognising pre-university courses offered by the global consortium of leading universities in the UK. It aims to smoothen international students’ transition to study in New Zealand once borders reopen. The process goes something like this: complete foundation programme in home country then enrol in a bachelor’s degree programme in New Zealand.

As part of the collaboration, several existing NCUK Centres will become new University of Auckland International Study Centres. The first University of Auckland International Study Centre to launch in 2021 will be located at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). The centre will be based at the BFSU International Business School (IBS), one of BFSU’s newest and largest schools with over 1,500 students currently. The first cohort of students is expected to start in March 2021. Students will complete a foundation programme that is tailored to a curriculum developed by University of Auckland staff. Throughout the year, students will benefit from direct linkages with the university as they prepare to make the move to studying on campus in Auckland.

“We are very pleased to work with our prestigious partner, the University of Auckland, to launch a new opportunity for Chinese students aspiring to study in New Zealand,” IBS Assistant Dean and Director of the International Office Yanping Zhang said. The initiative is part of a wider range of strategies to better serve prospective international students who may not be able to enter New Zealand right now, according to University of Auckland Director International Brett Berquist said. “The university already has a number of successful partnerships with overseas institutions at undergraduate and postgraduate level, so it seemed natural to expand this to offer new pathways for international students wishing to join us,” Berquist said.  

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Education New Zealand and New Zealand’s eight universities recently announced a partnership with NCUK which allows students from over 30 countries to progress from any of NCUK’s global network of 81 recognised study centres, to any university in New Zealand. Universities in New Zealand are supporting this partnership and committing over NZ$300,000 per year in dedicated scholarships.

“NCUK has a long history of providing high-quality pre-university and university equivalence qualifications to students in their home country. This collaboration with the University of Auckland is an ideal way for students who want to join the university, but for whatever reason are not able to begin their studies in New Zealand, to start their academic journey,” said NCUK’s CEO Professor John Brewer said.

New Zealand has long been a popular study abroad destination for international students. A survey of education agents from 63 countries by Navitas Insights showed the New Zealand government’s handling of the pandemic has made it the most attractive study destination in the world today, ahead of Australia, Canada, Singapore, the UK and the US.