Don’t like your degree anymore? You can get 4 new ones in New Zealand

Life is for living, and New Zealand understands that well.

It’s not only one of the world’s top 60 gross domestic product (GDP) countries — i.e. it’s rich — it’s also ranked #1 for having the best work-life balance in 2024 by Remote.

The Parliamentary Council Office of New Zealand states that employees who have completed 12 months of continuous employment are entitled to at least four weeks of paid annual holidays.

In addition, they get an additional 11 days off a year for public holidays. 

Regarding work hours, New Zealand employees are to work 40 hours per week at most, the regular eight-hour workday, typically between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

That’s a lot of time off, giving Vanessa Cha a work-life balance from which she’s reaped many benefits.

Born and raised in Malaysia, Cha moved to New Zealand to pursue a degree in law and Japanese and cultural studies at the University of Canterbury.

Since graduating, Cha is now based in Christchurch and works as a full-time law firm solicitor.

But that’s not all; she is also a part-time master’s degree student, all thanks to New Zealand’s perfect work-life balance.

On top of all that, Cha speaks five languages — English, Chinese, Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean — and will have five educational qualifications once she completes her master’s degree in 2025.

Here’s a list of Cha’s degree and certificate qualifications:

• BA in Japanese and Cultural Studies from the University of Canterbury and Kwansei Gakuin University
• Bachelor of Laws – LLB from the University of Canterbury
• Professional Legal Studies Course from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies
• Postgraduate Certificate, Intercultural Communication and Applied Translation from Victoria University of Wellington
• Master of Business, Global Management and Marketing from Lincoln University

We spoke to Cha about her time abroad and how she is managing her full-time job and part-time master’s degree.

In New Zealand, it’s common for students to pursue a secondary degree in addition to their degree in law. Source: Vanessa Cha

What motivated you to pursue a degree in law and Japanese and cultural studies?

I pursued a degree in law because I like debating and arguing, which is something I noticed while in high school. I was not good in science or math, and writing was the only thing I was good at, so I decided that law was what I wanted to go for.

When I moved to New Zealand for my law degree, I needed to take non-law papers to start the degree, so I chose to do two bachelor’s degrees. It wasn’t something big, as it’s a common pathway for law students here to do two degrees.

When choosing my second degree, I decided on Japanese and cultural studies because I am interested in languages and culture. Growing up in Malaysia contributed to my interests as we had to learn different languages when we were young and were often around other races.

I’ve wanted to learn Korean, but the University of Canterbury does not offer it as a degree. I had the choice of French, Chinese, and Japanese. I don’t see myself using French, and I’m already fluent in Chinese, so I went with Japanese since it’s close to Korean and Chinese.

The benefit of getting a degree in Japanese and cultural studies is the opportunity to participate in a study exchange programme in Japan. Studying Japanese at Kwansei Gakuin University in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan, allowed me to study it more in-depth and helped me improve my speaking skills.

The lifestyle between Japan and New Zealand is hugely different. Japan remains busy till the late hours, while New Zealand keeps a slower pace, with shops closing early at around 5 p.m. Source: Vanessa Cha

What’s the difference between Japan and New Zealand?

The most significant difference is the lifestyle. Japan is so vibrant, and a lot is happening. After classes, you can go out with friends, hang out, shop, karaoke, and drink because shops and restaurants are open until late. There’s a robust nightlife in Japan.

However, in New Zealand, it’s very mellow. You go to classes, finish them, go home, eat dinner, do homework, and sleep. It’s a routine. Additionally, shops close early in the evening, at seven. But because of its lifestyle, it allowed me to complete all my degrees.

Cha pursued her Master’s in Business, Global Management, and Marketing because the New Zealand government offered a Fees Free scheme for the country’s residents and natives. Source: Vanessa Cha

What made you decide to further your education while working?

After completing my degree in law, Japanese and cultural studies, and the bar exam, I entered the workforce as a solicitor in Auckland. While working, the New Zealand government announced that it was offering free diplomas for those looking to become certified translators for the country as part of its Fees Free scheme.

Since it was free, I thought I could do it. I attended Victoria University of Wellington as a part-time student and received a postgraduate certificate in Intercultural Communication and Applied Translation while working full-time.

After receiving the certification, I got addicted because the government kept pushing free education schemes for New Zealand residents. Now, I’m pursuing my Master of Business, Global Management and Marketing at Lincoln University.

It’s a switch in degrees. When I started my master’s degree, I wanted a career change because I was extremely tired of being a lawyer. With my specialisation in immigration and family law, our clients can be rowdy. I guess you can say I’m pretty burnt out, and I don’t see myself working as a lawyer later.

How are you completing a master’s degree and other qualifications in a year while working full-time?

Living in New Zealand means having easy access to a good work-life balance.

In New Zealand, work-life balance is emphasised and looked down upon if an employer forces their employees to do overtime. Because of my specialisation, we don’t often do overtime. Besides, courts close at five in the evening.

It also ties back to the lifestyle in New Zealand, where it’s just a place where you go to work, get home, eat dinner, and sleep. At the start of my postgraduate certificate and master’s degree, I spent most of my weekends at home doing assignments. So, I did not have a life, but that didn’t affect me because of the typical lifestyle in New Zealand.

Now that I live in Christchurch, I have more time to myself, and work is less busy than it used to be. I finish work at five on the dot and head home afterwards. I use my free time after work to study.

Despite having a hard time finding a social life in New Zealand, Cha found a way to overcome it by filling her free time by becoming a part-time student. Source: Vanessa Cha

Do you have advice for those considering to study abroad in New Zealand and Japan?

Those looking to study abroad in New Zealand should consider that there is only a little of a social life unless you find interests that involve a group of people.

If it’s your dream to study in New Zealand because of its scenery, that’s fine, but in the long term, you will need to consider your social life. Over time, the prettiness of the scenery can slowly fade because you’ll get used to it.

With its limitation of social life and places closing early, you can find yourself at home most of the time. It’s advisable to rent a place you can turn into a cosy home. If you rent a single room in an apartment, you will only have that tiny space, which can drive them crazy.

When studying in New Zealand, joining school clubs, finding a hobby, or playing sports can help build a social life.

However, New Zealand is a suitable environment for studying. There’s nature, fresh air, and a friendly community. In addition, you can decide what environment you would like to study in; for example, Christchurch is a mixture of countryside and city, while Auckland has a city vibe.

If you are considering going to Japan, I would 100% recommend going.

However, living in Japan would be more challenging because you would need to know how to speak Japanese, whereas in New Zealand, everyone speaks English. You can get by with extremely basic Japanese and point at things, but if you want to be in Japan in the long term, you’ll need to learn the language.

Cha believes that time management is core to working full-time while studying part-time. Source: Vanessa Cha

Do you have any advice for full-time working adults looking to pursue a part-time master’s degree?

If you manage your time properly, it will make it easier to pursue a part-time master’s degree while working full-time.

Do not take a master’s degree just because you want to. You will need to evaluate your time and see if you can manage it. Ask yourself, “Do I have the capacity to take on extra work after my full-time job and not get paid for it?” You must also imagine yourself working for eight hours and returning home to complete all your assignments before the due date. Would you be alright to do that for the duration of your degree?

I’m not sure about others, but when I realised I wouldn’t be getting paid to complete my master’s degree while working full-time, it did make me second-guess my decision. But now, I have found the perfect middle ground, and I am doing well with managing my time.