What amazing student support looks like at New Zealand’s universities

Saurab Lama from Nepal didn’t hesitate to bring up one story when we asked him about his most memorable time at university in New Zealand: experiencing the welcome ceremony (known as Pōwhiri in Maori) during Orientation Week.

“Being welcomed and greeted by the traditional ‘Hongi’ (a Maori greeting) gave me goosebumps,” says Lama. “I truly believe that welcome helped me settle down and start my education off on the right foot. I felt excited about living and studying in a foreign country for the first time in my life.”

He adds that it gave him “a sense of belonging to be part of the university family” which, in turn, became “a springboard to get acclimated quickly and perform to the best of my academic abilities.”

Lama’s experience, while great, isn’t all that unique, because the universities in New Zealand are all about making their students feel welcomed and supported.

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Do New Zealand universities welcome international students?

Eighty-two percent of locals in New Zealand agree that international students contribute to the country’s cultural diversity, 79% feel that they help local students learn about other cultures and ways of life, and many believe that they contribute to local businesses during their studies.

“This level of support is enormously pleasing,” says Amanda Malu, Education NZ’s Chief Executive. “It tells us we can continue to steadily grow the number of international students in New Zealand and that they will continue to receive a warm welcome in our communities.”

The best thing is, it goes beyond just the local communities and government (with their great immigration policies) too.

Here, the eight degree-granting universities in New Zealand don’t pull any stops when making sure you feel welcome. From the moment you accept your place at the university to every step till you complete your studies, they offer you the support you need to succeed.

The universities in New Zealand are ready to help you make your time abroad the best ever.

How do universities in New Zealand support international students?

Plenty of financial aid and scholarships

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest ways international students seek support from the universities in New Zealand is how to ease their money worries.

For Keira Smith from the US, securing the Gilman Scholarship at Massey University “took away a huge sum of my financial burden and was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity I couldn’t let pass.”

As a marine biology student, being able to pursue her studies (and afford it) halfway across the globe was a major opportunity. “I knew the animal biology in New Zealand would be like nothing in America and I would never again get the chance to see it if I didn’t take my study abroad there,” she says.

At the Victoria University of Wellington, there are more than a handful of scholarships to choose from. For example, international students entering their first year of an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree can try for the Tongarewa International Scholarship, which awards students up to 10,000 New Zealand dollars (US$6,104.85) for a year.

Meanwhile, high-performing international athletes applying to the university should try for the Mātātoa International Sport Scholarship. It’s worth up to NZ$10,000 (US$6,104.85) and is open to any international athletes from all sporting and academic disciplines intending to enrol in their first year of an undergraduate degree at the university.

Don’t worry — it’s easier finding and getting help at the universities in New Zealand than it is landing a trick jump on skis.

Expert help in career development

Lincoln University does this with the help of a team of professionally qualified and accredited careers and employment advisors. Together, they help you make informed career and study choices, and find and apply for various hands-on opportunities, like internships, graduate programmes, immediate vacancies, and practical work.

You’ll also be able to seek help at the Career Centre, the one-stop shop for all things career development at the university. Think career planning, identifying skills, labour market information, networking, writing CVs, and practising assessments and interviews.

In Ayana Saizen’s case, she knew what she was signing up for when she applied for the Graduate Diploma in Applied Science. “I was excited to have great opportunities to connect with people in the food industry and secure internships,” she shares. “That helped me a lot in finding career opportunities after graduation.

Similarly, students at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) get their support from the university’s employability and career specialists. And like Lincoln’s Career Centre, AUT has its own Employability Lab.

There, you’ll get help with your CV, job search, and interview techniques through workshops and one-on-one appointments; build your networking skills by attending speaker series, career fairs, workshops, and presentations; and so much more.

“They really helped me. I had done an IT degree in India, but it hadn’t inspired me. Then after discussions with the Employability Lab team, I chose to major in Human Resources for my MBA,” says Mallik Gadipudi, who realised that working with people, providing solutions to people and talking to people was what he really enjoyed.

Activities all year long

The universities in New Zealand have exciting student life.

For example, the University of Auckland has 200+ clubs and societies that span academic, cultural, and social groups. It’s also got a state-of-the-art recreation centre, Hiwa, which features an aquatic hall and an on-campus e-sports arena on top of other sports and wellness rooms.

Here, you might just find yourself short on time to explore the breadth and depth of the university’s offerings.

“I have never felt like an outsider here,” says Agustin Soto, a student from the University of Auckland. “Everyone is kind and supportive.”

Another student, Boorani Moorthy, echoes the same. “As a professional watercolour artist, attending the Paint and Sip event helped me improve and connected me with fellow artists at the university,” she says.

“It encouraged me to sell my paintings at Market Day, which is held each semester at the student Quad. Making sales boosted my confidence and spurred on my entrepreneurial spirit.”

Over at the University of Canterbury, the Students’ Association (UCSA) hosts a range of free and ticketed events on campus year-round, including concerts, barbeques, Games Night hosted by the Game Dev Society, and Burger n Bevvy Night, where you can get a burger and a bevvy for just NZ$12 (US$7.33).

That aside, you’ll have the chance to explore one of UCSA’s 100+ student clubs, societies, and sports teams. Abby Ayson participated in the Forestry Society, the Engineering Society, the Student Volunteer Army, and played for the UC Hockey Club.

“It’s such a social environment, you make so many good friends and awesome memories,” she says. “In saying that, the work can be challenging but it does make it easier having people around you who are also going through the same thing. If anything had to sum up my time here, it would probably be work hard, play hard.”

Rest assured, all the universities in New Zealand provide you with ample healthcare and wellbeing support.

Mental health and other forms of support

Mental health is a big buzzword for universities worldwide, and we’d argue even more so at universities in New Zealand.

At the University of Waikato, you’ll be supported by a team of mental health nurses, counsellors, a social worker, an alcohol and other drug clinician, and a health care assistant who are able to provide support to you in achieving your health, wellbeing, academic, and personal goals.

Most of the services are appointment-based, but recognising the urgency of each challenge, the university adds that students can also approach the front desk staff to seek same-day support wherever necessary.

The best part? All of the services are available for free for the university’s students.

At the University of Canterbury, QCanterbury is a student club that promotes positivity and awareness of the LGBTQI community at the university.

“The events they hold are a really great way to meet others within the queer community,” says student Aaron Kong. “QCanterbury also holds a lot of seminars on LBGTQI issues, which is a great way to educate yourself on these issues and provides a safe space for discussion.”

QCanterbury isn’t the only LGBTQI student club available at the university too. There’s Queer in Law (QUIL), UC Rainbow Engineering, and UC Skatebirds. And the university goes a step above, offering easy ways to change your preferred name and pronouns, as well as access to gender affirming healthcare, like Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy and referrals to community providers, at the university’s health centre.

Some universities in New Zealand will even grant you this marvellous view.

Everything you need, on campus

It’s overwhelming enough to move away from the comforts of home to live abroad, so having everything you need within reach is pretty important, and the universities in New Zealand understand that.

As a residential university, the University of Otago has all the support services you need on campus. This includes a student health centre (with subsidised medical and counselling services), disability support service, and specialised IT support.

Better yet, all of the university’s residential colleges (also known as halls) offer tutorials, study rooms, sporting and cultural member activities, and are fully catered to serve special or halal meals.

And if you’re worried about securing housing as an international student, you won’t need to do that at the University of Auckland.

They allow you to stay in university accommodation for your entire degree, allowing a complete, convenient, and immersive campus experience.

Your accommodation fees cover rent, utilities, and resources, such as laundry facilities, cleaning services for common areas, and membership to the University’s Recreation Centre. The Halls of Residence also feature two academic mentoring programmes, various student-focused events, Inter-Residential activities, and round-the-clock security and pastoral care. 

For all of this, it’ll often cost you less than getting your own flat in the Auckland CBD or Parnell, or even at some other universities around the country.

And on top of that, there are accommodation scholarships to further ease your financial burdens.