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- Whanganui 5
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US students arrive in New Zealand
Amy Rutherford, ENZ’s Director of Education, North America, said studying in New Zealand will be a life-changing experience for these students, and will hopefully create more Kiwi ambassadors in the US.
“We’re working hard in the US to raise the profile of New Zealand as a high-quality education destination, and authentic stories from students who have studied in New Zealand are a great way to do that,” said Amy.
“We also want to see a more diverse group of US students having overseas experiences, and these scholarships are an excellent first step.”
Taylor Weckstein, one of the recipients of the GSA Awards, is studying at the University of Otago. She chose New Zealand as a way to follow in her grandfather’s tracks – literally. After learning about the great hikes he did in New Zealand many years ago, she wanted to share the experience.
US student Josh Golden, the recipient of the Go Overseas New Zealand scholarship, has also begun his semester at the University of Canterbury. As a marine science major with biology and environmental science minors, he wants to explore the geography and wildlife of New Zealand.
“I am simultaneously excited and nervous. I expect to be mesmerized by New Zealand’s natural beauty and culture. I can’t wait to live as a Kiwi this semester!”
Gilman Scholar Angel Geller has also arrived in New Zealand. Her scholarship came from a partnership between ENZ and the US Department of State, which is aimed at diversifying the kinds of students studying internationally.
Angel will explore Māori culture and tribal politics at the University of Waikato and compare them with her experience growing up with UmonHon, her indigenous tribe in Nebraska.
“I did extensive research to find a host site with indigenous-relevant classes on topics from history to language. The University of Waikato has this, as well as resources on how to connect with community members, and a significant Māori student population who I will have as my peers,” said Angel.
You can follow the study adventures of our Kiwi Ambassadors on the Study in New Zealand Instagram, YouTube and Blog.
For more information on scholarships for US students please contact ENZ’s US team, Amy Rutherford or Alanna Dick.
New assets on the Brand Lab
Want to share scholarship information with your US partners? Visit the Brand Lab and search under "USA" and "Study Abroad" keywords to find two scholarship flyers and education and lifestyle PDFs designed for US students and advisors.
Share your student stories
Do you have interesting student stories or scholarship winners on your campus? ENZ is always looking for student profiles to share through our social and marketing platforms. Please contact Lucy Johnston, ENZ Senior Communications Advisor.
- Tauranga 04
- NZIEC 2
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International students report high satisfaction as New Zealand sees steady recovery in enrolments
This year, 87 percent of students gave a positive rating of their overall experience, maintaining the upward trend seen in 2024 (86%). The proportion of students who rated their experience as ‘excellent’ rose to 43 percent, a two percent increase from the previous year.
These strong satisfaction results come as international student enrolments in New Zealand continue to grow. Between January and April 2025, 63,610 international students were enrolled with New Zealand education providers, a 16% increase compared to the same period in 2024 (54,690), and a 49% increase on 2023 (42,700).
All education subsectors saw growth, with Private Training Establishments (PTEs) showing the strongest increase at +41% compared to 2024.
China and India remained the top source markets, followed by Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, USA, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, and Germany. Notably, Sri Lanka rose to fifth place (from ninth), and Nepal to seventh (from eleventh), reflecting shifting dynamics in student mobility.
What students value most
Students were most positive about the people and connections they made in New Zealand (92%), the quality of their education (90%), their arrival and orientation experience (89%), the ease of making study arrangements (87%), and their overall living experience (87%).
International students’ experiences of making study arrangements have notably improved, with 80 percent of students rating their experience with the visa application process positively (up from 78% in 2024), and 74% positively rating the time taken to get their visa (up from 64%).
Education New Zealand and Immigration New Zealand will continue to collaborate on provision of information to students to ensure an enhanced student experience.
The survey also shows an increasing proportion of international students regard New Zealand as offering good value for money, with positive perceptions rising from 65% to 76%.
Education New Zealand's Chief Executive, Amanda Malu, said the results reflect New Zealand’s ability to provide a high-quality education within an environment that fosters meaningful connections and relationships.
“This is encouraging news for New Zealand. The fact that students continue to rate their experience here as excellent is a credit to our education providers and speaks to the warmth of the welcome our communities extend to international students,” she said.
“We’re seeing a steady and encouraging recovery in international education. It’s not a boom, but a sign that our collective efforts are making a difference. What matters most is that students are not just coming to New Zealand, they’re having a high-quality experience that supports wellbeing and a sense of belonging.”
“Under the International Education Going for Growth Plan, we’re focused on thoughtful, sustainable growth. These insights help us ensure that our progress is not just about numbers, but about delivering long-term value to students, communities, and the wider economy.”
Education New Zealand’s Director Insights and Performance, Marie Clark, said the survey continues to be a key piece of work for ENZ and a useful tool for the international education sector.
“It remains the only national survey focused on international student experience in all subsectors in New Zealand. With several years of data now collected, we’re building a meaningful picture of student experience over time,” she said.
“The ability to break down insights by variables like country, sector, and gender makes the dataset especially useful. We expect the report and Tableau dashboards will be very practical resources for anyone working in the sector,” Clark added.
For further information:
- Visit Tableau Public to access the data sets: International Student Experience Survey 2025 | Tableau Public
- Sai Raje | Senior Communications Advisor, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao
sai.raje@enz.govt.nz | +64 21 479 649
Notes to Editors:
About the New Zealand International Student Experience Survey 2025
The survey aims to better understand the overall experience of international students enrolled with New Zealand education providers, as well as recent graduates. It also identifies areas for improvement to enhance the student journey.
Fieldwork was conducted from 28 April to 19 May 2025 with 5,420 respondents across all education subsectors and stages of study.
About Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is the government agency dedicated to helping New Zealand realise the social, cultural, and economic benefits of international education. Our role is to promote New Zealand as a high-quality education destination offering excellent education and student experiences.
With approximately 85 staff in 13 locations around the world, ENZ works closely with New Zealand’s diverse education sector which includes schools, English language providers, Private Training Establishments, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology Te Pūkenga), and universities.
Internationally, we work with a range of education stakeholders, including government agencies and education providers to identify and encourage sustainable growth opportunities for New Zealand’s education sector.
- TIECA 2017 schools
- IMG 20250523 WA0007
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High numbers of student and visitor visa applications
Jeannie Melville, INZ’s Assistant General Manager, Visa Services says this is typical for this time of year and will likely continue until March 2019.
“Due to the high application volumes currently being received, we strongly recommend that visitor and student visa applications are submitted as early as possible.
“Student visas should be submitted at least eight weeks ahead of their intended travel date, while visitor visas should be submitted as soon as possible in advance of travel. This gives INZ time to assess the application and gather more information from the applicant if needed.”
The fastest and easiest way to apply for a visa is to use the Immigration Online system via the INZ website, where applicants can upload supporting documents, photographs and pay for their application.
While INZ makes every effort to streamline assessment of applications, applicants may experience longer timeframes if they do not supply all required information (including translations) when they submit their application. If they do not supply the correct information this could hold up the processing of their visa.
INZ does not advise purchase of travel before an application is completed as the grant of a visa is not guaranteed. In particular, assessment of visitor visa applications will not be prioritised if the sole reason is that the applicant has pre-purchased travel.
Education providers can refer students to the INZ website for visa processing timeframes, which applicants should take into account when applying for their visa and planning their travel.
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INZ student visa processing update
Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) Palmerston North Area Office (PNAO) is coming out of the peak processing period for onshore student visa applications, with the last of the March visa applications still to be processed.
The standard processing timeframe for a student visa application is 20 working days for an online application, and 25 working days for a paper-based application.
Kimberley Polata, PNAO Head of Operations, said her team is working on applications received within the last 20 days and is committed to clearing these applications by the end of April.
Progress has already been made towards this, with PNAO sending out nearly 1,800 visa decisions in the last week alone, she said
“There are approximately 1,100 visa applications where further documentation or information has been requested from the student, and this is required in order to compete the application.”
Ms Polata asks that education providers check in with their students who are still waiting for their visa decision and ask them to check their email and online applications for communication from INZ.
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Around the world in five
GLOBAL
University applicants turn away from US and UK
Canada has overtaken the UK as a preferred study destination for international university applicants, according to the 2018 QS Applicant Survey. The survey provides further evidence that international students are increasingly rejecting the UK in favour of other English-speaking destinations.
SOUTH EAST ASIA
South East and East Asia’s growing popularity with international students
South East Asia’s lower study and living costs, coupled with its offering of an ‘exciting study abroad experience not too far from home’, is attracting international students from the wider Asia-Pacific region.
UK
Take students out of migration stats, say policymakers and stakeholders
A forum about the UK’s future immigration policy included lengthy discussion about the inclusion of international students in the net migration target, with many arguing it creates the perception that the UK is unwelcoming to students.
BRAZIL
Brazil to get 'Singapore-style' education thanks to teacher training deal
More than 50,000 students in Brazil will soon be provided with a more Singaporean-style education, thanks to a memorandum of understanding with Singapore’s National Institute of Education to improve the education system in Brazil.
MALTA
Increasing international English language enrolments
More than 87,000 international students attended English language schools in Malta in 2017, seeking “a high quality of English teaching accompanied with the sun and the safety of the island.”
