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INZ student visa update: August 2024
Post Study Work Visa – cross crediting study from post graduate diploma to masters
Provided eligibility is met, most level 8 post graduate diplomas will be eligible for a one year post study work visa (PSWV) with masters graduates eligible for a three year post study work visa.
In order to be eligible for a PSWV, post graduate diploma (level 8) and masters qualifications (level 9) require a minimum of 30 weeks full time study in the specific programme/qualification being presented for a PSWV.
Students must have held a student visa for that programme/qualification and apply for their PSWV within three months of the expiry date of the student visa for qualification they are presenting to INZ.
Recently some students completed post graduate diplomas (PG dip) and cross credited directly into a taught masters. In these cases, the students did not undertake full time study in the masters for a minimum of 30 weeks full time in New Zealand, due to the cross credited PG Dip.
This resulted in issues for the graduates when they applied for their PSWV. INZ is working directly with affected students and exploring options for them. However, it is important for agents and education providers to understand the PSWV rules.
Eligibility for Post Study Work Visas following study at level 8 and 9 are:
- a minimum of 30 weeks full time study in that specific qualification,
- hold/held a student visa for that specific qualification, and
- apply for their post study work visa within three months of the student visa expiry for that specific qualification.
Although the initial coursework of a masters might be similar to, or the same as a post graduate diploma, the two programmes have different entry criteria and are recognised as separate qualifications. For students who want to cross credit their PG Dip to a masters and undertake some extra study in order to gain a three year PSWV for that masters, the student would need to have studied the masters itself full time for at least 30 weeks.
Note: Study weeks include exam preparation time, but exclude holiday periods and time spent repeating failed components.
We will continue to engage with the education sector to ensure they are aware of the requirements for a post study work visa. If you have questions about this article and are an agent or student, please talk to your education provider in the first instance.
Student visa peak – apply three months before intended travel
The processing of international student visas is a key focus for INZ, particularly as we get closer to the end of the year.
We are now coming into the period in which INZ receives the highest volumes of applications.
As soon as they have all the documents they need to apply for their visa, students should submit their application three months before their intended travel date to give them the best chance of having their application decided in time. They can apply earlier than three months if they wish, as long as they have all the required information and documents.
Our visa processing times are published on the INZ website and updated monthly: Visa processing times for international students
New fees and levies for visas come into effect from 1 October 2024
Earlier this month, the Government announced that the cost of applying for all visas will increase on 1 October 2024.
Until now, the immigration system has been heavily subsidised by taxpayers.
The new fees have been set at a rate to recover the costs of assessing and processing each visa type and more accurately reflect the total service surrounding the immigration system.
Student visa fees increase from $375 to $750. The post study work visa fee increases from $700 to $1670.
Student visa fees differ depending on where the student applies from so be sure to check the new fees and levies here.
It is also important to note that New Zealand does have agreements with some countries where student visa fees are waived, and these remain. You can find information here.
INZ is receiving questions from the education sector on whether students can apply for visas now at the lower fee, and upload documents later once they are ready.
Applications received before 1 October 2024 will be charged the current fee, however if the applications are not ready for assessment because they are missing documents then this will result in delays or disappointment for the student.
INZ will not be contacting applicants if documents are missing from the application and, if the missing information is key to the assessment, then the applications may be declined.
Please make sure you are advising students to submit their visa application when it is complete and ready for assessment. For more information, please see the student visa information sheets here - Student visa information | Immigration New Zealand
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Virtual events around the world
Viet Nam: Career fair at Nguyen Sieu School (NSS)
Representatives from eight New Zealand providers attended a career fair at Hanoi’s Nguyen Sieu School (NSS) last month.
With no cases of community-transmitted COVID-19 for the past six weeks, Viet Nam has started to return to normal life. Schools have reopened just ahead of the end of the academic year.
Usually, the NSS Career Fair only allows in-person representatives from foreign institutions. However, thanks to ENZ’s strong relationship with the school, our institutions were represented by proxy – either an education agent or alumnus. A representative from the institution was also permitted to join via video link.
As a result, New Zealand’s presence was well ahead of our competitors like Canada (with two institutions), the UK (also two), or Australia (three).
ENZ Viet Nam Market Manager Van Banh says this is a great example of how key in-market relationships will be critical as international education looks to conduct usual activity online.
“This year’s NSS Career Fair was an exciting example of how we can incorporate digital technology into our in-person events,” she says.
North America: NAFSA eShowcase
For the first time ever, the world’s biggest B2B international education conference was held entirely online.
More than 9,000 international educators from over 100 countries were expected to attend the conference in St. Louis, Missouri over 25-29 May before COVID-19 forced organisers to take it to the digital world. In the end, over 2,000 attended the eShowcase.
Participants were able to visit ENZ’s virtual booth and engage either through chat or live video conversations at designated times.
New Zealand universities and ITPs had dedicated times to host a ‘Virtual Showcase’, which is a mechanism by which NAFSA exhibitors presented, met or collaborated with attendees via a dedicated Zoom session.
“The process of moving the largest in-person B2B international education conference in the world online has been a big learning curve, not only for ENZ and the individual booths and attendees, but for NAFSA themselves,” ENZ Director of Engagement – North America, DuBois Jennings, says.
“With no live, conference-wide chatroom or method to see a list of conference participants it felt isolating at time on the booth, which is very different from the normal, in-person NAFSA conference. However, it has been a valuable learning experience as the international education industry looks for new ways to connect virtually.”
The official NZ CEE schedule.
China: China Education Expo (CEE)
In late May, representatives from ENZ, all eight of New Zealand’s universities and the NZIST were offered a unique opportunity to engage directly with students from China and their parents.
The annual China Education Expo (CEE) is one of the biggest events in the Chinese international education calendar. But ENZ Market Development Manager, Jane Liu, says this year’s engagement through the virtual platform is greater than they would usually expect.
“Although ENZ has worked with the CEE for years, this is the first time we’ve been collaborated with them online. We can see this being useful to New Zealand institutions even after COVID-19.”
Each university provided a one-hour presentation sharing their programmes and how they can work with interested students once COVID-19 precautions have been lifted. The NZIST representative also gave a detailed introduction to the reforms the ITP sector has recently gone through.
The webinars have garnered a combined total of 1000 views, and have been recorded and hosted on WeChat so that students and parents can watch them at their leisure.
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New ENZ agent webinar series highlights NZ's regions
Friendly and welcoming, New Zealand’s regions are a natural playground with boundless opportunity for learning. From the vibrant student city of Dunedin to the tropical coastlines and multicultural people of Northland, New Zealand’s regions are the ideal place for students eager to experience hands-on learning.
In this webinar series, agents are invited to hear from ENZ staff members and the Regional Network on each of New Zealand’s regions: their unique strengths and what they can offer international students.
Each webinar will be conducted twice on the day, at 9am and 9pm NZT.
- Wednesday, 1 July - Auckland, Northland, Taranaki
- Wednesday, 8 July - Hawke's Bay, Waikato
- Wednesday, 15 July - Manawatu, Whanganui
- Wednesday, 22 July - Wellington, Tauranga
- Wednesday, 29 July - Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown
- Thursday, 6 August - Gisborne, Rotorua, Nelson-Tasman, Marlborough, West Coast, Southland, South Canterbury
Go to the ‘Webinars’ section on AgentLab to attend a webinar.
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Thailand retention campaign launches to encourage long-term study in New Zealand
ENZ Thailand has launched a retention campaign to encourage students from Thailand who have previously studied here to return to New Zealand for further study.
Students who choose to continue their education in New Zealand will be eligible for an air fare scholarship (valued up to NZD $3,000), making it easier for them to travel and transition into long-term study. At least 25 New Zealand education providers have volunteered to subsidise the award.
The campaign has already generated strong interest. It was launched at the New Zealand Summer Pre-Departure Orientation on 1 March in Bangkok with over 240 students and parents in attendance.
The scheme will work with students or education agents providing proof of previous study. Once the students are in New Zealand, they can rebate the air fare through coordination with their agents.
Education providers involved in the campaign:
Universities:
- Lincoln University
- University of Canterbury
- University of Otago
Schools:
- Auckland Grammar School
- Cambridge High School
- Glendowie College
- Hamilton Girls’ High School
- Hillmorton High School
- Kaikorai Valley College
- Lynfield College
- Macleans College
- Massey High School
- Mount Albert Grammar School
- Napier Boys’ High School
- Newlands College
- Nga Tawa Diocesan School
- Northcote College
- Palmerston North Boys’ High School
- Palmerston North Girls’ High School
- Papatoetoe High School
- Pukekohe High School
- Rosehill College
- Waitaki Girls’ High School
- Whanganui Girls’ College
- Whanganui High School
If you are an education provider interested in being involved in future retention campaigns, you can email Jaruwan Pongjaruwat, Programme Manager – Thailand at Jaruwan.pongjaruwat@enz.govt.nz.
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MyStudy NZ WeChat mini programme gets a refresh
MyStudy NZ is our intelligent matching tool which matches prospective students to courses and institutions in New Zealand based on a set of questions and areas of interest. It can be found on www.studyinnewzealand.govt.nz for our western markets.
However, for our China market who predominantly use WeChat, we developed a mini programme for them in November 2018.
The new version of the mini programme continues the original smart matching, but is more user-friendly and personalised, making it easy for students to obtain official information about application.
How is 2.0 better than 1.0? We believe it’s better in eight different ways:
- Social sharing enabled – Prospective students who come across their dream school can now share it to a WeChat friend or group chat immediately. The recipient can open the mini programme and view the details of the school as well.
- One-click authorisation – Students won’t have to fill in all the details to become a member anymore. With one click, prospective students can authorise their WeChat accounts to become registered MyStudy NZ members.
- Clear living costs displayed – Once prospective students get a match, they can expand and view the annual living costs in a pop-up window.
- You can see the latest content with added filter – Without registering, students can view the latest OA articles and filter based on views or posting date.
- UX (user experience) optimisation – Users can now choose paths when entering the mini programme.
- Complete UI (user interface) update – To remain consistent with the refreshed ‘I am New’ brand.
- New notifications – Push notifications will be sent to remind students to register, do course matching, bookmark favourite schools and talk to them.
- Speed optimisation and no more errors – We have done some coding optimisations and upgraded our server so the mini programme will load faster and users shouldn’t receive any more error messages.
