New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Wellington is the capital city and second most populous urban area of New Zealand. New Zealand is organised into 11 regional councils and 67 territorial authorities for local government purposes; these have less autonomy than the country's long defunct provinces did. The country geographically comprises two main landmasses – that of the North Island, and the South Island and numerous smaller islands. New Zealand is situated some 1,500 kilometers east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and roughly 1,000 kilometers south of the Pacific island areas of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy, although its constitution is not codified. Elizabeth II is the Queen of New Zealand and the head of state.

Climate

Annual temperatures range from 10°C in the south to 16°C in the north of New Zealand. The coldest month is usually July and the warmest month is usually January or February. In New Zealand generally there are relatively small variations between summer and winter temperatures

Geography

New Zealand is long (over 1,600 kilometer’s along its north-north-east axis) and narrow (a maximum width of 400 kilometers), with approximately 15,000 km of coastline and a total land area of 268,000 square kilometers. The country's islands lie between latitudes 29° and 53°S, and longitudes 165° and 176°E.

Demographics

The population of New Zealand is approximately 4.5 million. New Zealand cities generally rank highly on international livability measures.

Education

New Zealand’s education system is world-class, modern and responsive. It combines proven, traditional principles of education with innovation, creativity and fresh thinking to produce leaders and citizens equipped for the 21st century. New Zealand has an adult literacy rate of 99 percent. New Zealand universities are well-recognised internationally. More than half are ranked among the top 500 universities in the world and one is in the top 50. All have strong international connections and collaborate with universities in other countries on a range of research and teaching programmes. The total numbers of universities in New Zealand are more than 10 universities. This includes one of the world’s best institutions. New Zealand has had a total of 3 Nobel Prize winners to-date, with one of the winner Alan MacDiarmid (Chemistry, 2000).

Distinct Advantages of Study in the New Zealand

Broad range of study and research opportunities.The New Zealand university system is research-based, as it is historically based on the British higher education model. This means there are a number of similarities between the 2 systems, such as the names of qualifications, teaching methods, and the look and feel of the university campuses.

New Zealand does not have massive competition to enter the first year of a university degree. This is because the New Zealand government has invested heavily in university education over the years. As a result New Zealand has more capacity than it has students.

New Zealand also has a well-developed system of pastoral care for international students, backed by a government-monitored Code of Practice. This means you will be well looked after during your time studying there.

The country has a comparatively low cost of living, abundant fresh food at reasonable prices and a wide variety of student accommodation options. Transport is also moderately priced, affording easy access to rivers, mountains, lakes, forests and beaches and the recreational opportunities they provide.

New Zealand is renowned for its natural beauty and its adventure activities, and all this is readily accessible from all eight universities in the country.

Part time Job opportunities during the course and full time during vacations

A New Zealand study trip gives you the option of permanently migrating to a country with an enviable lifestyle. The New Zealand Government estimates that 23% of those who obtained student visas over the past decade were granted permanent residency within 5 years (Migration Trends and Outlook Report, March 2013).