LLM in New Zealand: Deadlines, Eligibility, Cost, Scholarships & Jobs

LLM in New Zealand is a full-time graduate degree program, offered within 1 year. Currently, 6 of the 8 universities in New Zealand are offering the program to Indian students. You will require a bachelor’s degree with a 65% or above overall score. Indian students can demonstrate their English proficiency through the following test scores:

• IELTS: 6.0+
• TOEFL iBT: 79+
• PTE: 50+

Tuition fees in the universities in New Zealand are quite affordable for Indian students compared to countries like USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. You need to spend between 38,646 and 44,502 NZD (19.62 and 22.59 lakhs INR) for the 1-year program. There are plenty of university-provided scholarships in New Zealand for Indian students, like the popular India High Achievers Scholarship. You can even get departmental scholarships providing up to 20,000 NZD (10.14 lakhs INR) towards tuition.

LLM from New Zealand offers a good return on investment. Graduates reportedly earn an average annual salary of 67,900 NZD (34.47 lakhs INR). After graduation, you can choose a law-related job like solicitor, prosecutor, or law clerk. However, securing employment is not easy for Indian students as legal professionals, as New Zealand has reserved places for domestic graduates. You can still find high-paying professional roles like consultants, advisors, or policy analysts across renowned companies.

If you are planning to return to India after the degree, remember, Bar Council of India does not recognize LLM awarded by any university from New Zealand. You must pass the qualifying test available on the website of the Bar Council of India to return and practice in India. After qualifying, you need to pass the All India Bar Examination.

Top Universities for LLM in New Zealand

In New Zealand, 6 of the 8 total universities offer LLM programs. Currently, 2 of these universities rank among the top 100 in the world for Law and Legal Studies, according to QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024. The following are the universities offering this program, their rankings, deadlines, and application fees:

Why Study LLM in New Zealand?

New Zealand is an all-in-one country to pursue LLM. With only 6 universities offering the program, these are the reasons why New Zealand attract Indian students to pursue LLM:

• Affordability: Indian students on a tight budget can pursue their desired LLM course in New Zealand at an economical rate than other top countries. Tuition fees in New Zealand are comparatively affordable and lifestyle is cheaper than Australia, UK, or North American countries like US or Canada.
• Easy Work Permit: Post-study work visa/PR in UK is lengthy, while it is easier in New Zealand. In New Zealand, you can get up to 3 years of Post Study Work Visa after studying LLM. Indian students of various ages (Reportedly up to 49 years) study in the country as New Zealand student visa opens the door to permanent residency.
• Partner Visa: With your 3 years Post Study Work Visa in New Zealand, your partner can get an open work permit for 3 years. The ‘Partner of a Worker Work Visa’ will help your spouse stay in New Zealand until your Post Study Work Visa duration.
• Pay Raise: Law professionals in New Zealand get significant salary growth since the initial years of working. The salary growth of a legal professional in New Zealand according to years of experience is provided in the following graph:

Moreover, the weather in a few cities like Christchurch, Auckland, and Wellington is moderate and suitable for Indians. The weather in New Zealand is not as harsh as in countries like USA, Canada, or UK.

LLM in New Zealand Admission Requirements

To get admission to Law universities in New Zealand, Indian students require a bachelor’s degree or an honours bachelor's in Law, with a competitive English proficiency test score. Most of the universities in New Zealand accept applicants who do not meet the requirements in exceptional cases based on their extensive professional or scholarly experience.

The basic admission requirements for the program across some popular universities in New Zealand are as follows:

New Zealand Student Visa Application Requirements

To obtain a New Zealand Student Visa, Indian students require the following:

• An admission offer from a registered university in New Zealand
• Evidence of tuition fee payment
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Passport
• Health certificate

However, you might be asked to provide additional evidence like an English proficiency certificate, Identity card, and bank statements.

LLM in New Zealand Fees

Auckland University of Technology is currently offering the cheapest LLM in New Zealand with a tuition fee of 38,646 NZD (19.62 lakhs INR). The University of Auckland, being the best law institute in New Zealand (QS 2024), has a tuition fee of 44,502 NZD (22.59 lakhs INR). The costs of LLM in New Zealand for Indian students across various universities are provided below:

Cost of Living in New Zealand

Indian students in New Zealand can estimate a monthly living expense of 1300-1500 NZD (65,999 to 76,150 INR). The cost of living in New Zealand mostly depends on your lifestyle.

The average living cost breakdown for Indians is provided in the following chart:

You can save money by searching for affordable residences, avoiding unimportant subscriptions, and travelling by public transport.

LLM in New Zealand Scholarships

In New Zealand as an Indian student, you can get international student grants of up to 5,000 NZD (2.53 lakhs INR). Besides, the university-provided scholarships provide up to 10,000 NZD (5.07 lakhs INR) to students. Some popular scholarships for Indian students in New Zealand are as follows:

Part-Time Jobs in New Zealand

Securing part-time jobs in New Zealand as an Indian student is quite difficult.

• According to students, you have only 10% chance of getting a part-time job.
• You can find roles as customer service representative, supermarket assistant, content writer, tutor and more.
• Generally, Indian students are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week.

You can expect to earn around 20 NZD (1,015 INR) per hour.

LLM in New Zealand Jobs and Salaries

After completing LLM in New Zealand, you can pursue professions like Barrister, Attorney, Corporate Lawyer, Legal Advisor and various other roles. Besides, legal professionals also secure jobs in various professions like consultants, advisors, policy analysts or even publishers. Some popular jobs for Indian legal professionals in New Zealand and their average salaries are as follows:

After completing an LLM in New Zealand, you can practice law for 3 years by obtaining a Post Study Work Permit. Your work permit can lead you towards gaining a Permanent Resident Visa in New Zealand. Degree from the universities in New Zealand are not recognized by the Bar Council of India. You will have to pass the qualifying test available on the website of the Bar Council of India to return and practice. After qualifying, you need to pass the All India Bar Examination to practice in India. New Zealand therefore is a compelling option for Indian students seeking an LLM with a strong academic reputation, affordable costs, and rising work opportunities.

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