Masters in New Zealand: Top Courses, Universities, Cost, and Scholarships

Content Writer - Study Abroad | Updated On - Jun 6, 2024

Highlights:

Admission Requirements: Key requirements include a bachelor's degree with a B GPA (70-75%), an IELTS score of 6.5, a TOEFL score of 90, and additional documents like SOP, LOR, and sometimes work experience.
Work Opportunities: Taught masters students can work part-time during studies and full-time during holidays, while research masters students can work full-time year-round. Graduates can apply for a post-study work visa for up to 3 years.
Top Universities: New Zealand has eight universities, three of which rank among the top 350 globally in QS ranking. Universities like University of Auckland, University of Otago, Lincoln University are some of them.
New Zealand Masters Courses: Popular programs include masters in Psychology, Masters of Professional Accounting, Master of Finance and others.
Job Outcomes: The average annual salary for masters graduates in New Zealand is 75,000 NZD. Job prospects are strong, particularly in larger cities like Auckland and Wellington, with high-paying roles in sectors like accounting and finance.

Masters in New Zealand can take 1 year, 18 months, or 2 years of study, depending on the program and your existing qualifications. You can choose any of the taught or research masters courses. Taught masters courses are often referred to as fast-track courses and include internship opportunities and industry connections. Research masters programs allow you to work closely with expert academic staff who will challenge you to think critically and creatively, helping you develop a future-focused skill set. Admission to masters courses in New Zealand happens mainly in January and July intakes in New Zealand. The entry requirements for MS in New Zealand are as follows

Bachelor's degree with a B Grade Point Average (70-75%)
Minimum IELTS score of 6.5
Minimum TOEFL score of 90
SOP for New Zealand (optional)
Letter of recommendation (1-2, depending on the university)
Work experience (optional)
New Zealand student visa

A taught master degree in New Zealand allows you to work part-time while studying, and full-time during holidays. While research masters students are able to work full-time all year. After completing New Zealand masters programs, you can apply for a post-study work visa to stay and work here for up to 3 years. You can get this visa within 5 weeks in exchange for 700 NZD (36,059 INR). But what are the career outcomes of a masters degree NZ? As per Payscale, the average annual salary of a masters program New Zealand is 75,000 NZD (38.65 lakhs INR).

Why Study Masters in New Zealand?

Here, we have listed some reasons behind studying a masters program to study in New Zealand

Even though New Zealand only has 8 institutions, three of them are among the top 350 in the world, according to Times Higher Education. If you stop to think about it, that is an astonishing percentage.
The course lasts between one and two years. For master's students in New Zealand, the post-graduate work permit (PGWP) is variable and can be 1, 2, or 3 years depending on the program. Since the degrees are focused on the business world, employment prospects are excellent.
Compared to other top study-abroad locations, an MS in New Zealand is a more economical option for Indian students. The annual cost would be around between INR 15 and 35 lakh.

Table of Content

Top 10 Best Universities
Admission Requirements
Job Outcomes
FAQs

Top 10 Best Universities in New Zealand for Masters

In the latest QS ranking 2024, 8 universities in New Zealand are featured within the top 500. The most prestigious universities in New Zealand that offer a master degrees in a range of subjects are included in the table below

University	Ranking	Tuition Fee (NZD)	Popular Courses
University of Auckland	#65	48,622- 49,397	Master of Applied Finance \| Master of Business Analytics \| Master of Architecture \| Master of Biomedical Science \| Master of Biotechnology
Auckland University of Technology	#412	35,074- 43,974	Master of Computer and Information Sciences \| Master of Cyber Security and Digital Forensics \| Master of IT Project Management \| Master of Science Master of Business
University of Otago	#214	8,651- 39,552	Master of Accounting and Finance (MAccFin) \| Master of Commerce (MCom) \| Master of Applied Science \| Master of Business Administration (MBA)
University of Waikato	#235	38,915- 51,130	Master of Applied Finance \| Master of Applied Psychology \| Master of Business and Management \| Master of Cyber Security \| Master of Educational Leadership
University of Canterbury	#261	46,000- 55,950	M.A Business Finance \| Master of Applied Data Science \| Master of Applied Finance and Economics \| Master of Business Administration (MBA) \| Master of Civil Engineering
Lincoln University	#371	16,800	Marketing - MSc \| MSc Microbiology Management \| MBA Leadership Finance - MSc

Popular Masters in New Zealand for Indian Students

The 8 universities in New Zealand ensure all the popular fields are covered in their masters course offerings. As there are very few, it is difficult to segregate the top universities for each subject/ stream. Hence, we have given some of the popular streams of MS in New Zealand for Indian students.

Arts & Humanities	Education	Business & Economics	Social Sciences
Masters Psychology NZ Masters in Physiotherapy in New Zealand Masters in Public Health in New Zealand	Master of Education in New Zealand	Masters in Business Analytics New Zealand Master of Management in New Zealand Master of Professional Accounting NZ Masters in Finance New Zealand	Master in Computer Science in New Zealand Master of Science in New Zealand

Admission Requirements for Masters in New Zealand

To be eligible for masters in New Zealand for international students, you need to have academic requirements and score requirements in exams to study in New Zealand. The following table shows the specific admission requirements for the top New Zealand universities for masters.

University	Academic Requirement	TOEFL Score	Additional Documents
University of Auckland	GPA of 5.0 or higher is required	Overall score of 90 and a writing score of 21	Transcripts, CV, SOP
Auckland University of Technology	B grade average or higher	60-100	CV, SOP, LOR
University of Otago	Average grade of B+	102 or better with a minimum of 24 in each section	CV, Transcripts
University of Waikato	B/B+ average	90 with a score of 21 in writing	CV, SOP, LOR, Transcripts
University of Canterbury	B Grade Point Average or experience	90	CV, Transcripts
Lincoln University	50-60% in desired discipline	79 overall Reading: 18 Listening: 17 Speaking: 20 Writing: 20	CV, SOP, Transcripts

Cost of Living in New Zealand

The cost of living in New Zealand is between 4,000-5,000 NZD per month for one person in a major city. A family of four can expect to need 6,000-7,000 NZD per month to live. Remember, rent in New Zealand is collected weekly and will vary based on which city or town you live in. For the estimated bifurcation of costs, you can refer to the table below

Expense Type	Average Annual Expense (NZD)	Cost for Indian Students (INR)
Accommodation	13,728	7.01 Lakh
Meals	7,800	3.98 Lakh
Transportation	2,080	1.06 Lakh
Health Insurance	697	35,591
Personal Expenses	2,600	1.32 Lakh
Total	26,905	13.73 Lakh

Note: 1 NZD= 51.54 INR as of June 5, 2024

Scholarships for Masters in New Zealand

For international students, scholarships in Zealand are a great method to pay for their tuition while studying in New Zealand. Take a look at some of the well-known scholarships for 1 year masters programs in New Zealand.

Universities	Scholarships	Award Value
University of Auckland	University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship	10,000 NZD
Victoria University, Wellington	Fork tip Women's Innovation Scholarships	2,000 NZD
University of Canterbury	William Georgetti Scholarship	up to 20,000 NZD per year
University of Canterbury	Dr. Russell Smith Memorial Scholarship	2,000 NZD
University of Otago	International Master’s Research Scholarship	17,172 NZD stipend per annum plus a tuition fee waiver
University of Otago	Otago Coursework Master’s Scholarship	10,000 NZD

Note: 1 NZD= 51.54 INR as of June 5, 2024

Job Outcomes After Masters in New Zealand

The median income in New Zealand is 29.66 NZD per hour or an annual salary of 61,692 NZD for a 40-hour week. Salaries of jobs in New Zealand differ depending on the region and the industry. Larger cities like Auckland and Wellington pay higher wages to keep up with the higher cost of living. According to data from the job-seeking website Seek, accounting CFOs are offered the highest salaries in the country at 198,644 NZD per annum. So you can choose a related masters degree in New Zealand for international students to get the most out of it.

Job_Outcomes

Note: 1 NZD= 51.54 INR as of June 5, 2024

Check out: How to Get a New Zealand Work Visa

Salary Comparison: Bachelor Vs Masters in New Zealand

As per March 2024 update from Stats NZ, the quarterly employment rate in New Zealand is 68.4%. The employment rate is also increasing by 0.66% per quarter. As of March 2024, 2,939,000 people are employed in various sectors in New Zealand. Top 5 sectors with most number of employees are

Engineering
Information Technology
Teaching
Administration
Managerial

As per Payscale, the average salary after

Bachelors in New Zealand (BS) is 72,000 NZD per year.
Masters in New Zealand (MS) is 75,000 NZD per year.

Now, a quick comparison of jobs and salaries after BS and MS in New Zealand is given below. It will certainly help you to choose the right course to study in New Zealand

Job Roles	BS in New Zealand	MS in New Zealand
Data Analyst	61,465	80,139
Project Manager	77,011	100,240
Operations Manager	81,410	88,704
Sr. Software Engineer / Developer / Programmer	107,538	106,857
Environmental Scientist	61,852	63,437
Physiotherapist	62,381	73,409

Note: 1 NZD= 51.54 INR as of June 5, 2024

Postgraduate courses in New Zealand are offered in seven Crown Research Institutes (CRI) that are government-aided and offer excellent research opportunities. International students should think about pursuing masters programs in New Zealand for international students because the courses available are reasonably priced, the country has a good return on investment, and there are plenty of career chances. New Zealand colleges for masters also offer placement and internship opportunities to international students.

FAQs

Ques: What are the eligibility requirements for a Master's degree in New Zealand?

Ans: Eligibility requirements typically include:

A bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognized institution.
Proof of English proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL scores).
Academic transcripts.
Letters of recommendation.
A statement of purpose.

Some programs may also require relevant work experience or GRE/GMAT scores.

Ques: How much does it cost to pursue a Master's in New Zealand?

Ans: The cost can vary depending on the university and program, but on average:

Tuition fees range from NZD 20,000 to NZD 45,000 per year.
Living expenses typically range from NZD 15,000 to NZD 20,000 per year.

It's important to budget for additional costs such as insurance, books, and travel.

Ques: What are the top universities in New Zealand for a Master's degree?

Ans: Top universities include:

University of Auckland
University of Otago

Victoria University of Wellington
University of Canterbury
Massey University

Ques: Can international students work while studying?

Ans: Yes, international students can work part-time up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during scheduled breaks. Post-study work visas are also available for graduates.

Ques: How can I apply for a Master's program in New Zealand?

Ans: The application process generally includes:

Researching and selecting your desired program.
Preparing required documents (transcripts, English proficiency test scores, etc.).
Submitting an online application through the university's website.
Paying the application fee, if applicable.
Awaiting the admission decision.

Ques: What scholarships are available for international students?

Ans: Several scholarships are available, including:

New Zealand International Scholarships
University-specific scholarships (e.g., University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship)
Government and private scholarships from your home country

Check specific university websites and scholarship portals for detailed information.

Ques: What is the duration of a Master's degree in New Zealand?

Ans: Most Master's programs in New Zealand are 1 to 2 years long, depending on the field of study and whether the program includes a research component.

Ques: Is it necessary to have health insurance while studying in New Zealand?

Ans: Yes, having health insurance is mandatory for international students. Many universities offer their own insurance plans, but you can also purchase insurance from a private provider.

Ques: What are the visa requirements for studying in New Zealand?

Ans: To obtain a student visa, you generally need:

An offer of place from an educational institution.
Proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition fees and living expenses.
A valid passport.
Medical and travel insurance.
Police clearance certificate (if applicable).

Ques: What is the post-study work opportunity in New Zealand?

Ans: Graduates can apply for a Post-study Work Visa, which allows them to work in New Zealand for 1 to 3 years, depending on the qualification level. This visa provides a pathway to gaining practical work experience and potentially applying for residency.