PG Diploma in New Zealand: Top Universities, Admissions Requirements, Cost of Study, Scholarships and Job Opportunities

Syed Yusuf Ashraf Study Abroad Content Specialist

Study Abroad Content Specialist

Highlights

Program Duration: A PG Diploma in New Zealand lasts 1 year as a full-time degree course in most universities. A 2 year part-time option is also available in Universities such as University of Waikato, Unitec, etc.
Admission Requirements: Indian students required 65% in bachelor’s degree with a minimum IELTS score of 6.5.
Cost of Study: PG Diploma in New Zealand cost around 23,800 to 50,810 NZD (12.08 lakhs to 25.79 lakhs) per annum for Indian students.
Annual Salary: The PG diploma holders in New Zealand typically earn an average salary of 72,000 NZD (36.55 lakhs INR) per annum.

PG Diploma in New Zealand is a 1 year program offered by majority of the top universities in New Zealand. The course is quite similar to a bachelor's degree in New Zealand but with a more improved and vast syllabus. You can master your skills in your desired field of study through a PG Diploma in New Zealand. The popular areas to study in New Zealand under PG Diploma include fishery, agriculture, mining and forestry. For Indian students, the annual tuition fee for PG Diploma in New Zealand ranges between 23,800 to 50,810 NZD (12.08 lakhs to 25.79 lakhs).

To get through admissions, Indian students need at least 65% in bachelor’s degree in relevant discipline.
Additionally, an IELTS score of 6.5 or TOEFL IBT score of 90 is required as part of ELP requirements.
Applicants with an academic average of 50-60% or even a backlog can be admitted based on conditional admission offers. Applicants with backlogs must maintain a good academic record with high GPA and test scores. A backlog is also required along with reason stating backlogs
Indian students successfully completing this course can get a direct entry in master's degree.

After completion of a postgraduate diploma in New Zealand, you can apply for a 3 year post study work visa. Graduates pursuing courses as civil engineering, construction engineering, highway or electrical or electronic are eligible for up to 1 year stayback in New Zealand. No courses other than these are eligible for 1 year stay back in New Zealand. The country is looking for professionals in these areas due to severe shortage of skilled workers.

Table of Content

Why study PG Diploma in New Zealand?
PG Diploma in New Zealand Admission Requirements
PG Diploma in New Zealand University Specific Requirements
PG Diploma in New Zealand Cost of Studying
PG Diploma in New Zealand Scholarships
PG Diploma in New Zealand Job Opportunities

Top Universities for PG Diploma in New Zealand

Tabulated below are the top universities for PG Diploma in New Zealand along with details top courses, application deadlines and ananual tuition fees:

QS Rankings	Top Universities	Top Courses	Application Deadline	Annual Tuition Fee (NZD)
#65	The University of Auckland	Postgraduate Diploma in Aerospace Engineering \| Postgraduate Diploma in Civil Engineering	November 1, 2024	50,810
#65	The University of Auckland	Postgraduate Diploma in Artificial Intelligence	November 1, 2024	50,133
#214	University of Otago	Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science \| Postgraduate Diploma Software Engineering	December 10, 2024	44,720
#235	University of Waikato	Postgraduate Diploma of Health Science \| Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching	October 1, 2024	35,900
#235	University of Waikato	Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology (Clinical)	October 1, 2024	40,855
#236	Victoria University of Wellington	Postgraduate Diploma in Architectural Science	December 1, 2024]	42,050
#236	Victoria University of Wellington	Postgraduate Diploma in Biomedical Science	December 1, 2024]	44,800
#=239	Massey University	Postgraduate Diploma in Business	February 7, 2025	35,450
#=239	Massey University	Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology	February 7, 2025	44,660
#412	Auckland Institute of Technology	Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology	December 2, 2024	23,800
-	Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology	Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Aquaculture \| Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Management \|	July 22, 2024	32,500
-	Unitec	Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Business \| Postgraduate Diploma of Applied Technologies-Computing	No official deadline	32,877

Why study PG Diploma in New Zealand?

A PG Diploma in New Zealand offers specialized learning in a particular field of study along with practical skills. The PG diploma is an industry oriented program which prepares students for employment. Majority of Indian students prefer to study post graduate diploma in New Zealand after completion of bachelor’s degree in India.

PG Diploma is an ideal choice for Indian students who wish to pursue a Masters degree in New Zealand but couldn't meet the minimum requirements. The postgraduate diploma can act as a direct pathway to a Masters degree if you achieve at least 4.5 GPA on a 9.0 scale upon graduation.
Another reason why you should consider New Zealand as study abroad destinations is the easy PR and stayback option after graduation. You can get a 3 year post work visa in New Zealand after successful completion of your course.
The thing which attracts Indian students to study in New Zealand are scholarships exclusively offered to Indians along with immense career support. The most popular scholarships for Indian students in New Zealand are New Zealand Excellence Awards for India and India High Achievers Award.

PG Diploma in New Zealand Admission Requirements

Indian students are required to meet the follow eligibility criteria to make themselves eligible for PG Diploma in New Zealand:

Admission Requirements for PG Diploma:

Bachelor’s degree with 65%
English language proficiency:
- IELTS- 6.5
- TOEFL IBT- 90
Statement of purpose
Letters of recommendation
Passport copy

PG Diploma in New Zealand University Specific Requirements

Following are the specific admissions requirements for PG diploma in New Zealand across top universities:

Universities	Academic Requirements	English Language Proficiency Scores
The University of Auckland	Bachelor’s degree relevant to the courses with 4.0 GPA on 9.0 scale	IELTS: 6.5 \| TOEFL IBT: 90
University of Otago	Bachelor’s degree relevant to the courses with 4.0 GPA on 9.0 scale	IELTS: 6.5 \| TOEFL IBT: 90
University of Waikato	Bachelor’s degree in related discipline	IELTS: 6.5 \| TOEFL IBT: 90
Victoria University of Wellington	Bachelor’s degree with B grade overall	IELTS: 6.5 \| TOEFL IBT: 90
Massey University	Bachelor’s degree relevant to the courses with 4.0 GPA on 9.0 scale	IELTS: 6.5 \| TOEFL IBT: 90
Auckland Institute of Technology	Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in computer science	IELTS: 6.5 \| TOEFL IBT: 79
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology	Bachelor’s degree with relevant work experience	IELTS: 6.5 \| TOEFL IBT: 90
Unitec	Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institute with at least B- grade	IELTS: 6.5 \| TOEFL IBT: 90

PG Diploma in New Zealand Cost of Studying

The annual tuition fee for PG Diploma in New Zealand for Indian students ranges between 23,800 to 50,810 NZD (12.08 lakhs to 25.79 lakhs). Indian students must target an annual budget of 20,000 NZD (10.15 lakhs INR) to meet the cost of living in New Zealand.

Tuition Fees

Tabulated are the annual tuition fees for PG Diploma program across top universities in New Zealand:

PG Diploma in New Zealand Cost of Studying

Universities	Annual Tuition Fee (NZD)	Annual Tuition Fee (INR)
The University of Auckland	50,471	25.63 lakhs
University of Otago	44,720	22.71 lakhs
University of Waikato	38,377	19.49 lakhs
Victoria University of Wellington	40,125	20.38 lakhs
Massey University	40,055	20.38 lakhs
Auckland Institute of Technology	23,800	12.08 lakhs
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology	32,500	16.49 lakhs
Unitec	32,877	16.69 lakhs

Cost of Living in New Zealand

Given below is the breakdown of monthly expenses that Indian students may expect for cost of living in New Zealand:

Expenses	Cost Per Month (NZD)	Cost Per Month (INR)
Accommodation	560 to 2,000	28,439 to 1 lakh
Entertainment	220	11,169
Food	320 to 480	16,246 to 24,369
Electricity	200 to 300	10,153 to 15,230
Transport	150	7,615
Phone & Internet	90	4,569

PG Diploma in New Zealand Scholarships

New Zealand offers various scholarships for international students from all over the world. For the 2023-24 academic year, New Zealand awarded over 320,000 NZD scholarships to eligible Indian students through New Zealand Excellence Awards. Mentioned below are the some of the popular scholarships in New Zealand for Indian students offered by top universities:

Offered By	Scholarship Name	Eligibility Criteria	Awards
University of Waikato	Vice Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship for India	Must be permanent resident of India \| Admitted full-time in undergraduate postgraduate program at University of Waikato \| Conditional or con-conditional offer holder \| GPA equivalent to B+ grade \| Have already paid tuition fees \| Selection criteria; Academic merit, demonstrate potential to become ambassador for University of Waikato at global level	15,000 NZD
University of Waikato	New Zealand Excellence Awards for India	Indian Student \| Must be 18 years old \| Meet the immigration requirements \| Hold unconditional admission offer to New Zealand university	10,000 NZD
Massey University	Massey Business School Promising Student Assistance Bursary	Undergraduate or Postgraduate student \| Applicants with financial hardship are eligible \| Must enrolled At Massey Business School \| Documents Required: 400 words, letter of reference,	2,000 NZD
University of Auckland	ASEAN High Achievers Scholarship	Undergraduate or Postgraduate student \| Applicant from ASEAN member countries \| Unconditional conditional offer holder \| 6.0 GPA on 9.0 scale	10,000 NZD
University of Auckland	India High Achievers Scholarship	High achieving Indian student \| Must be residing outside New Zealand while applying \| Unconditional conditional offer holder \| 6.0 GPA on 9.0 scale	20,000 NZD

PG Diploma in New Zealand Job Opportunities

The average salary of PG Diploma graduates in New Zealand is reportedly 72,000 NZD (36.55 lakhs INR).

Indian students receive special career support at University of Auckland and Massey University.
Studying a PG Diploma in these 2 universities is a big advantage as an Indian student.
While studying your PG, you can improve your employability by attending several workshops, meeting top industry leaders.

As already mentioned, all Indian students are eligible for 3 year PR in New Zealand post completion of PG Diploma. You can also look for jobs either through a particular university’s career or by directly visiting the job portal websites.

Job Profiles	Average Annual Salaries (NZD)	Average Annual Salaries (INR)
Project Engineer	77,444	39.31 lakhs
Sr. Software Engineer	100,972	51.26 lakhs
Human Resources (HR) Manager	100,010	50.77 lakhs
Senior Marketing Manager	112,282	57 lakhs
UX Designer	111,052	56.37 lakhs
Aeronautical Engineer	97,965	49.73 lakhs

PG Diploma in New Zealand Job Opportunities

With special academic support, scholarships opportunities and career guidance, PG Diploma in New Zealand is a good choice for Indian students. The universities in New Zealand do not require high academic average, instead they also admit those with backlogs and academic gaps. Moreover, the education is quite affordable for Indians in New Zealand compared to study abroad destinations.

FAQs

Ques. Is a postgraduate diploma worth it New Zealand?

Ans. A postgraduate diploma in New Zealand is worth going for as an Indian student. The program helps you develop skills in a particular field of study that can be in real world organizations. Post completion of PG Diploma in New Zealand, You can apply for a 3 year work visa.

Ques. Is PG Diploma equivalent to a Masters in New Zealand?

Ans. A PG Diploma in New Zealand is generally comparable to a master's degree but requires completion of fewer credits (120) compared to a 2 year master's degree (180 credits). However, the postgraduate diploma comes at level 8 while the master's degree comes under level 9 category according to New Zealand Qualification Levels.

Ques. Is 2 year PG Diploma equivalent to a Masters in New Zealand?

Ans. Yes, a postgraduate diploma of 2 years is equivalent to a 2 year master's degree in New Zealand. The PG diploma involves practical learning and is industry oriented. Meanwhile, a master's degree is more theoretical and involves components of research. Also, the master's degree is widely recognized and open more opportunities upon graduation.

Ques. Can I get PR in New Zealand after my postgraduate diploma?

Ans. You can get a easy PR in New Zealand post completion of any course with a minimum duration of 30 weeks. All international students are eligible for a 3 year PR to work in New Zealand after postgraduate diploma.