Southern Institute of Technology Admissions 2026: Application Deadline, Eligibility & Fees

Established in 1971, the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) offers more than 200 programs to the aspirants worldwide. SIT offers admission around the year in multiple intakes and is currently open for applications. While the admission to English language program takes place every week, the intake to business and other programs is offered 4 to 9 times per year.

Major courses favourite among international students include Business and Commerce, IT and Engineering, Travel, Tourism, and Hotel Management, Sports, Exercise and Recreation, and Arts and Game Design, etc. The courses are approved by NZQA and are offered at almost every level, starting from certificate to diploma and degree at the graduate and postgraduate level.

The application process of SIT in a few easy steps:

• Download the International Student Application Form and fill in the general information.
• Attach the mandatory documents like a passport or birth certificate, IELTS or equivalent test results and academic achievements. For some particular courses, curriculum vitae, letter of intent, references and portfolio might also be required.
• Submit the applications online to “applications@sit.ac.nz” or fax/post it to SIT.
• If the application is accepted, the aspirant will receive an offer of place and invoice from the institute which is to be used for obtaining a student visa.
• Once the visa is confirmed, pay the college fees and confirm enrolment with the institute.

Highlights

Deadlines

While the deadlines differ for each discipline and level from campus to campus at SIT, the admission schedule for some of the most favoured courses is given below:

NOTE: The above-mentioned dates are in general for the MAIN CAMPUS (INVERCARGILL) admissions and may differ for other campuses.

Southern Institute of Technology International Admissions

Southern Institute of Technology, with over 200 courses and additional perks, is one of the sought-after institutes for international applicants. Every year, SIT welcomes admissions from over 70 countries for courses at the certificate to degree levels.

Admission Portal: Applications to SIT are to be submitted online to “applications@sit.ac.nz” or can be faxed (+64 3 214 4977)/posted to SIT.

Application Fee: 150 NZD (This fee is waivable for students who meet the complete qualification requirements.)

Mandatory admission requirements:

• If English is not the first or native language of the individual, then he/she must submit the scores of an English language proficiency test (IELTS or equivalent) to prove their English language aptitude.
• Completed application with a copy of passport or birth certificate and documents showcasing academic performance.

Optional requirements: Some disciplines might require one to submit a curriculum vitae, letter of intent, references, and portfolio.

Country-specific requirements

The country-specific requirements for admission into a course at SIT vary immensely for every applicant, and each application is accessed on a case to case basis. The basic eligibility criteria for some of the Asian countries is mentioned below:

English Proficiency Requirements

It is a mandate for international students to fulfill the required score requirements of IELTS or an equivalent English proficiency test if they are non-native English speakers. The minimum IELTS score varies as per the level of the program one wishes to enroll in.

*Level 3 stands for Certificate program while Level 8 to 10 stand for Postgraduate/Bachelors/Masters/Doctorate.

Note: For individuals who fail to meet the required IELTS score or equivalent specifications, SIT runs a 26 week-English language program. The program helps individuals to meet the basic English language criteria, on successful completion of which they can gain direct access to mainstream courses (except Bachelor of Nursing and Diploma in Nursing Programmes).

Visa Application Process

Students planning to migrate to New Zealand for further studies need compulsory access to a Visitor’s Visa (duration: less than 10 weeks) or a Student Visa (duration: more than 12 weeks). The student visa to study in New Zealand can be simply obtained by applying online to Immigration New Zealand. Complete the visa application form, attach the required documents and submit the form.

List of required documents for application of student visa is as follows:

• Immigration New Zealand Student Visa Application Form.
• The offer of Place.
• Receipt of paid tuition fees.
• New Zealand Bank statement showing an approximate balance of 1,250 NZD per month or 15,000 NZD for a 1-year visa. The bank statement should state the most recent transactions of last 3 years and should not be more than 3 days old. It should also contain the applicant’s name and current address.
• 277 NZD visa application fee.
• Passport.
• Medical and X-Ray Certificate (if applicable).
• Police Report from your home country (if applicable).
• Two passport-sized photos (less than 6 months old).
• Photocopy of return air ticket or sufficient funds (1,000 to 1,500 NZD) to obtain one.

Note: Visa applications usually take time (17 days to 4 months) in being processed, depending upon the complication of each individual case. Thus, one should apply for their student visa immediately after receiving their acceptance letter or offer of a place to avoid any last moment tragedies.

Southern Institute of Technology Undergraduate Admissions

The duration of bachelor’s degree courses at SIT is 3 years while for graduate diploma is 1 year. All the undergraduate courses offered to stand at NZQA level 7. The entry criteria on its elementary level for undergraduate admissions to SIT is similar to that of International Admissions, except for some additional requirements as per different courses and their disciplines.

Where to apply: Easily submit applications by emailing them to “applications@sit.ac.nz”. The offline option of fax/post is also available.

Application fee: 150 NZD (Waivable on meeting requirements).

Basic Academic Requirement: An aspirant must possess a relevant degree.

Admission Requirements:

• The mandatory IELTS or equivalent score for admission to all these courses is 6.0 overall, with no individual band lower than 5.5.
• Some courses might expect a certain work experience as a mandatory specification for a particular discipline.

Southern Institute of Technology Graduate Admissions

Where to apply: Email the applications to “applications@sit.ac.nz” or post/fax them to SIT.

Application fee: Waivable fees of 150 NZD (on meeting qualification requirements).

Basic Academic Requirement: An aspirant must possess a relevant degree or an equivalent professional, practical or educational experience in their related fields.

Admission Requirements:

• The mandatory IELTS or equivalent score for admission to all these courses is 6.5 overall, with no individual band lower than 6.0.

While the general requirements for graduate admissions to Southern Institute of Technology are the same as the International admissions, some of the programs with their specifications have been listed below:

SIT is one of the prestigious institutes of New Zealand, a country that stands in the list of most sought-after destinations by international applicants. As an SIT aspirant, it is advisable to create a RealMe account as it aids in proving one’s identity online and smoothens the application process with Immigration New Zealand. While some of the scholarships offered by the Southern Institute of Technology need a separate application form, some can be directly accessed by the common application form. Thus, if an individual is attempting to obtain one of the studentships, it is advisable to carefully go through its accessibility criteria.

Applicants must ensure that all the documents to be presented at any level of admission process must be in English or translated in English language and verified by and education agency. SIT accepts applications 4 to 9 times a year, thus keeping the track of deadlines is very essential. Selected applicants are informed of their results through an offer of a place and an invoice which can be used to obtain student visa thereafter.