International

Employment During Your Studies
You may work for 20 hours per week while studying particular programmes as specified by the New Zealand Immigration Service. Our International Office can advise you, or you can check out the New Zealand Immigration website for further information.

Working After Graduation
If you you want to stay and work in New Zealand  after you have completed your studies, you may be eligible for a work visa and/or permit under our Study to Work Policy.

Many of our programmes are in areas that are on New Zealand's Long-term Skill Shortage list (PDF, 333kb), which means that you might be able to apply for residency. Find out more about applying for residency from the New Zealand Immigration website.

All applicants need to meet our health and character requirements. The other requirements you need to meet depend on whether you have a job offer.

Students without a job offer
If you have completed a qualification in New Zealand but you do not have a job offer, you may be eligible for a Graduate Job Search Work Visa and/or Permit for a maximum of 12 months. Then, when you have found a job, you can apply for a further permit for up to two or three years under Study to Work Policy.

To be eligible for a Graduate Work Search Permit you must:

• have successfully completed a qualification in New Zealand that would qualify for points under the Skilled Migrant category
• apply no later than three months after the end date of the student permit for that qualification
• provide evidence of a minimum of NZ$2,100 available to maintain yourself during your 12-month stay in New Zealand (we will accept traveller's cheques or bank documents in your name).

Students with a job offer
If you are a student with an offer of employment relevant to your qualification, you may be eligible for a work visa and/or permit for a maximum period of:

• two years; or
• three years, if you are working towards obtaining a membership or registration from a New Zealand professional association which requires more than two years of relevant practical work experience.

You will need to provide evidence that:

• you have a job offer that is relevant to your qualification, and
• you have successfully completed a course in New Zealand that took at least three years to complete, or
• you have successfully completed a qualification in New Zealand that would qualify for points points under the Skilled Migrant category of our Residence Policy.

 For more information see the the New Zealand Immigration website.