All 8 universities in QS
University of Auckland, Otago, Canterbury, Victoria Wellington, Massey, Waikato, Lincoln, AUT — all globally ranked.
Study in New Zealand
8 world-ranked universities, 3-year post-study work visa, and Green List priority PR pathway.

Overview
New Zealand's 8 public universities are all ranked in the QS World Top 500, all teach in English, and all deliver a 3-year post-study work visa for bachelor's/master's graduates. Green List occupations get a fast-tracked Straight-to-Residence pathway.
Deep-dive guides
Category, documents, timeline, interview prep and refusal reasons.
Read full guide →QS-ranked institutions, admission cutoffs, tuition and campus notes.
Read full guide →In-demand master's programs, ROI, and specialisations for Indians.
Read full guide →Merit awards, assistantships, government schemes and how to apply.
Read full guide →City-wise tuition + living costs, budgeting and money-saving tips.
Read full guide →OPT, PGWP, Graduate Route, Subclass 485 and PR pathway after graduation.
Read full guide →Why New Zealand
University of Auckland, Otago, Canterbury, Victoria Wellington, Massey, Waikato, Lincoln, AUT — all globally ranked.
Bachelor's Level 7+, master's, PhD graduates get an open 3-year work visa — no employer sponsor needed.
60+ high-demand occupations on the Green List — nurses, engineers, teachers, tradespeople get Straight-to-Residence.
Ranked #1 in the world for personal safety, work-life balance and English-speaking multicultural society.
Spouses of master's/PhD students get open work visas; dependent children get free primary and secondary schooling.
Tuition & living roughly 25% cheaper than Australia; single-year master's programs available at multiple universities.
Top universities
We file admissions to every institution below and dozens more. Rankings shown are QS World University Rankings 2026 or category equivalents.
Auckland
NZ's #1, research leader
Dunedin
Medicine, dentistry, humanities
Wellington
Law, public policy, engineering
Christchurch
Engineering, forestry, aerospace
Palmerston North
Agriculture, aviation, business
Hamilton
Management, CS, education
Lincoln
Agri-business, food, environment
Auckland
Applied tech, business, design
Popular courses
Cost of study
Tuition
NZD 25,000 – 45,000 / year (₹13 L – ₹23 L). Business/IT NZD 28–35k typical.
Living
NZD 20,000 / year mandated financial capacity. Realistic NZD 18–24k depending on Auckland vs regional.
Scholarships
NZ Excellence Awards for India (up to NZD 5k), Manaaki NZ Scholarships (fully-funded), university merit awards.
February — primary; July — secondary; November — limited (some PG diplomas)
20 hours per week during term-time, unlimited during scheduled breaks. Master's-by-research and PhD students can work unlimited hours year-round.
3-year Post-Study Work Visa (open) for Level 7 bachelor's, Level 8 PG diploma, Level 9 master's, Level 10 PhD graduates. Green List Tier 1 occupations → Straight-to-Residence; Tier 2 → Work-to-Residence in 24 months.
Eligibility
Our process
Academic + budget + Green-List-alignment analysis → 3–5 universities shortlisted.
Direct applications, Offer of Place secured, tuition deposit paid.
NZD 20,000 evidence + tuition + insurance. Loan documents accepted.
Immigration NZ online portal, medical, biometrics — 4–8 week decisions typical.
Airport landing, IRD tax number, bank, accommodation — full onboarding.
2026 policy desk
Nov 2024 review — the 3-year post-study open work visa stays for all Level 7+ graduates. NZ has re-committed to international education.
20 more occupations added (2024) — data engineers, civil engineers, secondary teachers get Straight-to-Residence within 3 months of job offer.
Living costs proof lifted to NZD 20,000/yr from NZD 15,000 — reflects real Auckland/Wellington rents.
Post-study open visa converts easily to AEWV; median wage threshold NZD 31.61/hr (Feb 2025).
FAQs
University of Auckland (top research, Google/Microsoft ties), Waikato (specialist AI Institute), Victoria Wellington (strong industry links), Canterbury (HIT lab).
Yes — spouses of Level 8/9/10 (PG diploma, master's, PhD) students get open work visas with unrestricted hours. Level 7 (bachelor's) spouses do not.
Green List Tier 1 occupation with a job offer: 3–4 months post-graduation. Non-Green-List: 3 years work on AEWV → Skilled Migrant Category residence.
NZD 50–80k tuition + NZD 40k living + insurance + visa = ~₹55–70 L. Scholarships often cover NZD 5–15k of that.
No — PTE Academic (50+), TOEFL iBT (79+), Cambridge English (169+) and NZCEL (Level 4) are all accepted. IELTS UKVI is required if applying via UK VFS.
Book your free counselling
Honest eligibility read within 24 hours. Written scope, written fees, and a single accountable case manager from day one to landing.
Why 12,000+ clients trust us
Free study-abroad counselling
Tell us your target intake and course — we'll shortlist universities, estimate costs and map the visa path.