Best Universities for Masters Programs in New Zealand

People around us are considering moving abroad, either for studies or to grab a better job. Students migrate to pursue bachelor’s degrees or master’s programs. It is said that education abroad makes students self-sufficient and less competitive, which is indeed an advantage when it comes to the job market. It makes them appear for the interview with confidence, which could make them stand out from the rest of the candidates.

Masters programs in New Zealand last for 1-2 years, depending on the degree you choose to enroll in. The program combines both classroom instruction and real-world, or practical, training. The admission occurs during the months of July and February. The minimum admission requirement for a master’s degree in New Zealand is a bachelor’s degree with a B Grade Point average or professional work experience and a TOEFL score of at least 90. If it’s IELTS, you must have a score of 6.5 or above. These are the two common language testing systems we hear about.

What is IELTS?

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English speakers. This test is done in order to find out whether the person trying to move abroad (to an English speaking country) can communicate effectively with native speakers or others. Having cleared an IELTS examination can let you find a job quickly, as well as make integration into an unknown community easier. IELTS is a popular test for those looking to migrate to New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and the UK.

What is the TOEFL?

TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language, which is a standardized method to measure the English language skills of a non-native speaker. Those who want to study at an English-speaking university must take this test. More than 11,000 universities and other organizations in more than 190 countries and territories reportedly accept the TOEFL score.

Here comes another confusion for you, isn’t it?
Which one should you take, IELTS or TOEFL?

Some institutions specify their English language criteria; others don’t. In such cases, either IELTS or TOEFL are accepted.

Before getting into the universities you could possibly enroll in, let’s discuss the advantages of pursuing your master’s in New Zealand.

1. New Zealand opens up a handful of opportunities for students. International students can navigate a learning curve throughout their academic career with the help of New Zealand’s culture.
2. For those who are into research, innovation, and development, you get a chance to explore and get into creating cutting-edge and contemporary technology.
3. The chances of getting hired by an employer are high.
4. Education in New Zealand is inexpensive when compared to other countries.

Admission Criteria:
Every university has its own criteria or application process. Even though there are some specific criteria for all the top universities in New Zealand offering degrees to International students, below are the common requirements that universities follow.

1. Academic degree: If you are pursuing a master’s program, you must possess a bachelor’s degree in the relevant field of the course you’ve chosen.
2. Minimum GPA- A bachelor’s degree with a grade not less than B or 4.5/5 GPA.
3. English Proficiency Test Score- TOEFL score of 90 or IELTS score not less than 6.5.
4. Statement of purpose- Optional or not required to apply for a master’s program in New Zealand.
5. Letter of recommendation (LOR)- 1-2 LOR are required by universities.
6. Work experience- For pursuing a master’s program, work experience is not mandatory but for courses like MBA, it requires 3–4 years of relevant professional experience.

The criteria listed above are the basic ones every university follows.
Do you meet all the requirements that have been established? Getting enrolled in a university wouldn’t be a hurdle for you.

Let’s see which of the top universities in New Zealand offer master’s programs:

1. University of Auckland
2. Auckland University of Technology
3. University of Otago
4. University of Waikato
5. University of Canterbury
6. Lincoln University
7. Victoria University of Willington
8. Massey University

So, above is the list of universities you could possibly enroll in. But all these universities are not offering the same courses or are not specialized in the same subjects. So let’s see which university will be apt for you.

1. University of Auckland:
   The University of Auckland is one of the world’s top 100 universities. The university offers more than 30 undergraduate programs, which include certificate programs to bachelor’s level across 125 different subjects. When it comes to post-graduate programs, the university has more than 130. Anthropology, Education, Archeology, Engineering- (civil), Geography, English language, sports, and pharmacy are the best subjects you could pursue at the University of Auckland.
2. Auckland University of Technology:
   This university is the third largest in terms of total student enrollment. According to reports, around 30,000 students enrolled across three campuses in Auckland. According to sources, 86% of AUT graduates are getting placed in different companies within nine months of graduating from the University.
3. University of Otago:
   The University of Otago is a public research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Due to its architectural beauty, the university is ranked as one of the world’s most beautiful university campuses. Accounting and Agricultural Innovation, Anatomy and Archaeology, Asian Studies, and Biblical Studies are some of the courses the university offers. They have more than 140 subjects in total for the students to pursue.
4. University of Waikato:
   Waikato is a public research university in Hamilton, New Zealand. The research disciplines the university undertakes include education, social sciences, management, and so on. Apart from the research disciplines, the University of Waikato offers degrees in Engineering, Computer Science, Management, Health, Maori and Indigenous Studies, Arts, Psychology, Education, and Social Sciences.

   We, Derrick Jones, have direct tie-ups with universities in New Zealand, which makes it easier for us to get admissions to the universities you wish to attend.

5. University of Canterbury:
   When you search for the best universities in New Zealand for international students or the top universities in New Zealand for master’s degrees, the University of Canterbury appears, and I’ll say it has a reason.

   The University of Canterbury is located in Christchurch, New Zealand. After the University of Otago, the University of Canterbury is the oldest university in New Zealand. The university is best known for its engineering and science programs. According to the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2021, the University of Canterbury is ranked 9th in the world for its civil engineering program. It is for the engineering program they are known for, but they have a lot more courses, including arts, commerce, education (physical), fine arts, music, social work, forestry, health sciences, and more.

6. Lincoln University, New Zealand:
   Lincoln University is the smallest university in New Zealand (by enrollment) and of the eight public universities. Lincoln University is the oldest agricultural teaching institution in the southern hemisphere.

   The academic units of the university include the faculties of Agribusiness and commerce, agriculture and life sciences, and environment, society, and design.

7. Victoria University of Willington:
   Established in 1897 by an Act of Parliament, Victoria University of Willington is a public university in Willington, New Zealand. It is one of the oldest universities in New Zealand.
   Universities in New Zealand have specific courses in which they are specialized or known. Victoria University is Known for providing programs in the humanities, law, and scientific disciplines.
8. Massey University:
   Massey University is the second largest university for student housing without considering international students. Massey has approximately 30,000 students, including over 10,000 who are extramural or distance-learning students. Massey is the only university which offers courses in aviation, veterinary medicine, dispute resolution, etc.

Conclusion:

So the above universities are the best universities in New Zealand for master’s and even bachelor’s degree programs. Consider going through the dedicated websites; they can give you more information that you might be looking for. Keep in mind that all the above mentioned universities have their own areas of expertise. So before you enroll in one of them, make sure you are joining the best place you can get your education from.

You’ll get benefits from such institutions, as they wouldn’t compromise their goodwill.

Note: Even though TOEFL is accepted as the language proficiency test, IELTS remains the test that is widely recommended because the acceptance it has is better than the rest.

So here we covered topics like TOEFL, IELTS, criteria for enrolling in a university, and the top universities in New Zealand.

Derrick Jones management has direct tie-ups with all the universities in New Zealand, so getting admissions for you is not a herculean task for us. Get in touch with our team of experts and make sure you join the best university for your education abroad.