New Zealand’s tech sector is growing fast, and it's one of the smartest places to study IT if you're thinking long term about employment and permanent residency.

Here are some reasons why New Zealand is a smart choice if you want to become an IT professional:

A Growing Tech Industry That Needs You

  • Over 20,000 tech companies

  • Already 114,000+ people working in tech across the country

  • 5,000 new tech professionals needed each year — a strong sign your skills will be in demand

  • In 2019 alone, 3,683 tech migrants moved to NZ to fill roles

New Zealand is home to exciting companies like:

  • Rocket Lab

  • Rex Bionics

  • Toku Eyes

  • Xero

New Zealand’s government has listed 12 tech jobs on its Green List – Tier 1, which can lead directly to residence if you land a role with an accredited employer after graduating.

Plus, in 2025, there are immigration updates, and an exclusive IDP offer that can help you:

  • Process your student visa fast

  • Get your NZ student visa for free

Curious to know more? Let's dive right into it!

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Study IT in New Zealand with No Visa Fee in 2025

Are you an international student in Australia interested in studying IT in New Zealand? 

Well, making that move is easier this year. 

If you apply for your NZ student visa and enrol in your NZ university through IDP, you can get a full refund of your NZ student visa (NZD 850).

Studying in New Zealand can be a great option if you are running out of visa time in Australia.  

It is just a 3-hour flight away. The visa fees and cost of living are lower. 

And if you study a Green List course, you can get a straight-to-residence visa (get PR without work experience) or a work-to-residence visa (work for 2 years = get PR).

Know more about how New Zealand can be a great choice after Australia (depending on your situation).

Learn more about this offer

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How Studying IT in New Zealand Can Lead to PR

The professionals listed on the Green List are eligible for straight-to-residence visa. This makes the IT career pathways in NZ exceptionally attractive.

  1. Get a student visa for the duration of your course

  2. Apply for your post-study work visa. This allows you to live and work in NZ in any role for up to two years

  3. Find relevant employment in your Green List role

  4. Apply for your straight-to-residence visa

Apply for a NZ student visa, even if your enrolment isn’t final yet

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Still waiting on your final grades or an English test result? Or maybe your uni offer has a few conditions you haven’t met yet?

That used to mean you had to wait before applying for a student visa and risk missing your intake. But in 2025, New Zealand has made it easier.

Immigration New Zealand now allows you to apply for a student visa with a “Conditional Offer of Place.”

This means your New Zealand university can say: “You’re accepted into our course once you complete these final conditions.”

While you're completing those steps (like submitting grades or test results), Immigration NZ can already start reviewing your application. That way, once everything’s ready, you’ll get your visa decision faster.

📌 Perfect for IT students who are waiting for their final semester grades or English test results but don’t want to delay their student visa application.

Learn how to apply with a Conditional Offer


Green List Tier 1 IT Roles

One of the biggest advantages of studying IT in New Zealand? Many tech jobs are on the Green List Tier 1, which means they can lead you straight to permanent residency — no points test, no long wait.

If you graduate with an IT qualification and get a job in one of these roles with an accredited employer, you can apply for PR right away. It’s one of the fastest and clearest PR pathways available for international students.

Here are the Tier 1 IT roles that qualify:

  • Software Engineer (ANZSCO 261313)

  • Developer Programmer (261312)

  • Software Tester (261314)

  • ICT Security Specialist (262112)

  • Systems Administrator (262113)

  • Database Administrator (262111)

  • Analyst Programmer (261311)

  • Multimedia Specialist (261211)

  • ICT Project Manager (135112)

  • CIO – Chief Information Officer (135111)

  • ICT Managers nec (135199)

  • Software & Applications Programmers nec (261399)

Information Technology Courses in New Zealand

There are several broad categories of IT professionals in demand. New Zealand degrees are highly respected around the world, and are tailored to suit the needs of the industry, ensuring graduates are highly employable.

Depending on which role you want to work in, there are a range of entry bachelor’s degree options:

  • Bachelor Engineering (Hons) in Software Engineering

  • Bachelor of Information Technology

  • Bachelor of Information Sciences

  • Bachelor of Applied Information Technology

  • Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences

  • Bachelor of Science

For these, you’ll have a range of majors to choose from. Depending on your interest, this could be:

  • Software Development

  • Networks and systems administration

  • Information systems and management

  • Cybersecurity

  • Data science and analytics

  • Artificial intelligence

From there, you can choose a masters, PhD, or a huge range of post graduate diplomas and certificates. These allow you to truly specialise in your field, giving you better employment options and higher salary bands.

  • Master of Cyber Security

  • Master of Information Technology

  • Master’s in information sciences

  • Master’s in computer and information sciences

  • Master’s in information governance

  • Masters in Artificial Intelligence

  • Master’s in bioinformatics

  • Master’s in computer science

IT Certifications, Micro-Credentials, and Short Courses

Rather than a full MA or PhD, there’s also the option of short courses. These help to hone your skills, enhance employability, and increase your knowledge.

5 Popular IT Course Providers in New Zealand

There are three types of providers in New Zealand. Privately owned institutes, public universities, and public institutes of technology. University degrees tend to be more theoretical, technology institutes are more hands-on, and private institutes need to be judged on their own merits.

Whitecliffe School of Information Technology

Whitecliffe have everything from short micro-courses only nine weeks long, through to bachelor and post graduate qualifications. These courses focus heavily on growing skills that are much needed in the industry. Learning is very hands-on and likelihood of employment after graduating is good.

Auckland University of Technology (AUT)

One of the leading computer science providers in NZ, AUT offers two Bachelor options, and eight postgraduate courses. With strong international partnerships and an emphasis on research, this is a solid option for anyone wanting to get into the industry.

University of Canterbury

UC is known for their excellence in engineering courses. They offer computer science, data science, and software engineering studies. There are eight post-grad qualifications including honours years. If you want to be living in the South Island, this is a fantastic location.

University of Auckland

University of Auckland is home to New Zealand’s largest, most diverse, and most accomplished computer science school. A focus on research and a varied range of courses, you could specialise in artificial intelligence, software systems, data science, digital security, or almost any other facet of IT. Moving beyond code, app development, and networks, UT offer in depth specialisations that will assist with your career.

Victoria University Wellington

Victoria University has a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, in AI, cybersecurity, electronics, and computer graphics and games, alongside the more traditional software engineering and computer science.

IELTS Score Requirements for IT Courses

The IELTS score required for an undergraduate degree will differ across universities. On average, you can expect they will be required an IELTS (Academic) minimum overall score of 6.0 with no sub-score below 5.5 for undergraduate courses.

Scholarships for IT Students in New Zealand

In addition to these scholarships, also check out the individual scholarships offered by your institution.

Visit These IT Schools in NZ (you might not need a visitor visa!)

Want to explore tech campuses, meet university advisors in person, or just get a feel of life in New Zealand before applying?

From November 2025, Chinese passport holders living in Australia with a valid student, work, or family visa can visit New Zealand for up to 3 months with just an NZeTA — no need for a full visitor visa.

That means if you're in Australia already, planning a quick trip to check out IT courses or campuses in NZ has never been easier.

📌 This 12-month trial only applies if you’re travelling from Australia, not transiting through it.

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Check my eligibility for NZeTA travel

How can I apply for NZeta

Study IT in New Zealand and Get PR, Fast

If you want to get PR in New Zealand, you can plan strategically to engineer the best result for your IT career pathways in NZ. By choosing the in-demand IT courses and gaining relevant experience, you can maximise your chances of securing PR. There’s huge need for IT professionals in NZ, and it offers a clear pathway from studying to residency.

If you want to study IT in New Zealand, get in contact with IDP today. We can help with choosing your provider, the best course for your goals, and even your applications and visa process. There’s no better time to start than today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I study IT in New Zealand for permanent residency?

Yes. There are a large number of IT careers that are straight-to-residency visa types because of skill shortages in NZ.