If you're an international student, choosing what to study is one of the biggest decisions you'll make.
You might want a course that helps you find work after graduation. Or perhaps you're looking for a qualification that could support your long-term plans to live in New Zealand.
Whatever your goal, it's worth comparing your options before applying.
In this guide, we'll explore popular courses in New Zealand, their costs, entry requirements and possible career and residence pathways.
Not sure which course is right for you? Start by thinking about what you want to achieve after graduation.
Here are five things to consider:
Your career goals: Do you want to become a nurse, engineer or pharmacist? Or would you prefer a course that gives you skills for different types of jobs?
Your residence plans: If you hope to stay in New Zealand, check whether your preferred career is on the Green List. Some listed occupations have pathways to residence, but you'll still need to meet the visa requirements.
Your budget and study duration: Certificates and diplomas may take less time to complete than bachelor's degrees. However, tuition fees depend on the course and institution.
Your entry requirements: Some courses, such as dentistry, pharmacy and optometry, have competitive entry requirements. You may need specific qualifications, grades or additional assessments.
Your interests: Choose something you enjoy and can see yourself doing in the future. A course that fits your interests and strengths can help you stay motivated throughout your studies.
Good to know: If you're planning to work or apply for residence in New Zealand after graduating, check the requirements for your preferred occupation before choosing a course.
New Zealand offers courses across a wide range of industries, from technology and healthcare to business and hospitality.
The table below compares popular study areas, example qualifications, course lengths and indicative tuition fees.
Study area | Example qualification | Typical duration | Indicative annual tuition (NZD) |
Technology and IT | Bachelor of Computer Science / Applied IT | 3 years | 30,000–40,000 |
Nursing | Bachelor of Nursing | 3 years | 30,000–38,000 |
Pharmacy | Bachelor of Pharmacy / Master of Pharmacy Practice | 2–4 years, depending on pathway | 44,000–55,000 |
Engineering | Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) | 4 years | 35,000–45,000 |
Teaching | Bachelor of Teaching / Graduate Diploma in Teaching | 1–3 years | 25,000–32,000 |
Cookery | New Zealand Diploma in Cookery | 1–2 years | 15,000–25,000 |
Business and analytics | Bachelor of Commerce / Applied IT | 3 years | 28,000–38,000 |
Dentistry | Bachelor of Dental Surgery | 5 years | 40,000–100,000+ |
Psychology | Bachelor's degree followed by postgraduate study | 5–8 years, depending on pathway | 28,000–38,000 |
Optometry | Bachelor of Optometry | 5 years | 40,000–60,000 |
Fees are broad estimates from the original course comparison and may vary significantly by institution, programme and year of study. Check current international tuition fees with your chosen institution.
Some of these study areas are linked to occupations on New Zealand's Green List. However, studying in a particular field doesn't automatically make you eligible for residence.
Let's explore what you can expect from each study area.
New Zealand's tech sector has consistent demand for software developers, data analysts, and ICT professionals.
A Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (typically 3 years) covers programming languages, algorithms, AI and machine learning fundamentals, databases, and systems architecture with room to specialise in later years.
If you're drawn to the data and business side of tech rather than pure development, a Bachelor of Applied Information Technology opens roles like data analyst, network engineer, and web developer, usually built around statistics, business systems, and applied computer science rather than deep software engineering.
Most core software and ICT roles sit on Tier 1 of the Green List, making this one of the more direct study-to-residence pathways.
Healthcare is one of New Zealand's most acute areas of workforce shortage, spanning nursing, midwifery, and a wide range of medical specialisations.
If you already hold a medical qualification from elsewhere, you may be on a faster track to registration but training within New Zealand means you can generally start working immediately upon graduation, without the additional overseas-qualification recognition steps some international graduates face.
To become a Registered Nurse, you'll need a Bachelor of Nursing (3 years), which combines classroom learning with substantial clinical placements. From there, a master's degree opens further specialisation.
For a full breakdown of nursing pathways, fees, and universities, see our Nursing in New Zealand guide.
Pharmacy is another strong healthcare option, now with three routes into the profession including a new, faster graduate-entry master's for students who already hold a relevant science degree.
See our full Pharmacy Courses in New Zealand guide comparing every university and pathway.
Engineering demands a mix of theoretical grounding and hands-on practical skill, and it's a genuinely broad field like structural, geotechnical, transport, construction, water, environmental, and mechanical engineering all sit under the same general degree umbrella but lead to quite different day-to-day careers, so it's worth narrowing your specialisation early.
An accredited Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (4 years) provides the foundation for most engineering careers, and New Zealand engineering qualifications are recognised internationally, which matters if you're weighing up where else your qualification might take you later.
Most core engineering occupations are civil, mechanical, electrical, structural, and more sit on Tier 1 of the Green List
Both primary and secondary teaching are in high demand across New Zealand. For primary, you'll need a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) (3 years); for secondary, you'll typically complete a relevant bachelor's degree first, then a one-year Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary).
Both include substantial classroom placements to prepare you for real teaching environments.
Note that not all teaching roles carry the same residency pathway, some specialist teaching positions (special education, teaching the hearing or sight impaired) sit on the Green List, while general classroom teaching roles may not, so check the current occupation list against your specific specialisation if residency is a priority.
New Zealand's hospitality and trades sectors offer some of the more accessible entry points for international students, both in terms of cost and duration. Cookery is a strong example: a NZ Diploma in Cookery typically runs 1–2 years and combines kitchen training with real hospitality placements.
See our full Cookery in New Zealand guide for course and career details.
Beyond hospitality, several other skilled trades (electrical, plumbing, automotive, and construction-related trades) sit on Tier 2 of the Green List, offering a Work to Residence pathway after 24 months of qualifying employment.
Business-oriented study in New Zealand ranges from broad commerce degrees to more technical, data-focused programmes like Applied Information Technology with a business systems focus.
There's no single fixed pathway here, it's a good option if you want flexibility across a range of future roles (analyst, project coordinator, systems consultant) rather than a single defined profession.
Dentists, dental surgeons, and dental specialists are in demand across New Zealand. The University of Otago offers the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) the only pathway to qualify as a dentist in New Zealand, which requires completing Health Sciences First Year before four years of BDS study.
Clinical placements throughout the degree mean most graduates can begin practising soon after finishing, though many pursue further postgraduate specialisation in areas like orthodontics or maxillofacial surgery.
To practise as a registered psychologist in New Zealand, you'll typically need a three-year undergraduate degree (often a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts with a psychology specialisation) followed by a master's degree or PhD registration isn't possible with an undergraduate degree alone. This is a longer route to a licensed career than most fields on this list, and doesn't currently carry a direct Green List pathway, so it's better suited to students genuinely drawn to the discipline than those prioritising the fastest route to residence.
Optometry, dispensing opticians, and ophthalmology-adjacent careers all sit on New Zealand's skills shortage lists.
The University of Auckland is the only institution offering the Bachelor of Optometry (BOptom) a five-year accredited programme and the only route to registration with the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board (ODOB) in New Zealand.
If residency is a priority alongside your studies, look specifically at whether your target occupation sits on Tier 1 or Tier 2 of the Green List:
Tier 1 occupations (most healthcare roles, most engineering roles, ICT, pharmacy, optometry, dentistry) can qualify graduates for the Straight to Residence Visa, a direct pathway to residence once you have a qualifying job offer, without a prior work-visa stage.
Tier 2 occupations (many trades, some technician roles) lead to the Work to Residence Visa, requiring 24 months of qualifying employment first.
Some fields - psychology, general business roles, some teaching specialisations don't carry a direct Green List pathway, which doesn't rule out residence, but usually means a longer, less certain route via the Skilled Migrant Category instead.
See the complete occupation lists in our Green List Guide, and full eligibility details in our Straight to Residence Visa Guide and Work to Residence Visa Guide.
With so many courses available, it's normal to feel unsure about which one is right for you.
The best choice depends on your interests, qualifications, budget and what you want to do after graduation.
That's where IDP can help.
Our education counsellors can help you:
Explore courses that match your career goals.
Compare universities and other education providers.
Understand tuition fees and entry requirements.
Find study options that suit your budget and plans.
Get guidance on your course application.
Whether you're interested in nursing, engineering, IT or another field, we'll help you explore your options so you can make a more informed decision.
Healthcare, engineering and technology are among the study areas linked to occupations on New Zealand's Green List.
However, demand varies by occupation and location. Before choosing a course, check current job opportunities and the requirements for your preferred career.
You could explore courses linked to eligible Green List occupations, such as nursing, engineering, pharmacy, dentistry or optometry.
Some of these occupations may qualify for the Straight to Residence pathway.
However, studying a course doesn't guarantee permanent residency. You'll still need to meet the employment, qualification, registration and visa requirements.
It depends on your career goals, budget and preferred occupation.
A certificate or diploma may take less time to complete and can help you develop practical job skills.
A bachelor's degree usually takes longer, but it may be required for careers such as nursing, engineering or teaching.
Compare the qualification requirements for your preferred job before deciding.
Yes, you may be able to change your course or education provider after arriving in New Zealand.
However, changing your study plans may affect your Student Visa conditions. Depending on the change, you may need a new visa or approval from Immigration New Zealand.
Check the visa requirements before making any changes.
Courses such as dentistry, optometry and pharmacy can have competitive entry requirements.
Depending on the programme, you may need strong academic results, specific subjects, English language scores or additional assessments.
Check the latest admission requirements with your chosen institution before applying.
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