Top Courses to Study and Migrate to New Zealand

If permanent residence in New Zealand is your goal, aligning your course with in-demand roles can make that journey more structured and predictable.

New Zealand continues to prioritise skilled professionals in key industries. 

In this guide, you’ll explore courses that align with Green List roles and the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), so you can better understand how your study choices may support your long-term plans.

The best courses for PR in New Zealand are those that lead to Green List jobs, such as nursing, engineering, IT, and teaching. These roles are in high demand and offer some of the most direct and structured pathways to residence.

If PR is your goal, it’s a good idea to start with the Green List. Choosing a course that leads to one of these roles can make your pathway more straightforward, as these jobs are prioritised by Immigration New Zealand.

There are also other pathways, like the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), which rely more on factors like your salary, qualifications, and job offer.

Your course should match real job demand

That said, no course can guarantee PR. What matters most is how your course connects to real job demand. Some fields simply give you a clearer and more predictable path after you graduate.

So while your course won’t secure PR on its own, choosing one that aligns with the Green List can put you in a much stronger position.

When choosing your course, you should look for:

• Jobs listed on New Zealand’s Green List.

• Roles that meet the median wage threshold.

• Qualifications that support Skilled Migrant Category points.

Below are the top courses for studying and migration in New Zealand. These courses are tied to strong migration pathways because they help you land a career in the Green List. 

Healthcare is one of the strongest pathways to PR in New Zealand. This is mainly because the country continues to face a shortage of healthcare workers, driven by an ageing population and growing pressure on hospitals and care services.

Key data:

• Public hospitals were short an average of 587 nurses per shift (Radio New Zealand).

• Shortages are not limited to nurses. The New Zealand Medical Journal reports a shortfall of around 1,700 doctors, which could grow to 3,400 by 2032.

• Because of this, many healthcare roles are prioritised for migration. In 2026, there are 115 healthcare roles in Green List Tier 1. 

• Data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) shows that from January to September 2025, 220 healthcare workers were granted residence.

• All nursing courses also require registration, which can help you gain resident points for the Skilled Migrant Category visa. 

Popular courses:

• Bachelor of Nursing

• Healthcare and allied health programmes

Why it works:

• High demand across all regions

• Multiple Tier 1 Green List roles

• Strong job security and stable career growth

According to Engineering New Zealand, the country faces a shortfall of around 2,300 engineers each year. 

The report also notes that many engineers leave early in their careers or move overseas, which adds pressure on the local workforce.

This means opportunities exist across multiple disciplines, from civil and structural to electrical and mechanical.

Engineering roles also tend to offer higher salaries. This matters because income is a key factor in visa eligibility, especially under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC).

Key data:

• 22 engineering roles are currently listed on the Green List Tier 1.

• Some of these include civil engineers, structural engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, environmental engineers, and telecommunications engineers.

Popular courses:

• Civil Engineering

• Mechanical Engineering

• Electrical Engineering

Why it works:

• High salary potential

• Direct alignment with skill shortages

As businesses become more digital, roles in software development, cybersecurity, and data are becoming essential. Many IT roles also appear on the Green List Tier 1, which can offer a more direct pathway to residence.

Tech roles also tend to offer higher salaries. This matters because income is a key factor under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC). 

According to SEEK New Zealand, for example, ICT Managers typically earn around NZD $125,000 to $140,000 per year, which is well above the median wage. This can make it easier to meet the income thresholds needed to qualify for residence points.

Key data:

• In 2025, 192 migrants who work in the Information Media and Telecommunications industry were granted residence (Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment).

• 12 roles from the ICT, Electronics, Communications industry are currently in the Green List Tier 1. This includes ICT Managers, Programmers, and ICT Security Specialists.

Popular courses:

• Software Development

• Cybersecurity

• Data Science

Why it works:

• Fast-growing industry

• Salaries help meet visa thresholds 
  

The construction industry is the third-largest employing sector in New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment). 

Because of this, many roles in construction and trades are linked to residence pathways. These include jobs like carpenters, electricians, welders, and plumbers, many of which appear on the Green List.

There is also a new opportunity coming for trades workers. From August 2026, Immigration New Zealand will introduce a Trades and Technician pathway under the Skilled Migrant Category. 

This means that if you work in an eligible role, you can apply for residence under this specific pathway and not compete in the other stricter pathways.

Key data:

• 27 roles from Construction and Trades appearing in Green List Tier 2

• New Trades and Technician pathway under the Skilled Migrant Category in 2026.

• The third-largest employing sector in New Zealand. 

Popular courses:

• Carpentry

• Plumbing

• Electrical trades

Why it works:

• Practical skills in demand

• Clear Work to Residence pathways

Teaching can be a strong pathway to PR in New Zealand. This is mainly because the education sector is large and continues to need a steady supply of teachers.

According to the Ministry of Education New Zealand, there are around 68,900 teaching roles across the country. This shows that employment in this sector is stable and ongoing. 

Still, some areas and subjects continue to face shortages.

Key data:

• A shortage of 710 secondary teachers this year, with gaps expected to continue until at least 2028 (Radio New Zealand).

• Shortages are more visible in regions like Auckland, Otago, Taranaki, and Northland (Ministry of Education New Zealand).

• Several roles, including Primary and Secondary Teachers, are on the Green List Tier 1, offering a more direct pathway to residence.

• 180 roles were granted residence in 2025 in the Education and Training industry (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment).

• Teaching requires registration, which can gain you  3-6 resident points for the SMC visa. 

Popular courses:

• Early Childhood Education

• Primary or Secondary Teaching

Why it works:

• Ongoing shortage of teachers

• Clear registration pathway

Green List courses are not official course names. They are courses that lead to jobs on the Green List.

This list identifies roles that New Zealand urgently needs.

There are two main types:

• Tier 1: Straight to Residence

• Tier 2: Work to Residence

Quick comparison

The courses we discussed above all lead to jobs in the Green List. Choosing a course linked to these roles gives you a clearer path to staying in New Zealand.

After you finish your course in New Zealand, you can move into different pathways to residence. For most international students, these are skilled pathways.

If PR is part of your goal, it helps to understand these early. This gives you a clear direction when choosing your course.

Here are the main pathways to know:

Green List pathway

This pathway is based on jobs that New Zealand urgently needs. If you study a course that leads to a Green List role (either Tier 1 or 2) and secure a job offer in that role, you can apply for residence.

Skilled Migrant Category (SMC)

This is a points-based pathway. If you land a job offer from an accredited employer and meet Immigration New Zealand’s SMC skilled employment criteria and the required resident points, you can apply for residence.

Once you understand your pathway, the next step is knowing how your journey usually unfolds as a student.

Study → Post-study work visa → Skilled job → Residence

Start by choosing a course that leads to an in-demand role, ideally one linked to the Green List and at NZQF Level 7 or higher. After you graduate, you can apply for a post-study work visa, which gives you time to gain relevant work experience.

From there, your goal is to secure a skilled job with an accredited employer that fits your chosen pathway. This is what allows you to move forward and apply for residence, either through the Green List or the Skilled Migrant Category.

How to choose the right course for your PR goals

Start by thinking beyond the course itself.

Ask yourself:

• Does this lead to a Green List job?

• Will the salary meet visa requirements?

• Do I need registration or licensing?

• Is there long-term demand in this field?

The goal is simple. Your course should lead to a job that keeps your visa options open.

Choosing the right course is one of the most important decisions you will make when studying and migrating to New Zealand.

Whether you are planning a study-to-PR pathway, checking your eligibility, or trying to understand the latest migration policies, expert guidance can make a big difference.

IDP’s migration experts can help you connect your course, your visa options, and your long-term goals, so every step you take supports your future in New Zealand.