International Student Policies
The University of Waikato outlines policies for international students, including admission requirements, visa applications, pre-paid tuition fees, and medical insurance.
The following information is a general policy guide for international students wishing to enrol at the University of Waikato.
All students are required to meet the entry requirements for admission, as set out in the Admission Statute 2014. Applicants whose first language is not English are also required to provide satisfactory evidence of English language proficiency, generally in the form of an IELTS or TOEFL examination score, as set out in the English Language Requirements for Admission. Scores can vary according to the qualification sought.
International students must apply for admission online.
Permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand, Australian citizens, and students from the Cook Islands, Tokelau or Niue who are New Zealand citizens, are treated as New Zealand students and do not need to apply for admission as international students.
Please note that to be eligible for domestic tuition fees, permanent residents and citizens of Australia must be living in New Zealand for the duration of the study. Information is available from the Tertiary Education Commission.
All international students enrolling in an undergraduate programme must hold as a minimum requirement, an equivalent university entrance qualification; for example, three passes at grade C or better in the GCE ‘A’ level examinations. Students who have achieved an equivalent to New Zealand University Entrance through a qualification other than NCEA at Level 3 will have their admission assessed on a case by case basis. Please contact the Enrolment Office for detailed guidelines on admission to the University of Waikato.
Many of the degrees offered at the University of Waikato have prerequisites on their core papers. Applicants who have not achieved specified prerequisites through their study will be required to take additional papers or foundation courses in order to satisfy these prerequisites. Applicants in this situation are advised that not all papers may count towards the completion of the degree and that the programme may take an additional period of time.
The University of Waikato has agreed to observe and be bound by the Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice.
Students should refer to the Code of Practice for their specified responsibilities and to the International Student Handbook or the Academic Calendar for University procedures and recommendations.
Please see: Non-tuition costs
- All international students must hold a valid student visa (or visitor visa for courses of less than three months) for the duration of their studies. Further information regarding the various requirements of Immigration New Zealand (INZ) can be obtained from the nearest New Zealand High Commission, Embassy or INZ Office.
- An offer of a place at the University does not guarantee that the student will be issued with a student visa.
- International students are required to pay their tuition fees to the University of Waikato as a pre-lodgement requirement for their student visa application. Students are also required to provide evidence of additional funds available for living costs of at least NZ$20,000 per year.
- The University is required to report to INZ those students who are not fulfilling the requirements of their student visa, which includes completing compulsory course components and passing papers.
- Full details of immigration requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying and reporting requirements are available from Immigration New Zealand.
As indicated above, international students are required to pay their tuition fees to the University of Waikato as a pre-lodgement requirement for their student visa application. These funds are held against the student’s name until they complete their enrolment in person.
This policy details the process for refunding these funds if:
- the student is no longer traveling to New Zealand to enrol.
- the student travels to New Zealand and does not complete their enrolment.
- the student completes the first semester of study and does not enrol in the second semester of study and they have a student visa valid for one year.
- All students must apply through MyWaikato for a refund of their pre-paid tuition fees.
- Students are required to supply a verified copy of their passport and student visa, and a copy of their University of Waikato receipt(s) with their application for a refund.
- The University will notify Immigration New Zealand that the student has not fulfilled the obligations of their visa by completing their enrolment at the University of Waikato.
- Where a student wishes to attend another institution in New Zealand, the University of Waikato will transfer the pre-paid tuition fees to that institution, upon written confirmation from that institution of the student’s intention to study. This should be in the form of a formal letter of offer or invoice which confirms the student’s acceptance into a qualification. If the student has already paid their tuition fees at the other institution, the University of Waikato will refund the pre-paid tuition fees to the student, upon written confirmation from the other institution that the fees have been paid. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the necessary documentation from the other institution.
- Where a student will be returning to their home country, the funds will be refunded in one of two ways:
- a telegraphic transfer sent to the overseas bank account provided by the student
- if it is known that the pre-paid tuition fees have been paid by a third party, the refund may be paid back to that third party.
- Where a student is wishing to remain in New Zealand without enrolling at an educational institution, the University of Waikato will refund these funds either:
- upon evidence of a valid INZ visa to remain in New Zealand, or
- confirmation that INZ has discharged the University of Waikato’s duty under the original student visa.
- If a programme of study is cancelled by the University of Waikato, a full refund of pre-paid tuition fees will be made to the student by bank draft.
International students who withdraw their application or their enrolment before the start date of their programme will receive a 100% refund of pre-paid tuition fees less a $500 Administration Fee.
Students who withdraw their application or their enrolment after the start date of their programme but during the period for deletion of papers (refer to Clause 12 of the Change of Enrolment Regulations 2012), will receive a 100% refund of pre-paid tuition fees less a $2,000 Administration Fee.
The administration fee will be waived if the student's visa application has been declined by Immigration.
International students (including group students) must have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance while studying in New Zealand, as stated in the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. Under the Immigration New Zealand Policy, this must be at least for the duration of your student visa. Enrolment is dependent on proof of appropriate insurance.
To simplify the process of selecting insurance, the University has selected Studentsafe-University (underwritten by Allianz New Zealand) as the preferred insurance policy for all international students. The Studentsafe-University insurance premium will be added to tuition fees at the time of enrolment, resulting in international students being automatically enrolled in the Studentsafe-University insurance scheme.
This premium will not be charged if evidence of an alternative compliant insurance policy is provided to the University before the specified deadline (please note there are only a small number of approved alternative compliant policies).
Most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your visit, you may be liable for the full costs of that treatment.
Full details on entitlements to publicly funded health services are available through the Ministry of Health. The Accident Compensation Corporation provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand, but you may still be liable for all other medical and related costs. Further information can be viewed on the ACC website.
The New Zealand Aid Programme (NZAP) is the New Zealand Government's International Aid and Development Programme managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Education is vital to the New Zealand Aid Programme's mission of supporting sustainable development in order to reduce poverty and contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous world.
Scholarships are available to citizens from selected developing countries to undertake vocational training or tertiary level study in their home country, in New Zealand, or in the Pacific region. These scholarships enhance the skills, training and knowledge of individuals, and build their capacity to contribute to the sustainable development of key areas in their home country. The eligibility criteria and application process can be found on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade website.
New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS) are funded by the New Zealand Government and administered by Education New Zealand. NZIDRS are open to all countries and entitlements include tuition fees and living allowances. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit. Further information can be found on the Education New Zealand website.
The University is a forward-looking, innovative institution that welcomes strategic alliances, international partnerships, and agreements. Consideration is given to international institutions that match the University of Waikato profile in terms of reputation, academic standing, and research output.
All proposals for University to University linkages should be discussed in the first instance with the International Office. Proposals for guaranteed credit agreements need submission of full documentation to the International Office which will refer them to the appropriate academic authority for approval. Partnership proposals are welcome and will be explored on a case by case basis. Memorandums of Understanding should also be submitted as proposals to the International Office, which will refer them to the appropriate authority.
Overseas visitors are welcome. Prospective visitors should contact Communications Marketing and Engagement (CME) with full background information about their proposed visit. CME will assist in arranging an itinerary which meets both the visitors’ and the University of Waikato’s needs.
Where minor concerns arise, students are encouraged to take a common-sense approach and raise them directly with the relevant staff, with the aim of resolving them at the lowest possible level and without undue formality. However, where informal discussions have not yielded a satisfactory resolution, or where the matter is more serious, you can make a formal student complaint.
If your complaint has not been resolved using the University process, you can contact the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) by phone on 0800 697 296 or email qadrisk@nzqa.govt.nz
If it is of a financial or contractual nature, you can contact iStudent Complaints by phone on 0800 006 675.
If you need help understanding the formal complaint process you can speak with an International Student Advisor.