How to Plan for Your Arrival | Study With New Zealand

So, after all the brain-storming sessions with friends and family members, jotting down all the pros and cons and convincing them; it is time to start applying to any of the universities (outlined in Why I Chose to Study in New Zealand) for your preferred course.

Firstly, you will get a conditional offer letter and then on meeting those conditions, you will be provided with an unconditional offer letter stating confirmation of your place at the university.

Once you have the confirmation of your place at university you can apply for your visa.

Refer to Immigration NZ for all the details regarding this.

Once you have your visa you can book your flight. Generally, look for flights which provide close to 40kgs or 2 pieces of luggage (don’t forget you will be away from home for close to a year!). I found that Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific were the best options.

Try to pack as much as possible in your check-in bags (except for edibles) as those don’t get checked as often. When packing include clothes such as thermals, sweaters and a decent amount of clothes as getting those in NZ will generally be quite expensive.

Finding a place to live is very important. These are some of the sites that will help you find homestay/flats in and around NZ:

Also check with your university as they will have their own accommodation options and other recommendations.

Beware: There are lots of fake websites out there, so do research your flats first and then transfer the money.

It is a good practice to declare all your edible items so that you don’t get caught for carrying anything illegal and made to pay thousands of dollars. Remember to always carry a medical prescription for your medicines.

Get more information on the international student website NauMai NZ

These websites can help you plan your budget: