Studying in New Zealand for Chinese Students

The Chinese economy is booming and its citizens are always on the lookout for all things quality. The education and training of their youth is no exception. In 2017, almost 25,500 Chinese students were granted visas to study in New Zealand. This is more than half of the almost 50,000 student visas issued for the year.  What makes NZ such an attractive education destination for the Chinese youth and how can you get competitive and comprehensive education like theirs? Read on and find out.

Why NZ

If you are looking for a great adventure along with a world-class education, then New Zealand is the perfect place to be. All of New Zealand’s eight universities are in the top 3% in the world rankings, making your NZ education a passport to great opportunities.

In New Zealand, the world is your playground. Whether you get inspiration from the sea, the mountains, or the forests, there will be an adventure waiting for you. You will experience all of what a first world country offers minus the overcrowding, thanks to the population of only 4.6 million people.

Ranked 2nd by the Global Peace Index in 2017, it is one of the safest places to study. It has also been tagged as the least corrupt country too. Who wouldn’t thrive in a laid-back environment, surrounded by warm and welcoming Kiwis?

Requirements

Your journey to New Zealand starts at home. Determine what level and specific course you wish to pursue. This would help you zero in on the school you want to apply to. While different learning institutions have varying requirements, it is important to supply all of it. This can be conveniently done online. Once you have an unconditional Offer of Place in your school of choice, you should then proceed to secure a student visa.

There are three types of student visas specific for Chinese citizens. These are the general student visa, the Pathway Pilot, and the student visa for partners of work visa holders. Disparities in requirements are present for each student visa type. What’s common across the three is the requirement of offer of place and evidence of maintenance funds. Read more on student visa requirements here <https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/tools-and-information/checklists/china >

School Fees

How much you have to pay for school fees depend on the duration, level, and course you want to pursue.  Students taking up English language courses tend to pay the least. They cash out $ 5,000 for a 12-week course. They are followed by PhD students who shell out $ 6,500 to $ 9,000 per year. Postgraduate degrees prove to be the most expensive. A student at this level can expect to pay $ 26,000 to $ 37,000. Those who are taking up medicine and veterinary science subjects should be ready to pay more.

Living Costs

Where do you plan to stay in New Zealand? How would you describe your lifestyle? Your answers to these two questions will determine how much you have to spend for your day to day expenses.

You would need $ 7,080 assuming that you are from Beijing and spend $ 4,300 in your current city, pay rent, and would rent when you stay in Auckland. This is $ 3,700 more than what you would spend in Beijing for the same standard of life. Consumer prices in Auckland are close to 80% higher than in Beijing. For more rates and to select another Chinese and New Zealand city, visit this <https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=China&city1=Beijing&country2=New+Zealand&city2=Auckland&displayCurrency=NZD >.

Support Group

It can be isolating to be in a foreign land. Find support! Chinese youth is the biggest international student group in New Zealand so you should be in touch with a buddy in no time. Visit the New Zealand Chinese Students’ Association website and get started. You should also take advantage of student orientations and classroom interactions to find your tribe. All you have to do is be warm and friendly.

The Chinese economy is showing no signs of slowing down. Benefit from the economic boom by being globally competitive. Start preparing for your New Zealand education now and be poised for success.

Studying in Australia for Chinese Students

Studying abroad is fairly popular among Chinese students, with over 20,000 studying around Australia. This is crucial as it can be intimidating for you to be immersed in a culture that is far from your own. Understanding what you’re in for goes a long way towards putting you at ease, though. So, here are everything that you need to know if you’re considering advancing your studies abroad to help make your transition smoother.

Before You Leave

As with any other country, there are visa requirements that need to be met. You specifically need to get an Australian Student Visa. Costing around CNY 2,730 and lasting for five years, the visa also requires you have health insurance and be at least six years of age. You also need to be already accepted in an educational institution in Australia—that’s easy enough to accomplish as many of the best allow for applications online.

A Shorter Road

In spite of the fact that it’s almost 9,000 km from Beijing International Airport, the flight time to Australia—Sydney specifically—is only a manageable 12 hours at most. These are direct flights provided by Air China. This means that it is easy enough to fly home for vacations or when you get homesick. Again, you can opt for the scenic route and enjoy a few stopovers along the way.

The High Cost of Living

You need to be very careful when it comes to spending in Australia, however, as prices are generally higher in Australian cities. This covers the range of critical spending from rent to meals and even groceries. Meals are more expensive by roughly CNY 60, while average rentals can be costlier by up to 115%. The difference isn’t so big when it comes to simpler groceries and supplies where the it falls between CNY 4-10 at an average.

Making a Living in Australia

The good news is that if you do choose to eventually work in Australia, you can expect income that is almost 11 times what you would get if you apply your skills in China. For a profession like nursing, for example, can earn up to CNY 35,000 in China whereas in Australia, that salary cap comes out to around CNY 420,000! That even applies to more basic jobs that you can get while studying or as you are still a fresh graduate after your five-year stay.

Finding Support

With nearly 166,000 Chinese students at any given time in Australia, you will never completely feel homesick. In fact, this large number has meant many different student organizations have been put together to provide everything from study help, emotional support, and even job placements. The biggest of these includes the Australia-China Youth Association, Sydney University Chinese Student Association (SUCSA), and the University of Melbourne’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association—and there are many more in other bigger Australian educational institutions.

It’s a Celebration (or Not)

Admittedly, there also aren’t that many holidays in common between the two countries. Chinese New Year, however, is one that the thriving Chinese community in Australia does celebrate with street festivals, Chinese markets, local entertainment programs, and firecrackers. Note, however, that this isn’t celebrated as a non-working holiday, though some Chinese businesses will close down.

Apart from specifically student groups, there is a thriving community of Chinese immigrants in Australia. That means that any student will feel just as home while there for studies. The higher prices might pose a challenge but this is offset by much higher income potential.