NEW ZEALAND EDUCATION SYSTEM
Thứ Hai - 01/12/2025
New Zealand’s education system is built on the foundation of the British system, and its qualifications are recognised worldwide. International students in New Zealand study in an English-speaking environment alongside domestic students.
The New Zealand education system is divided into secondary education (Years 11–13) and tertiary education (including diplomas, polytechnics, and universities). The academic year varies slightly between institutions, but generally runs from January to mid-December for primary, secondary, and polytechnic levels, and from February to November for universities.
New Zealand has 8 public universities, 16 public institutes of technology and polytechnics (polytechnics), nearly 200 private training establishments (colleges, institutions), and more than 500 secondary and intermediate schools. Students are encouraged to contact us to select the institution that best suits their goals.
- Secondary Schools:
Education in New Zealand is compulsory from ages 6 to 16. Families who wish to homeschool their children must register with the Ministry of Education and meet specific requirements. See more information here.
New Zealand’s school system consists of 13 years and is divided as follows:
- Primary school: 6 years
- Junior secondary school: 5 years
- Senior secondary school: 2 years
Students typically begin school at age 5. They may study at public schools, private New Zealand schools, or international private schools. They can attend day schools or boarding schools. Students often study at a school within their local zone, although many families choose schools outside their area for specific reasons.
Regardless of school type, all New Zealand secondary schools must meet Ministry of Education standards for curriculum, facilities, teachers, and learning environment. Students complete their secondary education at age 17 or 18.
At the primary level, students attend Years 1 to 6, typically from ages 5 to 11 or 12. The curriculum includes compulsory subjects such as mathematics, English, science, and other general subjects. At the end of primary school, students must complete an assessment before progressing to secondary school.
Secondary education consists of junior secondary (Years 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) and senior secondary (Years 12 and 13). From Years 9 to 11, students follow a general curriculum without subject specialisation. In Years 12 and 13, students select subjects based on their academic interests and future career pathways, such as social sciences or natural sciences.
At the secondary level, the main qualification available is:
- The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) — New Zealand’s national qualification, awarded at the end of: Year 11 (NCEA Level 1) Year 12 (NCEA Level 2)
Year 13 (NCEA Level 3) - NCEA replaces the former School Certificate (Year 11), Sixth Form Certificate (Year 12), and Bursary & Higher School Certificate (Year 13).
- Public and Private Vocational Training Institutes
Public Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs)
In New Zealand, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) are public institutions. Their primary role is to provide training at diploma and advanced diploma levels, as well as bachelor’s degrees, with some institutions offering master’s programs. A key difference in bachelor’s training at these colleges/polytechnics is that the programs tend to be more practical and hands-on. These institutions follow a similar academic calendar to universities in terms of start and end dates. Graduates can enter the workforce immediately or progress to higher levels of study.
Private Training Providers (PTEs)
There are many private institutions in New Zealand, some offering multi-disciplinary programs while others specialise in only one field. All institutions must follow the New Zealand Qualifications Framework and be registered with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Most of these institutions operate with academic calendars similar to public polytechnics and universities.
- Universities
There are 8 public universities in New Zealand offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, along with many public polytechnics and private colleges that also provide bachelor’s and master’s programs, most commonly master’s degrees in business administration. Each university has its own academic calendar, but generally the academic year consists of two main semesters. Semester 1 typically begins in February, and Semester 2 begins in July. Each semester lasts 24 weeks, with a 2-week break in the middle and a 6-week break between the two semesters. Students may continue studying during the breaks if they wish.
New Zealand universities share key characteristics:
- They are all public institutions.
- Their programs are academically and research-oriented.
- Most universities begin the academic year in February or early March and finish in late October.
- Most programs last one year or more, although some courses run for only one semester.
- Some programs also offer mid-year entry, allowing students to begin in July.
- Classes are usually held from Monday to Friday, although libraries and learning support centres are open on Saturdays and Sundays, and some exams may be scheduled on Saturdays.
- Some universities offer summer school courses from November to February, enabling students to shorten their overall study duration.
- English Language Centres and Foundation Programme Providers
- Language Schools
These are institutions that provide English-language training or other foreign languages, either short-term or long-term, usually with their own specialised curriculum. Most of these schools are private, and their courses are typically organised into 5-week, 10-week, 12-week, or 15-week blocks to suit learners’ needs. Some schools specialise in one-on-one tutoring.
- Foundation Programme Providers
Many universities and some secondary schools offer foundation programmes, mainly for international students whose home-country high school curriculum is not compatible with the New Zealand secondary school system. The core purpose of these programmes is to prepare international students for university study. Key subjects include English, academic skills, and introductory courses related to the field students intend to pursue at university.
Major institutions offering foundation and pathway programmes include:
- Navitas Education Group, providing pathway programmes into the University of Canterbury: Foundation Studies and University Transfer Programs (UTP – equivalent to Year 1 of university).
- Kaplan Education Group, offering pathway programmes into Massey University: English, Foundation Studies, Diploma (equivalent to Year 1 of university), and Graduate Diploma pathways to Master’s study.
- UP Education Group, providing Foundation Studies programmes leading to the University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington, and Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Duc Anh EduConnect Supports Students:
Duc Anh is a reputable and trusted representative of most of universities and schools in New Zealand. If you meet the entry requirements, we can certainly help you gain admission to any school you wish. And if the school offers scholarships and you are eligible, you will receive prioritized consideration.
For tailored guidance and full assistance throughout your study-abroad journey, please contact:
Duc Anh EduConnect
Hotline: 09887 09698
Email: duhoc@ducanh.edu.vn
Website: www.ducanhduhoc.vn
Bài viết liên quan
Kỹ sư cơ khí: Chia sẻ của du học sinh trường Monash
Mình tên là Phan Hoàng Văn, hiện đang là sinh viên ngành Kỹ Sư Cơ Khí ở trường Đại Học Monash. Mình đã từng là học sinh lớp chuyên Vật Lý ở cấp III trường Trung học Phổ thông Chuyên Trần Đại Nghĩa, TP. HCM.
Đại học Monash: Vai trò lãnh đạo của các trường đại học Việt Nam và vấn đề phát triển bền vững
Viện phát triển bền vững MSI của trường Đại học Monash vừa tổ chức chương trình hợp tác với 20 nhà lãnh đạo từ các trường đại học hàng đầu của Việt Nam và các nước trong khu vực nhằm nâng cao các kỹ năng nghiên cứu đáp ứng với vấn đề biến đổi khí hậu hiện nay.
Thông tin về khoa cơ khí Đại học Monash
Từ ‘kỹ sư’ theo nghĩa đen có nghĩa là ‘làm cho mọi việc xảy ra”. Kỹ sư chuyển đổi kiến thức khoa học thành công nghệ, và sau đó đưa công nghệ vào đổi mới. Trong một thế giới luôn thay đổi như hiện tại và tương lai, chúng ta cần thêm nhiều kỹ sư hơn bao giờ hết – kỹ sư có khả năng giải quyết những thách thức lớn của xã hội.
Insearch: UTS – học bổng nhân kỷ niệm 40 năm quan hệ Việt Úc
Học bổng có giá trị cho các bạn sinh viên nhập học ở các khóa học chính ở UTS: Insearch – khóa dự bị Đại học UTS và/hoặc khóa Cao đẳng. Mặc dù học bổng có hiệu lực cho các sinh viên mới là Việt Nam, cho các bạn đang hoặc sắp có visa sinh viên; học bổng chỉ áp dụng cho sinh viên nào sẽ bắt đầu học khóa chính vào kỳ học 3, năm 2013 hoặc trong ba học kỳ năm 2014.
Kỳ 2: Kỹ sư nông nghiệp – Đầu vào “ế ẩm”, đầu ra “cháy hàng”
Gần như 100% kỹ sư nông nghiệp ra trường đều có việc làm với mức thu nhập cao, trong khi đó không ít bạn trẻ lại “né” những ngành học liên quan đến nông nghiệp. Vậy đâu là nguyên nhân?
Úc: Bộ trưởng Bộ Công nghệ tuyên dương nữ Giáo sư IT Monash
Giáo sư Frada Burstein, khoa Công nghệ Thông tin của Đại học Monash đã được vinh dự bình chọn là người giỏi nhất của năm 2013 với danh hiệu “Nhà sư phạm về CNTT của năm”. Đây là sự công nhận những đóng góp to lớn trong sự nghiệp cứu và giảng dạy về CNTT của giáo sư.
