The cost of studying in New Zealand as an international student has three parts: tuition paid to the provider, living costs, and compulsory payments for the visa and insurance. According to Education New Zealand, a university bachelor's costs about NZD 35,000–55,000 a year and postgraduate study about NZD 20,000–45,000. For living costs, Immigration New Zealand requires you to show NZD 20,000 for each year of study, while universities estimate a real budget of NZD 20,000–27,000 a year in Auckland and Wellington. Below is a breakdown by item with official figures and a sample budget.
Updated 30 September 2026. Visa and cost figures are taken from official sources on that date.
At a glance: what the budget is made of
| Item | Paid to | How much | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition: university bachelor's | provider | ≈ NZD 35,000–55,000 a year | Education NZ |
| Tuition: postgraduate study | provider | ≈ NZD 20,000–45,000 | same |
| Tuition: PhD | provider | ≈ NZD 6,500–7,500 a year, the same as domestic students | same |
| Student services fee | provider | e.g. NZD 976 a year at Lincoln | Lincoln |
| Medical insurance | insurer (often via the provider) | e.g. ≈ NZD 899 a year at Lincoln | same |
| Student visa | INZ | from NZD 850 | INZ |
| Living-cost funds for the visa | shown in your account | NZD 20,000 a year | INZ |
| Real living costs in Auckland | yourself | ≈ NZD 20,000–27,000 a year | Education NZ |
The Education NZ ranges are marked "updated March 2025". Programme prices change every year, so check the provider's page for your year.
Tuition by type of provider
New Zealand has three types of provider: the eight universities, public polytechnics, and private training establishments. Their prices differ.
Universities — Lincoln University example, 2026, NZD including GST per year (Lincoln; 2027 fees not yet set):
| Programme | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pathway Certificate (Foundation), 60 credits | 14,500 |
| First Year Pathway Diploma, 120 credits | 27,300 |
| Diplomas (e.g. Diploma in Commerce) | 29,000 |
| Bachelor's — commerce, tourism, agribusiness, sport | 35,000 a year |
| Bachelor's — science, agriculture, landscape architecture, viticulture | 37,000 a year |
| Graduate Diploma | 35,000–37,000 |
| Postgraduate Diploma | 38,000–42,000 |
| Taught master's, 180 credits (Master of Business and others) | 57,000 for the whole programme |
| Taught master's, 180 credits (Master of Applied Computing and others) | 63,000 for the whole programme |
| Research master's | 35,000–37,000 a year |
Polytechnics — Unitec (Auckland) example, 2027 intake (Unitec): level 4–6 certificates and diplomas cost NZD 13,604–30,503, the Bachelor of Business NZD 27,207 a year, and the Master of Applied Business (13–18 months) NZD 31,327.
Private providers have no system-wide official statistics; each sets its own prices. For programmes in the NIU catalogue, an adviser confirms the cost for the specific programme and intake.
Compulsory payments on top of tuition
- Student Services Fee. NZD 976 a year at Lincoln (NZD 1,464 for a 180-credit master's) (Lincoln); at the University of Auckland NZD 9.44 per point, about NZD 1,133 for a full-time year (UoA).
- Medical and travel insurance is compulsory for a student visa for its whole length (INZ); at Lincoln it is about NZD 899 a year, or NZD 1,348.50 for a 180-credit master's.
- Student visa from NZD 850: a 485 fee, a 265 immigration levy and the 100 International Visitor Levy under the May 2026 INZ Fees Guide (Fees Guide). More on the Student visa page.
- A chest X-ray for citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and several other CIS countries studying longer than 6 months (INZ); the clinic sets the price.
Living costs: official benchmarks
The visa minimum is NZD 20,000 for each year of study, or NZD 1,667 a month for courses under a year, plus a ticket home or the money for one (INZ).
Real budgets estimated by universities, as published by Education NZ (studywithnewzealand.govt.nz):
| City (university) | Budget per year |
|---|---|
| Auckland (University of Auckland), Wellington (Victoria University) | ≈ NZD 20,000–27,000 |
| Dunedin (University of Otago) | ≈ NZD 18,000–21,000 |
Individual items (same source): groceries from NZD 80–120 a week, electricity in a private house NZD 200–300 a month, a mobile plan from NZD 19 a month, unlimited internet for a shared flat about NZD 90 a month.
Renting in Auckland
Official Tenancy Services (MBIE) bond data, weekly median, February–July 2026 (Tenancy Services):
| Property type, central Auckland (Auckland Central) | Median per week | ≈ per year (our calculation) |
|---|---|---|
| Room | NZD 250 | NZD 13,000 |
| One-bedroom flat | NZD 442 | NZD 23,000 |
| Two-bedroom flat | NZD 550 | NZD 28,600 |
Prices differ outside the centre: in west Auckland's Avondale, the median is NZD 255 for a room and NZD 490 a week for a one-bedroom flat. The data is updated monthly, so check the latest figures at the same link before you move.
Getting around Auckland
Auckland Transport fares (AT, updated 13.08.2026):
- a one-zone trip on an AT HOP card costs NZD 3.00, two zones NZD 4.90;
- a 40% tertiary concession is available to full-time students at Auckland providers with a registered HOP card: one zone is NZD 1.55;
- the HOP weekly cap is NZD 50 for 7 days, after which travel is free.
What you can earn while studying
Students can work up to 25 hours a week during study, and full time in scheduled holidays if the course is at least a year and 120+ credits (INZ). The adult minimum wage from 1 April 2026 is NZD 23.95 an hour before tax (employment.govt.nz).
25 hours at the minimum wage is NZD 598.75 a week before tax (our calculation), roughly enough for a room in the centre, groceries and transport. It does not count for the visa, though: INZ assesses the money in your account when you apply.
A sample budget for a year in Auckland
Our calculation for one student renting a room in the centre. The figures come from the official sources above; the total is a guide, not a forecast of your costs.
| Item | NZD per year | How it is calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Room rent | 13,000 | NZD 250 × 52 weeks |
| Groceries | 4,160–6,240 | NZD 80–120 × 52 |
| Transport | up to 2,600 | AT HOP cap NZD 50 × 52; usually less with the student concession |
| Mobile plan | ≈ 230 | from NZD 19 × 12 |
| Medical insurance | ≈ 900 | Lincoln example |
| Student services fee | ≈ 1,000 | Lincoln / Auckland examples |
| Total excluding tuition | ≈ 21,900–23,970 |
The total sits within the universities' NZD 20,000–27,000 range and a little above the NZD 20,000 visa minimum. Tuition comes on top, at the programme's price.
How an NIU online start changes the budget
Joint programmes at Nairi International University (NIU) begin online and continue on campus at a New Zealand partner. That affects the budget in two ways:
- The first stage is paid at NIU's price. The Master of Business Informatics costs USD 2,499 per semester (60 of 180 credits); the Bachelor of Business Information Systems costs USD 7,500 per academic year (180 of 360 credits). Payment is by bank transfer to the university's account. The New Zealand stage is costed individually.
- During the online stage you pay no New Zealand living costs: no rent, transport or insurance, and no NZD 20,000 to show for that period. Your living costs at home of course continue.
A detailed comparison of three scenarios (fully online, online start with an on-campus finish, and fully on campus) is on the Online stage vs fully on campus page.
Catalogue programmes: where to find the price
The Programs and courses catalogue lists programmes at nine New Zealand providers. Prices and intake dates are not published on programme pages, because providers change them every year; an adviser confirms the exact figure for your intake. A few programmes of different types for comparison:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) — AIS — a private provider in Auckland;
- Master of Information Technology — NMIT — a public polytechnic in Nelson;
- Master of Management — ICL — a private provider in Auckland.
More about life in Auckland on the Living and working in Auckland page.
Sources
All links checked on 30 September 2026.
- Education New Zealand — Cost of living: https://www.studywithnewzealand.govt.nz/en/plan-your-studies/cost-of-living
- Lincoln University — International fees 2026: https://www.lincoln.ac.nz/study/fees/international-fees/
- University of Auckland — Fees by faculty: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/fees-and-money-matters/tuition-fees/fees-by-faculty.html
- Unitec — International fees 2027: https://www.unitec.ac.nz/?p=3552
- INZ — Fee Paying Student Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/fee-paying-student-visa/
- INZ — Student fund requirements: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/applying-for-a-visa/providing-evidence-and-documents-to-support-your-visa-application/student-fund-requirements/
- INZ — Fees Guide INZ 1028 (May 2026): https://www.immigration.govt.nz/assets/inz/documents/forms-and-guides/Fees-Guide-INZ-1028.pdf
- INZ — Countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/process-to-apply/applying-for-a-visa/providing-evidence-and-documents-to-support-your-visa-application/health-requirements/countries-with-a-low-incidence-of-tuberculosis/
- INZ — Working on a student visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/study/once-you-have-a-student-visa/working-on-a-student-visa/
- Tenancy Services (MBIE) — Market rent, Auckland Central: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/rent-bond-and-bills/market-rent/?location=Auckland+Central
- Auckland Transport — Bus and train fares: https://at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/fares-and-discounts/bus-and-train-fares
- Employment New Zealand — Minimum wage rates: https://www.employment.govt.nz/pay-and-hours/pay-and-wages/minimum-wage/minimum-wage-rates-and-types