A master's degree in New Zealand is a level 9 qualification on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF, formerly NZQF). It is at least 120 credits, typically 120, 180 or 240, which means one to two years of full-time study. What makes it attractive for international applicants is not only the degree: after a master's with at least 30 weeks of on-campus study in the country, graduates can apply for a 3-year post-study work visa, an open work visa for any employer, and while you study your partner can get an open work visa too. Entry usually requires a bachelor's degree and IELTS Academic 6.5.
Updated 30 September 2026. Visa and cost figures are taken from official sources on that date.
Key facts for 2026/27
| Item | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Level | 9 on the NZQCF | NZQA |
| Size | at least 120 credits; typically 120, 180 or 240 | NZQA |
| Length | 120 credits ≈ 1 year full time, 180 ≈ 1.5 years, 240 ≈ 2 years | from NZQA's ≈120 credits per full-time year |
| English | IELTS Academic 6.5, bands ≥6.0 (NZQA minimum) | NZQA |
| Tuition | postgraduate study ≈ NZD 20,000–45,000 | Education NZ, March 2025 figures |
| Living-cost funds for the visa | NZD 20,000 a year | INZ |
| Work during study | up to 25 hours a week during study | INZ |
| Visa after graduation | 3 years with at least 30 weeks of on-campus study in NZ | INZ |
| Student's partner | open work visa | INZ |
How a New Zealand master's works
Under NZQA rules a master's is at least 120 credits at levels 8 and above, with at least 40 at level 9. One credit is 10 notional hours of learning, including independent study and assessment, and a full-time student usually completes 120 credits a year (NZQA, 1 July 2025 edition).
There are two types of programme:
- Taught — coursework plus a final applied project. The most common format for people moving for a career and work; typically 180 credits, about 1.5 years.
- Research — includes a thesis of at least 90 credits. Research master's students have no limit on working hours during study (INZ).
In some fields, level 8 qualifications come before a master's: the Postgraduate Certificate (from 60 credits) and the Postgraduate Diploma (from 120 credits). They can be taken on their own, but the work visa after them lasts only as long as the study, not 3 years.
Where to study: universities, polytechnics and private providers
Three types of provider offer master's degrees in New Zealand:
| Type | Who they are | How quality is assured |
|---|---|---|
| Universities | the eight public universities | programmes approved by CUAP, audits by the independent AQA |
| Polytechnics | public institutes of technology | NZQA: registration, programme approval, external evaluation (EER) |
| Private providers (PTEs) | private business schools and colleges | NZQA; after external evaluation each provider is placed in Category 1–4 |
Sources: NZQA — quality assurance, Universities New Zealand — CUAP.
A level 9 master's is the same level whichever type of provider awards it; what differs is price, requirements, format and dates. Private providers often take students several times a year and build programmes around practice. The best NZQA external evaluation result is Category 1, and you can check any provider in the NZQA register. More on the Accreditation and partners page.
Who can apply
The basic requirement is a bachelor's degree or equivalent; sometimes a postgraduate diploma or, exceptionally, substantial professional experience is accepted instead (NZQA). How a provider assesses a Russian or Kazakh degree is decided individually, and NZQA itself can assess an overseas qualification through its International Qualifications Assessment.
Requirements depend on the programme. The University of Auckland, for example, requires a bachelor's and at least 3 years of management experience for its MBA, while its Master of Management needs no work experience (careers.govt.nz). We explain the difference between an MBA and other business master's on the Online MBA page.
A typical application includes your degree certificate and transcript translated into English, an IELTS or other test result, a statement of purpose and a CV; some programmes ask for references.
English
The NZQA minimum for a master's is IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or equivalents: TOEFL iBT 79 (writing 21), PTE Academic 58 (all ≥50), Cambridge 176 (≥169) or NZCEL level 5 (Academic) (NZQA table). Universities sometimes ask for more; Victoria University of Wellington, for example, requires TOEFL iBT 90. All options and ways to raise your score are on the English language requirements page.
What it costs
- Tuition. Education NZ puts postgraduate study at about NZD 20,000–45,000 (Education NZ). Real 2026 examples: a 180-credit taught master's at Lincoln University costs NZD 57,000–63,000 for the whole programme (Lincoln); the Master of Applied Business at the Unitec polytechnic is NZD 31,327 for the 2027 intake (Unitec).
- Living. The visa minimum is NZD 20,000 a year; universities estimate NZD 20,000–27,000 a year in Auckland and Wellington.
- Compulsory payments. A student visa from NZD 850, and insurance and a student services fee of roughly NZD 900–1,000 a year each (Lincoln examples).
The full breakdown, with rent, transport and a sample annual budget, is on the Cost of study and living page.
Visa, work and family
- Student visa — the Fee Paying Student Visa: an offer from the provider, the first year's tuition paid, NZD 20,000 in funds, insurance and, for most CIS citizens, a chest X-ray. The fee is from NZD 850 and 80% of applications are decided within 8 weeks (INZ). Details on the Student visa page.
- Work during study — up to 25 hours a week during study (visas from 3 November 2025) and full time in holidays.
- Family. At level 9 your partner can get an open work visa, and through it your children can get student visas and attend state school as domestic students. Details on Studying with your family.
- After graduation. A 3-year post-study work visa with at least 30 weeks of on-campus study in New Zealand within the master's itself; any employer, once in a lifetime (INZ). Details on Post-study work visa.
When to start
Universities have two main starts: Semester 1 in late February or early March and Semester 2 in mid-July, with international application deadlines around 1 December and 1 June respectively. Private providers have more intakes. The 2027 dates and a preparation timeline are on Intakes and start dates.
Advantages and limits for applicants from Russia and the CIS
What works in your favour:
- after the master's, a 3-year work visa for any employer, with no job offer needed;
- your partner can work while you study and your children attend school as domestic students, if INZ requirements are met;
- a 180-credit taught master's takes about 1.5 years, a 120-credit one about a year;
- you study in English and gain New Zealand work experience during study, up to 25 hours a week.
Where the limits are:
- you must show NZD 20,000 for a year of living costs, in your account in advance with 3 months of statements;
- citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and several other CIS countries need a chest X-ray;
- banking restrictions can make paying from Russia slower than collecting documents, so find out the payment route early;
- in Russia, degrees from only six New Zealand universities are recognised automatically; others go through the Rosobrnadzor procedure — see Degree recognition.
A master's with an online start: the MBI
The Master of Business Informatics is a joint programme by Nairi International University (NIU) and ICL Graduate Business School in Auckland, combining business and IT.
| Item | MBI |
|---|---|
| Level and size | 9, 180 credits: 60 at NIU, 120 at ICL |
| Length | about 16 months |
| First stage | 1 semester online with NIU — from home, no visa; start in any month |
| Second stage | 1 academic year on campus at ICL, Auckland; one of ICL's 6 intakes a year |
| Language | English |
| Entry | a bachelor's in business or IT with an average of at least 50%, or work experience in business or IT |
| English | IELTS Academic 6.5 (no band below 6.0) — for the ICL stage; not required for the NIU stage |
| Cost | first stage USD 2,499 per semester; the on-campus stage is costed individually |
| Outcome | an NIU certificate and a Master degree in Business Informatics from ICL |
In practice the online start means you pay no New Zealand living costs during the first semester, can keep working at home and prepare IELTS and the visa calmly. You keep eligibility for the post-study work visa, because the ICL year is designed to meet the 30-week rule and the online semester simply does not count towards it.
The savings are calculated on Online stage vs fully on campus, and what a double degree means is explained on Online double degree.
Master's programmes in the NIU catalogue
The Programs and courses catalogue lists level 9 master's degrees at nine New Zealand providers. A few fields:
- Business and management: Master of Management — ICL, Master of Business Administration (MBA) — AIS, Master of Applied Management — NMIT;
- IT and data: Master of Information Technology — AIS, Master of Software Engineering — Yoobee, Master of Business Informatics (Business Analytics) — Yoobee;
- Project and construction management: Master of Management (Construction Project Management) — ICL;
- Accounting: Master of Professional Accounting — NMIT.
Step-by-step plan
- Goal and programme. Work in New Zealand or just the degree, alone or with family: that decides the level and format.
- Check your degree and English. Whether your bachelor's fits and how far you are from IELTS 6.5.
- Documents. Translated degree and transcript, statement of purpose, CV.
- Application and offer. Apply to the provider before the intake deadline.
- Funds. NZD 20,000 for a year plus a ticket, in your account early enough to show 3 months of statements.
- Student visa, lodged together with your partner's visa if your family is coming.
- Move and study. After 30+ weeks on campus and graduation, the post-study work visa.
Sources
All links checked on 30 September 2026.
- NZQA — The New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (1 July 2025): https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/assets/Qualifications-standards/Understanding-NZQF/The-New-Zealand-Qualifications-and-Credentials-Framework.pdf
- NZQA — Master's degree: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/qualifications-standards/understanding-nzqf/masters-degree/
- NZQA — English language entry requirements for international students: https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/tertiary/english-language-entry-requirements-for-international-students/
- NZQA — Table for internationally recognised English proficiency outcomes: https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/assets/About-us/Our-rules-fees-and-policies/NZQA-Rules/2025/Table-for-internationally-recognised-English-proficiency-outcomes-for-international-students.pdf
- NZQA — Quality assurance: https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/tertiary/quality-assurance/
- NZQA — Provider register: https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers/index.do
- Universities New Zealand — CUAP Handbook 2024: https://www.universitiesnz.ac.nz/sites/default/files/uni-nz/CUAP%20HANDBOOK%202024.pdf
- Careers NZ — MBA, University of Auckland: https://careers.govt.nz/qualifications/view/AU0384/7001
- 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/
- 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 — Working on a student visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/study/once-you-have-a-student-visa/working-on-a-student-visa/
- INZ — Post-Study Work Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/post-study-work-visa/
- INZ — How long you can stay on a post-study work visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/work/requirements-for-work-visas/how-long-you-can-work-on-work-visas/how-long-you-can-stay-on-a-post-study-work-visa/
- INZ — Partner of a Student Work Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/partner-of-a-student-work-visa/