Comparing the costs of an online stage and fully on-campus study shows where a model with part of the programme studied from home and the rest on campus in New Zealand really saves money. The main saving is not on tuition but on living in New Zealand: during the online stage you pay no Auckland rent or transport, and you do not have to show NZD 1,667 for each of those months for the visa. The on-campus stage still gives you what fully online programmes cannot: a student visa, the right to work and a post-study work visa after graduation. Below are three scenarios in one table and a worked example for the MBI master's.
Updated 30 September 2026. Visa and cost figures are taken from official sources on that date; the calculations are ours, with the assumptions stated.
Three scenarios in one table
| 1. Fully online | 2. Online start + on campus in NZ (NIU model) | 3. Fully on campus in NZ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you study | at home | first stage at home, then in New Zealand | the whole time in New Zealand |
| Student visa | not needed and not issued | needed for the on-campus stage | needed for the whole time |
| Living-cost funds for the visa | not needed | NZD 20,000 per on-campus year | NZD 20,000 a year + NZD 1,667 for each further month |
| NZ living costs | none | only for the on-campus stage | for the whole time |
| Work during study | at home, no visa limits | at home during the online stage; up to 25 hours a week in NZ | up to 25 hours a week in NZ |
| Post-study work visa | no — at least 30 weeks on campus in NZ are required | possible if INZ requirements are met | possible if INZ requirements are met |
| Partner work visa (master's) | no | possible during the on-campus stage | possible throughout |
| New Zealand degree | if the programme awards one | yes | yes |
Visa conditions are from Immigration New Zealand: living-cost funds, working on a student visa, post-study work visa, partner visa.
Worked example for the MBI: what the online semester saves
The Master of Business Informatics is a joint master's by NIU and ICL Graduate Business School: level 9, 180 credits, about 16 months, with the first semester (60 credits, about 4 months) online with NIU, followed by an academic year (120 credits) on campus at ICL in Auckland.
Assumptions:
- the online semester lasts 4 months;
- Auckland living costs are estimated two ways: the INZ visa minimum of NZD 1,667 a month, and our estimate for a room in the centre of about NZD 1,825 a month (NZD 21,900 a year, calculated on the Cost of study and living page);
- tuition for the on-campus stage is the same in both scenarios and is costed individually;
- living costs at home are excluded, because you have them in any scenario.
Saving on New Zealand living costs over the 4-month online semester:
| Estimate | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| INZ visa minimum | 4 × NZD 1,667 | ≈ NZD 6,670 |
| Our estimate (a room in central Auckland) | 4 × NZD 1,825 | ≈ NZD 7,300 |
In our estimate that covers, over 4 months, room rent of about NZD 4,330 (NZD 250 a week, Tenancy Services), groceries of about NZD 1,390–2,080 (NZD 80–120 a week, Education NZ), transport of up to NZD 870 (the AT HOP cap of NZD 50 a week, AT), plus insurance and a phone plan.
Funds to show for the visa. In scenario 3, 16 months means showing NZD 20,000 + 4 × NZD 1,667, about NZD 26,670. In scenario 2 it is NZD 20,000 for the on-campus year, so about NZD 6,670 less has to sit in your account (our calculation at INZ rates).
First-stage tuition. The first semester with NIU costs USD 2,499. The ICL on-campus stage is costed individually, so an adviser will calculate the exact difference against studying the whole programme on campus at the same provider. For scale, a 180-credit taught master's at Lincoln University costs NZD 57,000–63,000 for the programme (Lincoln, 2026), an average of NZD 19,000–21,000 per 60 credits (our proportional calculation). Those are another provider's prices and show only the order of magnitude, not ICL's price.
What else an online start changes
- Income at home. During the online semester you can keep working in your current job without visa limits; in New Zealand the limit during study is 25 hours a week (INZ).
- Time for the visa. You collect the visa documents while already studying: the ICL offer, IELTS, NZD 20,000 in your account with 3 months of statements, the X-ray. INZ decides 80% of applications within 8 weeks (INZ).
- IELTS. For the MBI it is needed for the ICL stage (6.5, no band below 6.0), not for the NIU stage, so you can start without waiting for the certificate.
- Family. Your family moves for the on-campus stage, not before; see Studying with your family.
What an online start does not change
- Eligibility for a post-study work visa after a master's. It requires at least 30 weeks of on-campus study in New Zealand within the master's programme itself (INZ). The year at ICL is designed to meet that; the online semester simply does not count towards the 30 weeks. If INZ requirements are met, an MBI graduate can apply for a 3-year visa.
- The degree. Graduates receive an NIU certificate and a Master degree in Business Informatics from ICL.
And for a bachelor's
The Bachelor of Business Information Systems has a longer online stage: the first academic year (180 of 360 credits, USD 7,500). The New Zealand living-cost saving is correspondingly larger: at the visa minimum, NZD 20,000 for a year that you do not have to show or spend in New Zealand. There is one important caveat. After a bachelor's, the post-study work visa lasts as long as your study for the qualification (INZ), so for a programme with an online year the visa length depends on the on-campus part and needs calculating before you enrol. See Post-study work visa.
Which scenario to choose
- Fully online if you only need the degree and not a move. It is the cheapest, but with no visa, no work in New Zealand and no post-study work visa.
- Online start with an on-campus finish if New Zealand is the goal but you want lower costs and risk in the first stage, to keep your job for now and to prepare the visa calmly.
- Fully on campus if living in the country from day one matters and you already have a budget for the whole time in New Zealand.
The Programs and courses catalogue shows what each programme means for your visa. For example, the Master of Management — ICL and Master of Information Technology — AIS are on campus from the first day.
Sources
All links checked on 30 September 2026.
- 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 — Post-study work visa eligibility extended from 16 November 2026 (10.09.2026): https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/news-centre/post-study-work-visa-eligibility-extended-from-16-november-2026/
- INZ — Partner of a Student Work Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/partner-of-a-student-work-visa/
- INZ — Fee Paying Student Visa: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/visas/fee-paying-student-visa/
- Tenancy Services (MBIE) — Market rent, Auckland Central: https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/rent-bond-and-bills/market-rent/?location=Auckland+Central
- Education New Zealand — Cost of living: https://www.studywithnewzealand.govt.nz/en/plan-your-studies/cost-of-living
- Auckland Transport — Bus and train fares: https://at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry/fares-and-discounts/bus-and-train-fares
- Lincoln University — International fees 2026: https://www.lincoln.ac.nz/study/fees/international-fees/