[Carey]

Our basic plan is for me to get a place at University for the 1 yr graduate diploma in Early Childhood studies, apply for student visa, OH to get work permit on back of my visa,(as my study subject is on SSL) put kids in school, get job after qualifying, live happily ever after in NZ! BUT it seems that you can only apply for this extramural Uni course if you are ALREADY a NZ citizen or have PR! And the course isn't offered any other way.

We can't win; can't get PR without job offer, can't get job offer without extra study, can't study without PR! Anyone else managed this one? Seems so crazy, ECE is on SSL but no-one can get into it without the diploma and here I am happy to forgo a year's income to study but I can't!

Help!

[Oregonkiwi]

This does seem very odd, as Auckland University has many international students. Is it only the extramural course that you have to be resident for? Could you attend the Epsom campus as an international student?

[anna_c]

Do you particularly want to be in Auckland? I know Canterbury and Victoria do similar diplomas.

[jaycee]

I wonder if it's because you might have trouble getting a student visa for an extramural course. There's something in the NZIS manual about distance learning which implies they will only grant a visa for times when you actually have to attend the institution, for exams and such like. Just a guess.

As Anna said, are there other uni's you could try? I'm studying at Unitec at the moment - they do a Post Grad Diploma in Education, but not with the Early Years speciality.

[eternalkiwi]

As other posters have highlighted, International Students cannot study extramural courses as the institute can not provide (or ensure) adequate pastoral care is provided. This is an NZQA requirement which is monitored regularly during their audits.

There are wide range of education providers in most parts of NZ who provide ECE courses, so you may be able to find a campus near to where you will move to in NZ.

Shawn

[Carey]

Thanks for replies; am waiting for Immigration to reply also to double check. Looks like we won't be able to head to Nelson after all. Time to re-think the plan.