[nobawdy]

I am wanting to move to NZ for my bachelor's and up after I get my Associates.

What would the cost of living be there as an international student? After I am done with community college I may have as much as $5k saved up. I will be applying for financial aid and scholarships, of course.

[stellachiara]

I am wanting to move to NZ for my bachelor's and up after I get my Associates.

What would the cost of living be there as an international student? After I am done with community college I may have as much as $5k saved up. I will be applying for financial aid and scholarships, of course.

Hello, fellow international student :) I would recommend you start exploring the websites of the universities you might be interested in going to. They all have a cost calculator or some kind of estimate of expenses. It varies slightly depending on where in the country you live. But the info is definitely there on the websites -- look under International Students --> Fees and Costs. Good luck!

[dilanium]

The tuition costs depend on what you want to study. I pay $42,000 NZD/year for my course, but I think it's one of the most expensive.

They say you need $10,000NZD/year to live on, but that depends on your area and lifestyle. I'm sure people can survive on that, but I sure can't, but then I have a more established lifestyle and live with my husband.

Your profile doesn't say where you are from, but if you are from the US you can get US student loans for the major schools. I know Massey University's international office is very experienced dealing with US student loans. I assume most of the other major universities would know how to deal with them as well.

What are you thinking of studying?

[Waters9944]

$42,000 NZD/year ???????????? :eek:

[dilanium]

Yup, but it's about the same (or less) than I would pay at a US school. ;)

(I'm studying to be a Veterinarian).

[Waters9944]

Aaaahhh...medical school....there ya go

[nobawdy]

They say you need $10,000NZD/year to live on, but that depends on your area and lifestyle. I'm sure people can survive on that, but I sure can't, but then I have a more established lifestyle and live with my husband.
That means only $5,000 USD. That sounds like too little.


Your profile doesn't say where you are from, but if you are from the US you can get US student loans for the major schools. I know Massey University's international office is very experienced dealing with US student loans. I assume most of the other major universities would know how to deal with them as well.
I am currently living in the US, yes.

Is there anything I can do now to help me get ahead? I know that even if I take summer classes at my junior college, it will be at least 1.5 years before I leave


What are you thinking of studying?
I want to get at least a B.S. in Computer Science. I decided to go to University of Otago, and their tuition (in Computer Science) for international students is $20,000 NZD/year

The most I'm worried about is if I can't get a job there. I was hoping that Otago would have some sort of work-study program there, but I have no idea.

[dilanium]

I would contact the university to see if they are used to dealing with US financial aid (which should also cover your living expenses) and also to see if they will take transfer credits from your institution, because otherwise you'll be wasting your time and money doing courses and getting a degree that won't help in the end.

And you should be able to find some part time job- heck one of my fellow vet classmates works at the gas station to help make ends meet.

[nobawdy]

I really have no choice but to go to a junior college, as my HS grades will not cut it.

But I will definitely contact them about that.

[nobawdy]

This will be a serious problem if I can't get scholarships there. What's with this?

http://www.otago.ac.nz/international/undergraduate/scholarships.html

[BkyMonster]

I certainly lived on less than 5k USD when I was a student. Being a student is fun! :wah That was a good 10 years ago though.
Thinking in conversion rate like that won't be helpful really. Yes right now it is about 5k US but it's still 10k NZD which gives you less than 1k per month average, but still reasonable for sharing a house and eating like a college student ;)

US financial aid (if accepted by foreign universities, don't know about that, contact the university for details) typically consists of a combination of loans and grants. Scholarships are generally applied for, so that notice may just be informing that they simply no longer have funding to be applied for by international students. Your other options for financial aid may still be available.

Have you considered other Universities? I know University of Auckland also has a good CS program. We looked at different universities when initially considering the move 5-6 years ago for me to go to graduate school and for OH to get his CS degree.
Otago wasn't high on our list for CS, though it was for graduate schooling opportunities for me. That was 5-6 years ago and didn't end up going that route so have no idea what the program is like really.

[dilanium]

That's not uncommon, whatever their reasoning may be.

[RJLink]

Does anyone know if international student rate tuition is subject to GST?

Also be aware that you might need to have health insurance. I was quoted NZ$290...for the whole year! I am still in shock over how affordable that is.

[dilanium]

I do not get GST charges on top of my tuition costs so I assume that if they do get taxed, it is included in what I was quoted. Insurance is also required. I pay about $460/year for it, but I do feel it was very affordable. I have probably saved more than my money back from last year's payment, but then I had to get new glasses.

But insurance, living costs, tuition, books, and travel expenses can all be paid for by US financial aid (Loans mainly but for most people that's the nature of going to school these days) for US citizens.

[nobawdy]

Travel, too?

[dilanium]

They covered my travel to and from NZ, however due to the system at my school (not sure about other schools) I didn't see that money until a month after I started attending classes.