Canada vs New Zealand: Which is Best for Indian Students?

When travelling on a boat to study abroad, where to stay and which country to pick is the most important element. Although some of the top choices include the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Germany and Canada, research destinations such as Ireland, Sweden, New Zealand, France and Italy are also often selected to continue your studies abroad. There are several advantages on offer that can be used, particularly for nations such as Canada and New Zealand. We intend to offer you a well-detailed showdown between Canada and New Zealand through this article, contrasting them with some important characteristics that you need to remember when preparing to seek higher education abroad.

Read: Student Life in New Zealand

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Cost of Studying in Canada vs New Zealand

The cost of education and living is the primary factor when it comes to deciding on a country for studying abroad. For any country, majorly the tuition fee of a program depends on the level of the course, the city and the chosen university.

• To put the cost of studying in Canada vs New Zealand, a usual bachelor’s degree in New Zealand would cost you around 22,000-32,000 NZD (9.9 Lakhs, -14.4 Lakhs INR approx.) and in Canada, it varies from 10,000-30,000 CAD (5.4 Lakhs -16.2 Lakhs INR approx.).
• Moreover, a master’s course ranges from CAD 15,000-55,000 (8.1 Lakhs -29.8 Lakhs INR approx.) in Canada and the cost of studying In New Zealand for a postgraduate degree comes to around NZD 26,000-37,000 (11.7 Lakhs-16.6 Lakhs INR approx).
• On the other hand, the cost of living would vary according to the city or state you choose in these countries. But on an average basis, the cost of living in Canada can be estimated at around 10,000-12,000 CAD (5.3 Lakhs 6.4 Lakhs INR) per year while that for New Zealand can come approximately at 20,000 to 25,000 NZD (9 Lakhs-11.2 Lakhs INR) per year.

Note: The above-mentioned expenses are only average costs as they might differ as per the course, university as well as the city you have chosen.

Admission Intakes 2023

Another key basis of comparison between Canada vs New Zealand is the admission intake when generally universities are open for application by international students. To study in New Zealand, the application intake works in two cycles in January and July generally for the semesters of July to November and February to June. On the other hand, the intakes in Canada depend upon three cycles, namely, spring, fall and winter which keep the admission process of the Canadian universities rolling throughout the year. The winter intake in Canada mainly commences in January (for those who miss September/fall intake, spring intakes kickstart in May while the primary intake happens in Fall, i.e. September. Thus, the flexibility for sending applications weighs more in the favour of those wanting to study in Canada as compared to New Zealand which is quite fixed in terms of admission cycles.

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Jobs & Work Permit

While both Canada and New Zealand allow their international students to pursue work opportunities for 20 hours a week alongside their education, the criteria for getting a work permit once you have concluded your program are different. Another crucial factor to add in Canada vs New Zealand debate, the post-study work permit in Canada mainly depends upon the duration of the program which must be more than 8 months. For those pursuing a two-year course in Canada, the duration for which you can issue a post-study work permit is more than two years, then you can obtain a three-year post-study work permit. On the other hand, New Zealand offers a post-study work permit for 1 to 3 years given that the student has completed a degree qualification such as Level 7 (one-year graduate diploma program), Level 4-6 (certificate/diploma), etc. which are specified under ‘New Zealand Immigration Skilled Migrant Category.’

Click here to explore Job Opportunities in New Zealand!

Eligibility Requirements

When it comes to the entry requirements for international students in both Canada vs New Zealand are quite similar and can relatively differ as per the program you have chosen. To put it simply, the key requirements range from popular language proficiency scores such as IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge Board, MELAB, and PTE as well as GMAT, GRE and SAT exam in readily accepted in both the universities in Canada and New Zealand. On the other hand, since Canada is quite a sought-after study destination, the competition for admission to New Zealand universities is comparatively moderate. 

Here are our exclusive guides to Study in Canada without IELTS and Study in New Zealand without IELTS!

Scholarships in Canada vs New Zealand

A plethora of range of scholarships and funding is open to Indian students even with the lower cost of studying to help students avail the best financial schemes to study abroad. Moving further in our comparison between Canada vs New Zealand, let’s take a look at the major scholarships offered by these choicest study destinations:

Scholarships in Canada

1. York University International Student Scholarships
2. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program at University of Toronto 
3. University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship
4. University of British Columbia Scholarships for International Students
5. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
6. University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships

Scholarships in New Zealand

Students who plan to pursue an education in New Zealand are qualified for a wide variety of funding from the New Zealand government, academic facilities, international companies and government sources of revenue and financial aid. This scholarship schemes seek to promote and unveil New Zealand’s outstanding educational systems to the rest of the planet and retain the right researchers from abroad to talk about their experiences. Here are some of the top scholarships in New Zealand:

1. New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships
2. New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS)
3. New Zealand Excellence Awards
4. NZ-GRADS New Zealand Global Research Alliance Doctoral Scholarship
5. SEG Scholarship
6. BayerBoost Environmental Scholarship Scheme
7. The University of Canterbury’s College of Engineering Scholarship
8. Victoria Master’s Scholarship
9. Lincoln University Academic Scholarships
10. A C Rayner Memorial Scholarship
11. The Eamon Molloy Memorial Scholarship
12. University of Waikato Excellence Scholarship for Asia
13. New Zealand International Undergraduate Fees Scholarship

Getting Student Visa in Canada vs New Zealand

Understanding the student visa essentials of Canada vs New Zealand can also act as a pivotal basis for comparison:

Canada
The process of getting a Canada Visa for Indian Students has been made seamless with the introduction of the Student Direct Stream and one more feature of the student visa application for this country is that it can be done both online and offline.

• You will have to register for a postgraduate student visa within 90 days of the end of your education. 
• The method of applying for a visa to Canada includes a mandatory medical examination for Indian applicants. 
• Spouses may also work full time whether they continue for a year or longer. 
• The cost of applying for this visa is $150 CAD. 
• You can’t work more than 20 hours a week. During breaks, vacations and summer classes, students can work up to 40 hours each week.

New Zealand
Coming to the student visa process for New Zealand, is mainly designed as an online one and the type of study visa also depends on the program one is opting for. In simple terms, one can apply for a student visa in New Zealand for a full-time program (longer than the duration of 3 months), a visitor visa for a short study course(s) that can be pursued for three months in total while a pathway student visa is for those wanting to opt for more than course for up to five years with multiple educational institutions.

• The New Zealand student visa would cost you INR 15K (approximately). 
• The average time by the New Zealand High Commission for the visa process is between 8 and 12 weeks depending on the context of the applicant. Students must also obtain a visa at least 3 months prior to the beginning of their study. 
• As a foreign student, you must finish your course only within the minimum length of the course stated in the confirmation letter. If you do not have a job offer yet you can apply for a Post-Study Work Visa. Visas issued are valid for up to 12 months and begin to work in a seasonal job whilst you are searching for a job in your profession. 
• In most cases, the student’s partner and children may be given a visit visa for much the same time of time as their partner or guardians. Partners of a work visa candidate will work in NZ on a full-time basis. However, students who are relying on visitor visas do not have a right to reside or work.

Must Read: Life in Canada For Indians

Education System in Canada vs New Zealand

When it comes to how these two countries are renowned for imparting quality education, the apparatus designed by their governments have been appreciated worldwide. While the Canada education system is managed provincially, New Zealand Education System operates on rather state-funded or privately financed educational institutions. Further, the public education system of Kiwis also strives to be open-minded with a larger emphasis on practical learning. The country is home to many polytechnic institutions as compared to Canada as the focus is more on training rather than theoretical learning. It is important to note that both the countries have prominently featured in the US News rankings for Education 2019 with Canada soaring ahead at 3rd and New Zealand at 14th owing to their governments’ heavy investment in bettering their academic systems. 

Top Universities in Canada vs New Zealand

Coming to another criterion for the showdown between Canada vs New Zealand to map the top universities ranked globally as per the US News and World Report Ranking 2022, Canada has comparatively more of its institutions on the list and has evidently outshined with top MBA colleges in Canada, universities in Canada for MS, etc. Let us have a look at some famous academic institutions in these two countries that are internationally renowned:

Top Universities in Canada	Top Universities in New Zealand
The University of British Columbia University of Toronto McGill University University of Waterloo University of Montreal University of Ottawa York University University of Victoria Dalhousie University Carleton University	University of Auckland  University of Otago  Auckland University of Technology  University of Canterbury Lincoln University  Massey University  Victoria University of Wellington  University of Waikato

To conclude the study abroad showdown between Canada vs New Zealand, it can be said that both these countries are among the leading education providers across the globe with enticing features, affordable studying and living costs as well as a warm and friendly environment for international students. Having that said, it also depends largely on the program you want to study as well as individual preferences to pinpoint a final choice. Reach out to our Leverage Edu experts who can guide you in making the right decision of finding a suitable program as well as the university that fits your interests, preferences and aspirations thus making sure that you take an informed step towards actualising your dream career!