Most Demanding Courses to Pursue in New Zealand in 2025

New Zealand is one of the top study-abroad admissions as it is known for providing a great standard of living and quality-driven education. Apart from having various beautiful paces and wonders, it is also home to various top-ranked global universities. Around 8 universities in New Zealand made it into the list of top 500 world universities as per QS Rankings 2023. Universities in New Zealand offer various courses to satisfy the needs of students with different interest areas and offer vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Are you also interested in going to New Zealand to pursue higher studies and want to know the best courses in New Zealand? If the answer is yes, then this blog will surely help you!

Why Study in New Zealand?

There are numerous reasons which make New Zealand a top choice among international students for pursuing their higher studies. Some of them are listed below: 

1. Safe and friendly environment – New Zealand has low crime rates which makes this a safe place to live. In addition to this, people here are warm and friendly which helps students to feel included and not as an outsider. New Zealand universities are bound by the code of conduct formulated by the government and therefore universities look well after the students. 
2. Economical Tuition and Living Expenses – As compared to countries like the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, tuition fees and living expenses in New Zealand are lower. In order to provide financial aid to international students there are various scholarships available provided by universities and the government.
3. Quality-Driven Education – Public Universities in New Zealand have strict quality control over education. The universities in New Zealand hold a global reputation for having excellent teaching methods, highly qualified experienced teachers and well-equipped labs. 
4. Variety of Courses – To cater to the different interest areas of the students, universities in New Zealand offer a variety of courses which lay a lot of emphasis on innovation. Some of the best courses in New Zealand are related to fields such as astronomy, agriculture, healthcare, engineering, geology, physics, computer science, etc. 
5. Option of Working while Studying – International students get the option of working around 20 hr per week during the course and full-time during the vacation in New Zealand. The eligibility criteria to avail of the option of working while studying requires the students to be a part of a full-time course that has 120 credits. Students enrolled in Master’s and PhD programs are allowed to work full-time.

Also Read: Requirements to Study in New Zealand 

Top Universities in New Zealand 

Universities in New Zealand are quite popular globally as they are known for providing quality-driven courses that lay emphasis on research and development. In QS Rankings 2023, as many as 8 universities in New Zealand made their place in the top 500 universities in the world. The table below represents the universities that made their place in prestigious QS Rankings. 

University Name	QS Rankings 2023	Acceptance Rate
University of Auckland	87	45%
University of Otago	217	58%
Victoria University of Wellington	275	64%
University of Canterbury	284	50%
Massey University	292	65%
Lincoln University	368	65%
University of Waikato	331	60-70%
Auckland University of Technology	486	50%

Also Read: Cheapest Universities in New Zealand 

Best Courses in New Zealand 

There are various courses offered by universities in New Zealand at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels from which a student can choose according to their preference. Following are some of the best courses in New Zealand, the Universities offering them, and their eligibility criteria. 

Engineering 

For quite some time Engineering has been a top choice among students and the demand for it is only increasing as it opens up doors for a lot of career opportunities. There are various specialisations in the field of engineering among which software engineering is the most preferred one among students as it offers the prospect of a lucrative salary. Other popular specializations in engineering entail earthquake engineering, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, etc. 

Universities in New Zealand are popular among students due to their low fees and state-of-the-art training facilities. The class size in New Zealand universities for engineering courses is quite small as it helps in better learning retention and developing a bond between students and teachers. Taking up the example of the University of Canterbury, the university ensures the employment of students it has a team that helps students with careers and internships. It majorly aids students in identifying their interest areas, strengths, skills and knowledge all of which play an important role in selecting a job that will be suitable for them. The table below shows the top universities that offer Engineering courses in New Zealand, their rankings and duration. 

University Name	World University Rankings	Duration
University of Canterbury	284	2 years
University of Waikato	331	1.5 years
Lincoln University	368	2 years
University of Auckland	87	1 – 1.5 years

Eligibility Criteria: The candidate should have completed their Bachelor’s degree with at least a B grade or something equivalent. Also, the student is required to have taken an English proficiency standardized test like IELTS/ TOEFL/PTE.

Also Read: Top IT Courses in New Zealand 

PG Diploma in Agricultural Science 

This is among the best courses in New Zealand as it educates students about detailed knowledge of agriculture and at the same time makes them aware of the changes that are happening in this field. Since agriculture is an important part of a nation’s economy, therefore, this course is a popular choice among students. Students who take this course can get employment opportunities in areas like dairy and sheep farming, marketing and technology transfer, services industry, etc. The table below represents some of the top universities in New Zealand that offer this course: 

University Name	World University Rankings	Duration
LincoIn University	368	1 year
University of Otago	217	1 year
Massey University	292	1 year

Eligibility Criteria – The student should have completed their Bachelor’s with at least B Grade or equivalent. In addition to this, the student should have taken an English proficiency standardized test like IELTS/ PTE/ TOEFL.  

Must Read: Short Courses in New Zealand 

Master of Tourism 

This course is an interdisciplinary program that gives the opportunity for independent research to students. This course lays emphasis on educating students about the contemporary issues that are emerging in the field of tourism and at the same time remain firmly rooted in the core philosophy of this subject. The major reason why this is among the best courses in New Zealand is the fact that universities in New Zealand offer a perfect balance of theoretical and practical knowledge. By taking up this course students are able to develop critical thinking and a better understanding of the tourism sector. The table below represents some of the top universities in New Zealand that offer this course: 

University Name	World University Rankings	Duration
Auckland University of Technology	486	1.5 years
University of Otago	217	1 year
LincoIn University	368	1.5 years

Eligibility Criteria – The student should have completed their bachelor’s degree and have to take an entrance examination if their choice of university conducts one for the admission process.  In addition to this, the student should have taken an English proficiency standardized test like IELTS/ PTE/ TOEFL.  

Master of Business Administration 

Taking up an MBA can surely give an edge to a person’s career and open up a lot of opportunities as it helps a student in getting better with their thinking and decision-making abilities. New  Zealand’s University of Canterbury is popular globally for its high-quality MBA program as it is accredited by the London Based Association of MBA which signifies that the university has adopted high teaching standards. Apart from the University of Canterbury, there are other universities in New Zealand as well that offer quality-driven MBA programs some of which are mentioned below in the table: 

University Name	World University Rankings	Duration	Work Experience
University of Canterbury	284	1.4 years	3 years
University of Auckland	87	1.5 years	5 years
University of Otago	217	1.3 years	3 years

Eligibility Criteria – Just like any other postgraduate-level program, a bachelor’s degree is the basic requirement for an MBA program. The student should have taken an English proficiency standardised test like – IELTS/PTE/TOEFL. Unlike other postgraduate programs, MBA programs require the student to have prior work experience which is given a lot of importance at the time of the application. The minimum requirement of work experience ranges between 3-5 years which may include leadership, managerial or professional roles. 

Other Excellent In-Demand Courses to Pursue In New Zealand 

These are some excellent in-demand courses that you can take up.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)- AI courses like data science, software engineering, and machine learning can present excellent job opportunities.
• Hotel Management- Hotel Management courses that provide on-the-job training are excellent for international exposure, and work opportunities.
• Accounting- Programs like  Master of Professional Accounting, and  BCom in Accounting are popular.
• Sports Management- Sports marketing, financial management etc are useful.
• IT and Computer Science- Globally, courses like Bachelor of Computer Science provide several jobs.

Also Read: Highest Paying Jobs in New Zealand 

Eligibility Criteria to Study in New Zealand

The following are the basic eligibility criteria for undergraduate and postgraduate courses:

• Completed 10+2 which includes elementary and secondary education.
• Universities in New Zealand usually accept an overall average of 75% and a minimum of 60% in English. 
• The student must have scored the minimum IELTS/PTE scores.
• Mathematics in secondary education is a must for science-related courses. 
• For a postgraduate program, a student should have a Bachelor’s degree and in the case of an MBA, the student needs to have prior work experience. 

Documents Required

Following are the general documents that a candidate needs to submit in order to enrol in a course in New Zealand: 

1. Class 10th Marksheet and Passing Certificate 
2. Class 12th Marksheet and Passing Certificate
3. Bachelor’s Marksheet
4. Provisional Certificate
5. Work experience certificates
6. CV/Resume
7. GMAT/GRE scores
8. IELTS/PTE/TOEFL scores
9. Letter of Recommendation
10. Statement of Purpose
11. Certificates for extracurricular activities 

Tips to Choose the Best Course for Study in New Zealand

These are some useful tips to study in New Zealand.

• Choose a course because you want to study it, or because of your career aspirations. Never select a course just because others are taking it up.
• Next, research the job market, and the demand for specific skills related to the job you want to undertake in the future.
• Ensure that the course aligns with your goals. Moreover, the course must be recognised by the relevant authorities.
• Check the syllabus, placement, and internship opportunities available to those who undertake the selected course.
• Consider course flexibility. For example, transfer of credits. 
• Ensure that the university offers international student support
• Understand the immigration policies of New Zealand 
• Once, you have joined the university ensure that you interact with other students. Also, take part in extracurricular activities.

FAQs 

Are you also looking for opportunities to study abroad? If the answer is yes, the experts at Leverage Edu can make your journey easier as they will be guiding you throughout the process. To take help from the experts simply register on our website or call us at 1800-572-000.