Courses of 12 weeks or less - important information for visitors to New Zealand

Always choose an NZQA registered provider

The New Zealand Government and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) have policies and systems to protect the interests and welfare of visitors to New Zealand who enrol to study at registered private training establishments (PTEs).

Are you on a student visa?

If you are a visitor to New Zealand on a STUDENT visa (you may enrol on courses of 13 weeks or longer), there are three processes operated by NZQA that are designed to protect the interests of all students. These are:

1. Registration

This means you can have confidence that NZQA has checked important aspects of the PTE such as teaching facilities; teacher qualifications; and the protection of your fees should the PTE close while you are enrolled.

2. Course approval and accreditation

• Course approval is the official process which ensures that any course is structured so as to be educationally coherent and with proper learning objectives. (It may also be a course leading to a Diploma or Certificate on the National Qualifications Framework)
• Accreditation means that an organisation has shown it is capable of delivering an approved course or assess against standards on the National Qualifications Framework.

3. Quality audits

These are regular on-site checks undertaken by NZQA to make sure that the PTE is doing everything it is meant to do, and doing it right.

Are you on a visitors permit? A warning

If you are on a VISITORS permit (you may enrol on a course of 12 weeks or less) the above protections DO NOT automatically apply because essentially recreational courses of 12 weeks or less do not have to have to be run by a registered provider.

In choosing to enrol with an organisation not registered with NZQA you need to be aware that you:

• will be studying a course that does not have any form of official recognition
• may be limited in your learning with a lack of structured pathways to either employment or further education
• have no assurance that the teachers are experienced and qualified
• will not receive any sort of recognized qualification
• have no protection of your fees if the organisation fails.

What to remember when enrolling to study in New Zealand

Always choose a registered provider. Only registered private training establishments (PTEs) who have accreditation and/or approval from NZQA can legally offer you valid courses, which could lead to a recognised qualification.

Further information

Private tertiary education providers, fees and complaints - for information about what to look for in a PTE.

Find providers - use this search tool to check whether a provider is NZQA registered.

Page updated: 15 September 2004