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International Students
Planning your qualifications
The qualifications that you gain while you study in New Zealand are important for you, either for employment or in applying for further study. Some of you will be looking ahead for just one year - for others your choices will cover several years of study. If you are unsure of your pathway for further study, it is important that you keep your subject choices broad enough to keep your options open. Whatever your situation, it is important that you take the time to think carefully about your course of study.
There are several things that will affect your choices:
- the tertiary course you wish to study and the institution and country you wish to study in
- the type of employment you want and the employer you wish to work for
- the NQF/NCEA level you will study this year
- the number of years you will study at school in New Zealand
- your level of English language proficiency.
Your choice of tertiary course
This affects your subject choice in several ways:
| The issue | What you need to find out |
|---|---|
| The country you want to study in | What are the general requirements for university entrance? |
| The institution you want to study at | Their requirements for enrolment:
|
| The course you wish to take | Are there specific subjects you need to have in your qualification? Are there specific language requirements, eg IELTS, or TOEFL, and what level do you need to have achieved? |
Employment and the employer you wish to work for
| The issue | What you need to find out |
|---|---|
| Type of employment | The entry requirements for the job you want ? this may be a level or specific qualification and/or it may require certain subjects. |
| Employer | Some employers, for example the public service in some countries, require specific approved qualifications. |
Your level of study
This will be determined by the choices you have made so far and a number of other factors. The level at which you study each year will be based on your previous level of study and its equivalent level in New Zealand, your level of English language proficiency, and the timetabled subjects available.
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Print out and fill in the Pathway Table opposite. Start with the right-hand column and use the information you have collected on university and employment requirements. Then, using the options your school offers, work back to the left across the next columns until you reach the appropriate year of your study.
International and exchange students returning home with qualifications |
New Zealand students wishing to use their senior secondary qualifications overseas. |
The qualifications that you have gained while studying in New Zealand are important for you when you return home either for employment or for application for further study in your own or another country. It is important that you take the time to prepare for this.
It is a good idea to make sure that you:
- take all the important information you need with you
- complete all the necessary procedures
- know who to contact in New Zealand if you require any assistance with qualifications in the future.
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Use the Checklist opposite to help you organise everything.
Who to contact in New Zealand if you require any assistance with qualifications in the future
| Problem | Who can help you | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Your results haven't arrived | Your school or NZQA, as your contact address may not be accurate. | ||
| The information on your Result Notice that you received in January doesn't match with the results on the printouts from your school. | The Principal's Nominee* at your school or by logging onto the NZQA website. | ||
| You have lost your Record of Achievement |
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| You have lost your login password | On NZQA's Learner login page, click on Password Problems, fill in your NSN number and date of birth https://secure.nzqa.govt.nz/for-learners/records/forgot-password.do?nsn and a new password will be emailed to you. Or contact NZQA on +644 463 3000. | ||
| You have problems with your qualifications being understood or accepted | Contact:
Phone: +64 4 463 3000 |
*The Principal's Nominee is the teacher in charge of national qualifications at your school.
Last updated: 28 October 2009