International

Code of Pastoral Care for international students

Education providers must sign up to the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016 to be allowed to enrol international students.

The Code explained

When international students come to New Zealand to study, education providers must ensure that students are well informed, safe and properly cared for.

In New Zealand we call this ‘pastoral care’. Students are entitled to be treated fairly, at all ages and at all levels of education.

To support this, the New Zealand government has developed the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016 (the Code).

The Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016

Providers can only enrol international students if they have signed the international Code. You can search for these providers here:

Search education organisations

Find out how to apply to become a signatory to the Code of Practice

NZQA is the Code administrator and monitors the quality of international student care and support under the international Code across all levels of the education sector, from schools to universities.

How to get a copy of the Code

You can download the Code of Practice in:

View the Code of Practice

If you want to know more about the Code, email NZQA at code.enquiries@nzqa.govt.nz.

If something goes wrong

Students should talk to their tertiary education provider first if they feel their needs are not being met or they want to make a complaint.

They can contact us if they are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint.

Student complaints about an education provider