Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice

The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code) supports the wellbeing of tertiary and international learners enrolled with New Zealand education providers.

It sets out the requirements that education providers must meet for the wellbeing and safety of their learners.

Information on Covid-19

The Ministry of Education (MoE) releases bulletins as a central channel for communicating key Covid-19 information:

Find bulletins for schools and tertiary providers

The Ministry of Health gives information and guidance on Covid-19, including locations of interest and self-isolation.

Get information and guidance on Covid-19 from the Ministry of Health website

The Unite Against COVID-19 website contains information about vaccination requirements for education providers (including student accommodation) at different traffic lights under the COVID-19 Protection Framework.

See the Unite Against COVID-19 website

Please check these websites for the latest information and advice.   

For any questions, concerns or advice and support when responding to a critical incident, please contact the Code team via 0800 697 296 (and ask to be put through to the Code team) or by email.

Email the Code team

When is the next Code attestation due date?

We have taken a tailored approach for Code attestation due dates for each sub-sector, based on provider feedback. The upcoming Code attestation due dates are as follows:

Sub-sector Attestation due date
Wānanga 1 November 2023
Private Training Establishments 1 November 2023
Code Signatory Schools 1 December 2023
Te Pūkenga 31 May 2023
Universities Managed through a delegation to Universities New Zealand

Find out more about the self-review and attestation requirements

Who does the Code apply to?

The Code applies to education providers (registered schools, registered private training establishments, Te Pūkenga, universities, wānanga) who: 

  • enrol international students,
  • enrol domestic tertiary students, and/or
  • enrol (with a tertiary provider) industry trainees or apprentices. 

An education provider must be an approved signatory to the Code before enrolling any international students.

Apply to become a signatory

If an education provider was an approved signatory to the international Code (PDF, 925KB), they do not need to apply again to become a signatory to the Code.

How do I get a copy of the Code?

You can download the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021:

Download the Code in English (PDF, 925KB)

Download the Code in Te Reo Māori (PDF, 939KB).

Information for learners

Learners can use the following links for more information about the Code:

Know the Code - tertiary learners

Know the Code - international school learners

Know the Code - learner videos  

Complaints about provider's compliance with the Code 

Code summaries for school learners

We have translated summaries of the Code for international school learners and their families.

You can share these summaries with prospective and current learners, and educational agents.

Chinese (PDF, 389KB)

English (PDF, 301KB)

German (PDF, 305KB)

Hindi (PDF, 327KB)

Japanese (PDF, 390KB)

Korean (PDF, 339KB)

Samoan (PDF, 297KB)

Spanish (PDF, 268KB)

Te Reo Māori (PDF, 297KB)

Thai (PDF, 296KB)

Tongan (PDF, 297KB)

Vietnamese (PDF, 318KB)

Code summaries for tertiary learners

We have translated summaries of the Code for international tertiary learners and their families.

You can share these summaries with prospective and current learners, and educational agents.

Chinese (PDF, 368KB)

English (PDF, 275KB)

German (PDF, 279KB)

Hindi (PDF, 309KB)

Japanese (PDF, 377KB)

Korean (PDF, 318KB)

Samoan (PDF, 271KB) 

Spanish (PDF, 277KB)

Te Reo Māori (PDF, 271KB)

Thai (PDF, 307KB)

Tongan (PDF, 272KB)

Vietnamese (PDF, 295KB)

Information for providers

Providers can use the following links for more information about the Code and related requirements:

Information for providers and signatories

Self-review and attestation

Becoming a signatory

Information about our role

NZQA is the Code Administrator. This means that we are responsible for monitoring and supporting providers to give effect to the Code.

Learn more about NZQA's role and how we work with providers and learners 

Further information

Email the Code team at NZQA if you have any questions or concerns

We release Code News regularly. 

Join our mailing list by filling in this form

 
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