Study in New Zealand: Timeline for February 2023 Intake

Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. A powerful quote, which is applicable to all who aspire to not only study in New Zealand but anywhere in the world. One of the key factors to ensure successful admission to a college or university during any of the New Zealand intakes is your preparation for the admissions to universities and meeting the prerequisites for the same.

The country boasts highly-regarded universities, high teaching standards, good quality of life, vibrant cities, and diverse communities, among a lot of other things. In this article, we shall discuss the timeline for the February intake to study in New Zealand in any given academic year. There are many pre-requisite criteria that you need to satisfy before applying to a college or university in New Zealand.

Let’s look into the timeline for the February 2023 intake in New Zealand and the steps you need to follow in order to successfully apply and enrol in the college and university of your choice.

Popular Intakes in New Zealand

Similar to the admission cycles in other popular study abroad destinations, there are two New Zealand intakes wherein the country's top universities accept applications from international students. In New Zealand, universities conduct admissions for courses starting in the months of January/February and July. Therefore, the popular admission intakes in New Zealand among international students are:

• July Intake: The most popular among international students with the largest variety of course offerings from top universities in New Zealand. The July Intake in New Zealand is perfect for those looking to start their higher studies right after completing their previous academic programme.
• January/February Intake: Out of the two New Zealand intakes, the January/February intake is equally popular among international students. However, the variety of course offerings across universities in New Zealand will be limited in comparison to the July intake. The January/February intakes in New Zealand are best for those who do not wish to waste a lot of time, already possess all the information and documents required for admissions and/or missed their opportunity during the July intake.

Note: The admission intakes in New Zealand are usually dictated by the universities in the country. Therefore, if you are interested in starting your courses during the January/February Intakes in New Zealand or the July Intakes, then you will have to follow the individual admission processes and guidelines set by the universities of your choice.

Looking to study in New Zealand this year? Register with us and get in touch with experienced study abroad counsellors who can help you enrol in your dream university abroad!

Study in New Zealand: Timeline for February Intake 2023

The timeline for New Zealand intakes usually takes up to anywhere between 6 months to one year of preparation, including completing the application processes. Universities in New Zealand commonly offer admissions during February, while, there are a few universities that offer multiple intake options to students. In this article, we shall discuss the timeline for February intakes in New Zealand.

Step by Step Admission Timeline for February Intakes in New Zealand

The step by step application timeline to study in New Zealand as an international student is given below:

There are many prerequisites that you as an applicant will be required to complete before you send in your application to your desired university in New Zealand. Some of these include gathering all the necessary documents, attempting standardised tests and English Proficiency Tests, and other essential factors necessary to successfully enrolling during the different New Zealand intakes.

April to September 2022: Shortlist Universities

• The first step in your preparation must include shortlisting the universities that attract you the most. Refer to the popular universities in New Zealand, or, register with us and connect with experienced study abroad counsellors who can help you enrol in your dream university abroad.

• Once you have listed down all possible colleges and universities offering courses in the February intakes in New Zealand, you must research and study the student amenities and post-study work opportunities made available by the college or university.

• One of the factors you should consider when shortlisting a university is to check out the financial aid and scholarships offered by New Zealand universities to international students.

Note: Take your time in shortlisting and deciding on the colleges and universities in New Zealand that you like. Keep in mind that you should shortlist a few universities as backups in case your applications are rejected by one. Researching thoroughly about a college or university will help you be better equipped to tackle the challenges you can face during the admission process for the February intakes in New Zealand.

June to November 2022: Attempt Standardised Tests

• Most universities will require you to present scorecards or scores you obtained in one of the globally accepted standardised tests such as GRE, GMAT, IELTS, SAT, TOEFL, etc.

• English Proficiency Tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, Duolingo, etc. are required by most universities in New Zealand for all international students for whom English is not their first language. Students must attempt any one of the English Proficiency Tests in order for their applications to be considered.

• Standardised tests such as SATs can be optional, whereas, GRE or GMAT may be compulsory for postgraduate courses being offered during the different admission intakes in New Zealand.

• Before attempting any standardised tests, research and study the admission requirements of each university in New Zealand where you wish to enrol. Apply and attempt those particular tests that are accepted and required by the university of your choice.

Note: Standardised tests offer insight on important parameters of an individual, that universities can use to shortlist candidates for admission to any particular programme during the February intakes in New Zealand. Therefore, attempting one will definitely increase your chances of grabbing a seat in one of the prestigious universities in the country.

Did you know the Pros and Cons of taking the standardised tests? If you are willing to study abroad with a good exam score, refer to our exam prep services for GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, and ACT.

September to November 2022: Fill Out the Application Forms

• After attempting all the tests, you can begin filling out the application forms. All universities release their application forms for the February intakes in New Zealand at least 3 months before the commencement of the next session.

• As an international applicant, you will be required to meet certain additional criteria, which can be time-consuming, in terms of the processes and steps to complete and the time needed to receive the appropriate documents as well.

• Fill out the application forms for the universities you shortlisted earlier on and cross-check whether you meet all the requirements, particularly to begin courses during the February intake in New Zealand.

• In most cases, you will be required to submit recommendation letters, essays and/or a Statement of Purpose along with your application form to the respective universities in New Zealand. You must keep these documents prepared at least a month before the application deadline, in case of any emergencies.

• Most Importantly, apply before the deadline and do not wait for the last second to complete and submit your application forms.

Note: Keep all the needed documents at hand during the application process, as the information you enter in the application must match the documents you will present as proof. It is advisable to read the admission policies of each university before applying to any university for the February intakes in New Zealand.

November to December 2022: Interviews and Acceptance

• After submitting your application forms, the respective New Zealand universities will connect with you to complete the next steps in the admission process, depending on whether they accept your application or not.

• You must not waste time in this process. Be alert and reply to the appropriate university emails as quickly as possible and take part in the next steps in the admission process for the February intakes in New Zealand.

• After taking part in the specified admission processes, which most likely would include a Personal or a Video Interview, the respective university may send out an offer letter to you, again depending on whether they are satisfied with your application and interview.

• You will be required to confirm your admission offer letter as quickly as possible or before the deadline. However, think about your decision and reply to the offer letter.

• As an acceptance of the offer, you will be asked to pay a non-refundable deposit within the given deadline.

Note: It is important that you take the time to decide on your answer to an offer letter from any one of the universities in New Zealand. Therefore, look into all the pros and cons of pursuing higher studies in any given institute or university. However, make the decision and pay the defined amount before the deadline or your offer letter will stand cancelled for the February intake in New Zealand.

December 2022 to January 2023: Prepare your Travel Documents and Financial Aid

• After accepting the offer, be quick and research the scholarship offers available to you as an international student. Choose the suitable option and apply, if necessary.

• More importantly, apply for the appropriate New Zealand student visa as soon as you accept the offer letter. Approval of and waiting for the visas may take time, therefore, complete the visa documentation processes as soon as possible.

• Gather all your documents, including your visas, and student and admission documents. You may also be required to arrange your own health insurance or apply for one through the university.

Note: Take this time to prepare for everything you might need legally to show that you will spend time in the country for higher education purposes. Documentation, visas and passports are highly important and you must carry the same when you arrive in the country during any one of the New Zealand intakes.

Once all the steps have been completed and all that is left is to book the flight and start your journey in the international education system. Make sure you have the necessary documents and all other necessities before you leave for your university.

Study in New Zealand: Popular Universities for International Students

If you are interested to study in New Zealand, then check out this list of popular universities offering admissions during any one of the popular New Zealand intakes for international students. You can also check out the different disciplines available:

These are some of the popular higher education institutions in New Zealand where you can apply and pursue your dream undergraduate or postgraduate programme. Go through our list of universities and colleges in New Zealand and choose the most suitable one.

Register with us now and connect with highly experienced study abroad counsellors who have helped thousands enrol in their dream universities and can help you enrol in yours! If you wish to clear out your doubts regarding international education and/or admissions, then write to us at abroad@collegedekho.com.