New Zealand’s Global Pathways initiative enables students to begin university study at home

Travelling to New Zealand on temporary visa visitors, including study visas, has been suspended since October 2020. However, a new partnership between Education New Zealand (ENZ), The Northern Consortium (NCUK), and all eight New Zealand universities have enabled international students to take foundational study programs at home.

New Zealand Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced this welcoming news at the international education peak bodies forum on 2 December 2020.

Minister of Education Chris Hipkins said, “This ground-breaking initiative gives students around the world more choice and flexibility when it comes to how and when they gain a high-quality New Zealand education.”

The partnership will enable international students to begin their New Zealand university qualification at one of the NCUK study centres worldwide.

NCUK is a consortium of universities offering foundation and graduate pathway programs through its global network of 81 accredited Study Centres in 30 countries, including India.

NCUK Chief Executive John Brewer said, “We are delighted to be partnering with the New Zealand government and New Zealand universities on this initiative, adding to our 30-plus-year track record in successfully placing more than 35,000 students in world-leading universities worldwide.”

Once the participating students carry out one of the qualified programs, they will be able to continue their studies either in New Zealand or online in 2022 or 2023. The intake for the pathways will start in March 2021.

Programs under Global Pathways

International Foundation Year

• It is a one year program on completion of which international students can enter an undergraduate degree program in New Zealand

International Year One

• The course enables international students to complete the first year of their undergraduate program locally, and guarantees access to the second year in New Zealand at the specified university.

Pre-Master’s Programme

• For a master’s degree in New Zealand

The Global Pathways Initiative is part of the New Zealand government's recovery plan to heal the education sector from the Covid-19 crisis and strengthen it for a sustainable future. Under this plan, the government will invest $10 million over the next three years towards educational product development and education delivery methods. Moreover, New Zealand universities are also strengthening the initiative by providing scholarships of $ 300,000 to students who will complete qualifying programs through an NCUK Center.

ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson said, “It’s the biggest university sector-international education collaboration to date, and it’s the first time that the Government has facilitated international students beginning their New Zealand study offshore.”

As per the recent research done by Navitas, New Zealand is among the more ‘safe and stable’ English speaking study destinations amid coronavirus. It is also the fact that the country has remained less open for foreigners to control the spread of the pandemic.

The pathways will help New Zealand prepare the cohort of international students. However, the students will still need to fulfil all the study visa requirements, for which they can take guidance from Pyramid eServices. Students can contact us on 92563-92563 or visit any of our nearest branches.