New Zealand student visas & graduate pathways
Already have a bachelor's degree and thinking about studying abroad? Explore New Zealand study options and the work visas that may follow — before you choose a course.
Explore My NZ Study OptionsEnquire from the Philippines or elsewhere overseas.
No documents needed to start the conversation.
Study first. Know what could come next.
Your qualification, the study you complete in New Zealand and your visa history all matter. Here are the distinctions worth understanding before you enrol.
An eligible Level 7 graduate diploma, completed full-time in NZ for its full duration, can open a Post-Study Work Visa option when you also hold a bachelor's degree from NZ or overseas.
Up to 1 year of post-study workLength depends on the time spent studying the graduate diploma in NZ. Full eligibility requirements apply.1
An eligible NZ master's can support a three-year Post-Study Work Visa after at least 30 weeks of full-time study in the master's itself. An eligible postgraduate diploma may support one year.
Different study. Different outcomes.Transferred credits do not replace the required study in the qualification your visa is based on.1
The Short-Term Graduate Work Visa is for eligible NZ Level 5–7 graduates who do not qualify for a Post-Study Work Visa, after at least 24 weeks of full-time study in NZ.
Up to 6 months to workIt has separate eligibility, funds and application-timing rules. It is not a direct work visa for overseas degree holders.2
Planning from overseas? Your first step is qualifying study in New Zealand on a student visa — an overseas degree alone does not open the graduate work visa. Post-study work eligibility is assessed separately after you have studied here, so it pays to choose your course with that in mind.
A serious plan, not just a visa search
You may have a degree, work experience and a clear reason to build on your education. What you need next is a realistic plan that connects your course choice, visa requirements and budget.
You do not need to have every answer before enquiring. A brief outline of your situation gives the conversation a useful starting point.
Your next steps
Use the enquiry form to outline your qualification, current country, study interests and preferred intake.
Course eligibility, funding, student-visa evidence and your immigration history should be considered before you commit.
First establish a genuine study plan. Check any later work-visa eligibility against the qualification and rules that apply.
A change of destination deserves a fresh assessment — not a promise that the same application will work elsewhere. Tell us about any Australian visa refusal. INZ requires disclosure and the refusal letter, or an explanation if it is unavailable.4
Questions before you take the next step
Yes, you can enquire while you are overseas. For someone who has not completed qualifying NZ study, this page is about planning that study and the student-visa stage first — not applying straight away for a graduate work visa.
No. Under the expanded graduate-diploma route from 16 November 2026, the bachelor's degree must be combined with the required Level 7 graduate-diploma study in NZ. Other requirements and your previous visa history also matter.1
Applications open on 16 November 2026. It requires eligible study already completed in New Zealand, among other conditions. It is separate from the Post-Study Work Visa and is not a substitute for the student visa needed for your course.2
No. Course admission, student visas, graduate work visas, employment and residence are separate matters. No job, visa approval or residence outcome is promised on this page.
A short summary is enough: current country, highest qualification, course interests, intended intake, funding readiness and any past visa refusal. Please specify NZ study / graduate pathways. Do not attach sensitive personal documents at this stage.
No. You can explain the subject or qualification you are considering. Before a student visa is granted you will need to satisfy the applicable offer-of-place, funding and other requirements. Any personalised advice, scope of work and professional fees should be agreed separately.3
Tell Visa Consult NZ about your qualifications and study goals. Start exploring your options before you commit to a course.
Explore My NZ Study OptionsStart with an enquiry. No documents needed at this stage.
New Zealand