Application process for international students
Step-by-step guide for international students applying to study at Waikato, including links to entry requirements, fees, application, and visa info.
Thank you for choosing to study at the University of Waikato. This section will guide you through the international student application process.
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Choose your programme of study
We offer more than 100 qualifications to choose from. Check out our available programmes.
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Check your eligibility
Before you apply, make sure that you meet our Academic and English entry requirements for international students.
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Check tuition fees
Get an estimated cost of your study at our international tuition fees page. Please note that your exact final tuition fee will depend on your choice of papers.
You also need to pay some non-tuition costs, such as the Student Services Fee and medical insurance. -
Apply
Once you have decided what you want to study, apply online and follow the steps to complete your application.
You can apply at any time throughout the year. You will choose your preferred intake during your application process.
Educational Agent
Depending on your situation, or if you think you may need some extra help in your home country, one of our approved International Recruitment Agents can assist you with submitting your application. Please contact an agent of your choice directly.Study Abroad or Exchange
If you are interested in short term study, and the opportunity to transfer your credits back to your home institution, you may like to choose to join us through our Study Abroad and Exchange programme. We have over 50 exchange partners — check to see if your university is one of our partners.Higher Research Degrees
If you are applying for a Higher research degrees programme such as Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) and Masters of Philosophy (MPhil), you should look at the PhD and Doctoral Degrees Application Process.Pathway Programmes
If you do not meet the academic or English language requirements for entry, you may choose to study a pathway programme at the University of Waikato College. Find out how to apply to the College or if you are ready to apply directly by using the online application form.Apply for Credit or Transfers
If you have previously undertaken tertiary or non-formal education, you may apply for External Credit (for formal studies) or Recognition of Prior Learning (for non-formal studies). This recognises your previous studies and can reduce the number of papers required to complete your University of Waikato qualification.The University also has a number of Guaranteed Credit Agreements (GCA) with universities in China, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Vietnam. If your institution has an agreement with us, please select the name of your institution from the application form to help us identify you.
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Explore Scholarships
The University of Waikato has a range of scholarship opportunities available for international students. After submitting your application, you will have access to the ‘Scholarships’ tab at your MyWaikato portal where you will be able to apply for available scholarships.
Visit International Scholarships FAQs for further details. -
Receive an Offer of Place
If your application is successful, you will receive an Offer of Place to study at Waikato via email. If you don't meet all the entry requirements, you will receive a Conditional Offer.
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Accept your offer
Login to MyWaikato and accept your offer of place. This step lets us know that you intend to come and we can share important information and next steps with you.
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Pay your fees
You will need to pay for your full programme (or first year of study) fees to formally accept your offer.
We recommend only paying your tuition fees, student service levy and medical insurance once you have received an unconditional offer.
Some students choose to apply for their Student Visa before they pay their tuition fees. See the information below regarding this.
Check payment methods available for international students by visiting How to accept and pay fees.
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Apply for a Student Visa
To study in New Zealand, you must have a valid Student Visa. See the international student visas for New Zealand for further details and how to apply for your visa.
Important: you will use your tuition fee payment receipt to apply for your Student Visa with Immigration New Zealand.
If you are outside of New Zealand when you apply for your Student Visa, you may choose to provide your evidence of payment only after your application has been assessed and approved in principle (AIP) by Immigration New Zealand.
Ready to apply?
Congratulations!
You have now successfully applied to study at the University of Waikato. We will be in touch if we require any additional information or documentation to support your application.
Closer to the start of your classes, we will be in touch with you to guide you on how to choose your papers online (if applicable) and other pre-arrival steps. As a new international student studying in New Zealand, you can only complete your enrolment once you have arrived on campus and provided us with a copy of your Student Visa. We will complete this final part together when you arrive.