How to Find the Best Student Accommodation in New Zealand?

Once you have received your acceptance letter and are ready to board a flight to New Zealand to begin your studies, what is the first thing you want to arrange? Without a doubt, your accommodation. After arriving in New Zealand and starting your academic career in this international study destination, it is very important to make a decision about where you will be staying. Your choice of accommodation will of course depend on your budget, any extra costs you expect to incur such as rent, meals or utilities, the availability of public transport and the distance to your university, among other factors.

New Zealand offers international students three main types of accommodation, similar to most other study abroad countries. These include independent accommodation, host families, and halls of residence. You will need to choose from these depending on your needs.

Halls of residence

Halls of residence are the most common type of accommodation available to international students in New Zealand. First-year students coming to New Zealand most often choose halls of residence because they are inexpensive, give you the chance to live and interact with students from all over the world, and are the safest option of all. The close proximity of halls of residence to the university also gives students the opportunity to take on more academic and extra-curricular work and explore the various opportunities offered by the institution.

This type of accommodation doesn't require a lot of transport as the residences are close to campus. Residence halls also provide meals and furnished rooms. The cost of living in a residence hall ranges from $100 to $700 per week. If you want to live in one of these residences, you need to apply well in advance as they are very popular. The fact that you are part of the larger college community and that someone is always willing to help is the best thing about living here.

Homestays

International students who come to New Zealand to study have the option of staying with a homestay. Living with a New Zealand family while studying is a common choice for students. Prices range from NZ$110 to NZ$370 per room per week. Three meals a day, laundry, cleaning, internet and telephone services are usually included.

The advantage of this arrangement is that overseas students can experience New Zealand's local cultures, cuisines and customs at first hand and make friends with locals much more quickly than students living in halls of residence because they have more contact with them. Sometimes the host family begins to treat these students as part of their family.

Private Accommodation

Staying in private accommodation may seem like a lucrative option for students coming to New Zealand for the first time, as it gives them a taste of freedom. If you feel that halls of residence and host families are a bit public and you prefer a more private way of living, private accommodation may be the best option for you. Depending on your budget, you can opt for private accommodation either as a whole or on a room-by-room basis. You could even get some of your friends to come and live with you. This type of accommodation is more expensive than halls of residence and homestays.

Accommodation in New Zealand for international students is easy to find, provided you start looking well in advance. Depending on your budget and the other factors discussed in this article, you should decide on the type of accommodation that best suits your needs and other considerations.

What can New Zealand offer you as an international student?

You can work to support your studies

As an international student in New Zealand, you can work up to 20 hours a week during term time and full-time during breaks. If you're doing a research master's or doctoral degree, you can even work full-time.

Globally recognised qualifications

All eight of New Zealand's universities are consistently ranked highly in the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education Rankings, and qualifications from each are recognised around the world, opening doors to opportunities everywhere.

Excellent pedagogy

Influenced by the British education system, New Zealand focuses on inquiry-based teaching, which means you learn to approach situations in a systematic and organised way. You'll be taught to work independently and as part of a team at different levels.

Quality of life

New Zealand offers you a fantastic multicultural setting that blends perfectly with its outdoor lifestyle. Filled with all kinds of natural landscapes, from snow-capped mountains and steaming volcanoes to rolling green hills, golden sandy beaches and lush rainforests, New Zealand screams wanderlust. Living here offers every student the chance to grow with its diverse culture and natural beauty.

If you need further assistance in making New Zealand your study destination, get in touch with our experts at MWT Education Academy who can help you every step of the way.