Even though New Zealand was colonized by the Britishers in 1840, it has quite a different history compared with Australia. Some of the oft reported differences are that the earlier settlers, the Maoris, live a pretty good life compared with the Aborigines in Australia. They are also not marginalized, nor are their children taken away and the difference in life expectancy between the two is as high as 10 years. Soon before and after New Zealand was annexed and established as a colony, it was mainly the whalers and pilgrims who settled there.
This being a brief backdrop, New Zealand is a multi ethnic society and a country where people are friendly and welcoming. In fact, if you just wave out to strangers on the streets you can be sure they will smile and wave back. If you need directions, chances are not only will they be helpful but many might accompany you some distance to make sure you’re on the right track.
Equality between men and women is probably the best in the world. After all, this is the first country where women got the right to vote as far back as in 1893. Compare that with some of the other developed nations including Switzerland where women have been allowed to vote in the national referendums only since 1971.
The climate is fairly cool summers and winters that are quite tolerable even though the Southern Alps are close by. It snows in Christchurch only about once every two years. The city is known as the garden city due to its vast green spaces and botanical gardens. Tourism plays an important part in the economy of the city. There are many ski resorts close by, facilities for adventure sports, national parks, wildlife parks, reserves, museums, theatres and right at the centre is the Christ Church Cathedral. The city is very well planned and there are four city squares around the main square. Something as simple as people watching over a cup of coffee in one of the numerous cafes is a pleasure in itself.
Cost of Education
New Zealand, off late, has been making efforts to turn university education free. As a first step in 2018 they have made the first year free for those who meet the criteria. For this their website is helpful. If all goes according to plan, university education should be free by 2024. As of now, the cost of education is fairly high and International students must plan to pay between $22,000 and $32,000 for a bachelor’s degree, and between $26,000 and $37,000 for a postgraduate course, per year. These figures are in U.S. dollars. Courses in medicine tend to cost much more. The fees for international students are much higher than their domestic counterparts. Given that the same as the ageing population in the developed world in another 20 years or less, one in four people in the country shall be over the age of 65 and to support this they are going to need young qualified people thus the difference in the fees would have to be rationalized, if not free.
University of Canterbury
For detailed information on the courses offered by the University of Canterbury do visit their website.
Cost of Living
The number of international students keeps rising in New Zealand. As of 1998 there were just 18,000 students and the number today is well over 50,000.
As an international student you’ll have to account for around 800 US$ towards your monthly expense, plus fees plus accommodation which would come to between 300 to 800 US$ depending upon whether you opt for a shared room or a room in a shared apartment.
There are what the New Zealanders call home stay programs where you share a room or a have a room to yourself in an apartment that you shall stay in with a family.
Photo: Shutterstock
We have also covered many countries in Europe. Read also:
University City Amsterdam – A Major Hub For Foreign Students
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