New Zealand guide · verified 2026-07-04
Cost of Studying in New Zealand: Tuition, Living and Proof of Funds
Money & proof of funds
New Zealand requires proof of two things: the tuition fee (paid or clearly payable) and a fixed annual living-cost figure set by Immigration New Zealand. Health insurance is a separate mandatory cost layered on top, since international students cannot access public healthcare.
Living costs (tertiary/non-compulsory study)
MandatoryNZD $20,000/year, or NZD $1,667/month if under 1 year
This is a floor set by INZ, not a suggested budget, actual costs in Auckland/Wellington often run higher, especially rent.
Tuition
MandatoryMust show payment or ability to pay (varies by university/program)
Indicative range (per this platform's country card): roughly ₹12.5L to ₹23.5L/year depending on university and program; always confirm the exact fee on the specific program's page, since New Zealand tuition is university- and program-set with no national schedule.
Acceptable funds evidence
Bank statements (3 months), fixed deposits, education loans, scholarship letters
Large or recently-deposited sums may trigger a request for secondary evidence of the money's source (tax returns, payslips, employer letters).
Health/travel insurance
MandatoryMandatory, cost varies by provider and plan length
Budget this as a genuine annual cost on top of tuition and living costs, it is a visa condition, not optional cover. PhD candidates are exempt from the requirement.
Separate tuition proof from living-cost proof
MandatoryTuition is shown as paid (a receipt/letter from the education provider) or as clearly payable (e.g. an education loan sanction letter covering it); living costs are shown as the NZD $20,000/year (or $1,667/month) figure held in liquid, verifiable funds or backed by an eligible sponsor. Don't let a family conflate the two, INZ checks them separately.
Build a clean, traceable funds trail
RecommendedPrefer accounts with a visible income history over a lump sum deposited just before applying. If using an education loan, get the sanction letter and disbursement schedule ready; if using a sponsor, confirm they meet the eligibility rule and that the same sponsor can be reused if a second visa (e.g. renewal, or a further qualification) is needed later.
Budget beyond the $20,000 floor
RecommendedTreat NZD $20,000/year as a legal minimum, not a livable budget in Auckland or Wellington, rent, especially, pushes real costs higher. Counsel students to budget realistically and to start the accommodation search early, and to add insurance, the visa fee, flights, and settling-in costs (bond, initial furnishings) on top.
Where this fits
This is one step of the full New Zealand journey: admission, tests, application, visa, money, arrival and stay-back, every figure cited to an official source.
More on New Zealand
Bramica is independent and takes no commission from any university, recruiter or agency. This page is information, not immigration advice. Rules, fees and thresholds change; confirm the current requirement on the official source before acting on it.