MBA in New Zealand: The MBA is one of the most popular courses in New Zealand. International students flock to different universities in New Zealand for their MBA degree. Other than the welcoming nature of New Zealanders and an international qualification, an MBA from New Zealand is affordable, especially when compared to an MBA degree from any US or UK university.
New Zealand closed its border in 2020 to stop the spread of COVID. After almost 2 years, New Zealand is finally opening its border to international students on August 1, 2022, as announced by the prime minister of New Zealand. From August 1 onwards, the visa processing will resume for all categories, including students. However, according to the New Zealand government, only 5000 international students will be allowed back into the country.
Thinking about pursuing an MBA in New Zealand but unsure if this is the best option? If yes, then here are the top five reasons Why MBA in New Zealand is the best choice for you.
Program | Details |
Full- time MBA | Students wanting the regular classroom program can go for a Full-time MBA. |
Part-time MBA | It makes sense that many students would seek out a part-time online MBA in New Zealand given the country’s excellent educational system. Due to the convenience of online learning and the high caliber of a New Zealand education, students can advance their education even if they already hold a full-time job. |
Executive MBA | The Executive MBA is for professionals and senior executives who want to do an MBA while working. Usually, executive MBA students are relatively senior with years of experience. |
MBA without GMAT | Almost all universities in New Zealand offer MBAs without a GMAT score. However, you need to have 2-3 years of work experience and an IELTS or TOEFL score. |
With the development of technology, numerous multinational corporations and industries have emerged, creating a variety of MBA streams. A student may choose a particular type of MBA program depending on the position they hope to fill in an organization after their MBA graduation.
Here are some of the MBA specializations offered by New Zealand universities.
S.NO. | MBA specialization in New Zealand |
  1 | MBA in HR Management |
  2 | MBA in Marketing Management |
  3 | MBA in Digital Marketing |
  4 | MBA in Information Technology |
  5 | MBA in travel and tourism management |
  6 | MBA in Finance Management |
  7 | MBA in business analyst |
  8 | MBA in Healthcare Management |
  9 | MBA in Media Management |
 10 | MBA in Aviation Management |
Academics
For admission to an MBA program in New Zealand, you should have a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline, like BSc, BCom, or BA.
Work Experience
Most business schools in New Zealand require work experience of a minimum of three to four years.
Standard Exams:
GMAT is the accepted exam for admission to MBA programs in New Zealand. To prove your English proficiency, you need to take either IELTS or TOEFL. This score is compulsory for almost all B schools in New Zealand.
Documents Required for MBA in New Zealand
Here is the list of documents required to get admission to New Zealand colleges:
Here is the list of top colleges in New Zealand, ranked according to the QS ranking 2022. The QS World Ranking is published every year by Quacquarelli Symonds and is one of the most widely read rankings.
(Read: List of universities in New Zealand)
S.No. | Colleges | QS Ranking 2022 |
 1 | University of Auckland | 85 |
 2 | University of Otago | 194 |
 3 | Victoria University of Wellington | 236 |
 4 | University of Canterbury | 258 |
 5 | Massey University | 284 |
 6 | Lincoln University | 372 |
 7 | University of Waikato | 373 |
 8 | Auckland University of Technology. | 451 |
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Here are the steps to apply for an MBA in New Zealand.
The tuition fees for an MBA in New Zealand vary with the course and university one chooses to study at. However, the average tuition fee in New Zealand is somewhere between 23.5 lakhs and 35 lakhs for a year, with higher fees for courses like medicine and veterinary science. Here are some top colleges in New Zealand with their fees:
S.No. | Colleges | Tuition fees per year (INR) |
 1 | University of Otago | 31.88 Lakhs |
 2 | University of Waikato | 29.43 Lakhs |
 3 | University of Canterbury | 38.42 Lakhs |
 4 | Massey University | 16.65 Lakhs |
 5 | Auckland University of Technology. | 28.12 Lakhs |
 6 | Auckland Institute of Studies | 19.24 Lakhs |
Students who want to study MBA in New Zealand should also take into account the cost of living, which includes expenses for housing, food, and transportation. Here is a list of the average cost of living in New Zealand for international students.
Expenses Type | Monthly charge (NZD) |
Hostel | 1000-1500 |
Travel | $100 |
Homestay | 1500- 2000 |
food | 480-550 |
Scholarships can be a great way for students to focus on their studies without having to worry about financial burdens. New Zealand, like many other countries, offers various scholarship programs for international students. Here are some of the scholarships offered by New Zealand:
Studying abroad can be really expensive, but countries like New Zealand offer MBA courses at lower tuition fees as compared to other countries. Here are some of the universities with lower tuition fees:
S.No. | Cheapest MBA colleges in New Zealand | Tuition Fees in INR per annum |
 1 | University of Otago | 16.8 Lakhs |
 2 | Victoria University of Wellington | 21 Lakhs |
 3 | University of Waikato | 19.1 Lakhs |
 4 | Massey University | 25.3 Lakhs |
 5 | University of Canterbury | 26 Lakhs |
 6 | Lincoln University | Global Management & Marketing: INR 22.9L Accounting & Finance: INR 20.9L |
 7 | Auckland University of Technology. | 21.6 Lakhs |
A GMAT score is usually a must when applying for an MBA in New Zealand for international students. However, there are some universities in New Zealand that offer MBA programs without a GMAT score. Let’s take a look at some universities and their requirements that are offering an MBA in New Zealand without a GMAT score:
Universities | Requirements |
AIS St. Helens | Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of work experience, IELTS: 6.5, TOFEL: 79, PTE: 58 |
Massey University | UG degree with more than three years of full time work experience. IELTS: 6.5 |
University of Canterbury | Work experience of more than 5 years with IELTS score no less than 6.5 band |
University of Waikato | 3 years of managing experience or 10 years of working experience. IELTS score no less than 6.5. |
New Zealand, with an unemployment rate as low as 4.12%, offers great opportunities for international students after their MBA in New Zealand. The government of New Zealand predicts a growth of 2.6% in the GDP by 2022 and 3.8% by 2024. New Zealand universities offer a great return on investment (ROI) to MBA graduates by providing an average salary of 55,000 to 180,000 NZD per year in different levels of MBA programs. The nation offers you the chance to work in New Zealand for three years after you finish your studies.Â
Here is the list of colleges with the highest average salary offered to MBA graduates.
S.No. | Colleges | Average annual salary (NZD) |
1 | Victoria University of Wellington | 136,000 |
2 | The University of Otago | 111,600 |
3 | University of Waikato | 84,250 |
4 | Massey University | 83,600 |
5 | The University of Canterbury | 77,200 |
6 | AUT University | 72,000 |
MBA is one of the most popular courses in New Zealand. Also, New Zealand provides globally recognized degrees, affordable tuition fees, quality education, and a high return on investment to students after MBA completion.
No, an MBA in New Zealand is not free. However, one can apply for scholarships provided by the universities and government to get some help with the tuition fees.
The average cost of doing an MBA in New Zealand ranges between 23.5 lakhs and 35 lakhs for a year, with higher fees for courses like medicine and veterinary science. This, however, does not include the cost of living in New Zealand.
New Zealand universities offer a great return on investment (ROI) to MBA graduates by providing an average salary of 55,000 to 180,000 NZD per year in different levels of MBA programs. New Zealand offers you the chance to work in New Zealand for three years after you finish your studies.
The University of Otago is the only university in New Zealand that asks for a GMAT score for admission to any MBA program. Other top universities like the University of Canterbury, University of Waikato, and Massey University accept students without a GMAT score if they have 3 to 4 years of relevant work experience.
To get admission to MBA programs in New Zealand, students are required to have a minimum score of 6.5 in IELTS and 90 for TOEFL-iBt.