STUDYING IN NEW ZEALAND

Your Visa / Student Permit

While you are here, most of you will need to renew your visa.  To do this, you will need to know:

• What kind of Visa/Permit you have?
  … Visitors Visa / Visitors Permit
  … Student Visa / Student Permit
  … Limited Purpose Visa / Permit
  
  
• What Date your Visa/Permit expires?
  … Plan to apply for a new visa two months before the old visa expires.
  
  
• What kind of Visa/Permit you need?
  … You can study part-time or full-time for three months with a Visitors Visa/Permit.
  … If you study for longer than 3 months, you must have a Student Visa/Permit.
  … If you have a Student Visa/Permit you must study full-time.
  
  
• Where to apply for a new Visa/Permit?
  … If you have a Limited Purposes visa you need to return to your own country.
  … If you have a Visitors Visa/Permit or a Student Visa/Permit you can apply through the International
     Students Office at WITT.

·         What you need to renew your Student Visa/Permit
… Your passport must be valid at least 3 months past the date you either plan to leave New Zealand or the period of your study,
… A completed Application for Studying in New Zealand form (available from International Students Office),
… An offer of a place from WITT (International Students Office),
… An original tuition fee receipt (International Students Office),
… One passport photograph (with your signature on the reverse side),
… A Bank Statement showing you have $1,000 per month of enrolment

… Evidence of previous student performance,

… Payment of the Visa / permit application fee.

If you wish to change to another tertiary institution, you will need to go to a New Zealand Immigration Service office to update your student permit. You will need to take with you a record of your attendance.  Your nearest New Zealand Immigration Office is in Palmerston North.

For information on Student Visas/Permits go to: www.immigration.govt.nz

Working in New Zealand

To work in New Zealand you will need a “Variation of Conditions” to your Student Visa/Permit.  Contact WITT International Office staff or Immigration New Zealand for furtehr details.  When eligible to work, you may:

• Work 20 hours per week
• Work up to 40 hours per week during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

For information on Working Permits go to: www.immigration.govt.nz

Travel and Medical Insurance

It is compulsory for all International students studying in New Zealand to have medical and travel insurance.  The travel and medical insurance premium is provided within your “offer of a place”.  Our preferred supplier is Uni-Care and details of the Student insurance policy may be found on the website http://www.uni-care.org/  If you wish to provide your own medical and travel insurance, you must provide a copy of the insurance policy (translated into English) to WITT for verification of acceptable cover.

The New Zealand Classroom

You may be a successful student in your home country, but studying in New Zealand may be different from what you are used to.  It helps to know what to expect in New Zealand. New Zealand teachers expect students to ask questions of them, ask questions about the textbook and provide ideas and opinions for discussion.

New Zealand students are expected to:

• Attend all lectures and tutorials.
• Complete all course requirements.
• Ask questions.
• Give opinions.
• Listen to other students.
• Use English.
• Take part in discussions.
• Use many textbooks and reference them in your written work.
• Work in groups to complete projects and assignments.
• Do any homework.
• Clarify anything you do not understand.
• Read the course textbooks, take notes during lectures and review and understand the information discussed in lectures and tutorials.  

Assessments and Exams

• There are in-course assessments eg. essays, presentations, tests, as well as exams.
• Exams in New Zealand do not generally involve reproduction of factual rote learning.
• Exams in New Zealand are designed to test how well students understand concepts and ideas presented during study.
• Cheating is unacceptable.
• Performance and progression are linked; if you fail a course you may not be able to go onto the next course.

Study and Learning Support

All these differences might make you feel like you cannot succeed studying in New Zealand.  Don’t worry - there are places to go for help:

• Your tutor.
• Other students.
• Learning Centre staff.
• Library Staff.
• Attend a study skills workshop.
• Read the “Support for Success” student study skills handbook.

 Remember … it is OK to ask for help.  If you need help, do not wait - get in early.

Attendance

It is important that you attend all classes and tutorials. Research shows that attendance is closely related to your success.

You must inform your tutors:

• If you are going to be late to class.
• If you are going to be absent from class.
• If you are going to be away for a period of time.

Your tutors will keep a record of your attendance at classes and inform the International Students Office of this.  Any students with frequent or prolonged absences will be contacted.

Immigration New Zealand requires all student permit holders to maintain a minimum 85% attendance in classes.

Computer Use
 
WITT offers all students a generous deal in relation to the use of computing and networking facilities on campus.  The Student Code of Conduct states that students must NOT:

• Use WITT’s computing and networking facilities to transmit objectionable material such as:
  … pornography.
  … crime or violence.
  … articles that describe or depict material in a manner, or of a nature, that is likely to cause offence.
  … material that may slander or harass another person.
• Waste computer and networking resources.
• Play games - except where it is included as part of course prescription.
• Engage in inappropriate use of WITT’s computing and networking facilities e.g. computer hacking.

The Code fo Practice for the Pastoral CAre of International Students

The Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International students (the Code) is an agreement to ensure that all educational providers take the resposibility for the well-being of International students.  It means WITT is mre than an education provider - we have promised to look after you.

You will recieve a Summary of the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International students, at the time that your Offer of Place documents are issued.  A full copy of the code (in different languagess) is available at: www.minedu.govt/goto/International

Transferring to another programme/course

If you want to change programme, you must complete a "transfer" form.  If you wish to change your course or programme, you must obtain the approval of the Head of Department who (if they agree), will sign the transfer form.

When considering an application for transfer, the Head of Department will take into consideration:

• When the programme started (how long has it been running).
• The time required for a student to catch up on missed classes.
• The level of the programme

Withdrawing from your programme of study

If you decide to withdraw from your programme:

• You must compete a 'withdrawal" form - available from the International Students Office.
• You may apply for a refund of your fees.  For "refund" information, see the conditions of Enrolment forn in the back of the Meeting the Challenge handbook or WITT's International Refund Policy.
• Students Who withdraw from a programme have the right to apply for re-enrolment in the future.
• Withdrawal from a programme will be written on the students academic transcript.
• Immigration New Zealand will be notified of all student withdrawals.

Protection of funds

If WITT chooses not to offer a programme that you have enrolled in, you will get a full refund.  If there is an insurable disaster (e.g. fire, flood), WITT will run the programme at an alternative site or refund you.

Circumstances under which tuituion may be terminated

WITT reserves the right to terminate a student's tuition as outlined in the Code of Praactice for the Pastoral Care of International Students in the following circumstances:

• Continued and unexplained absenteeism
• Exclusion or expulsion in accordance witht the Eduaction (Stand-down, Suspension, Exclusion, and Explusion) Rules 1999
• Provision of false ot misleading information by the student on enrolment
• Insufficient academic progress
• Failure to pay fees
• Where WITT is unable to guarentee accommodation for an international student due to the student's behaviour
• In the event of criminal behaviour (including such behaviour outside WITT's premises)
• An inablity to attend due to reasons such as illness or family obligations, where the student cannot make up the missed course time and will need to re-enrol to complete the course.

Please note that students have the opportunity to respond to any allegations of prejudical information before a termination is made, and all students have the right to appeal any decision in accordance with Academic Appeals policy and procedure.

All terminations will be reported to Immigration New Zealand.

For mor einformation on termination of tuition, on the appeal process and on your rights as a student and QWITT's obligations, see the Student Code of Conduct Policy available from Student Support or the International Students Office.