Living in NZ FAQ
There are a few more things you need to know about studying in New Zealand and with the Pacific College of Technology.
- Medical and travel Insurance
Current Medical and Travel insurance is compulsory if you want to study in New Zealand. We can help arrange this for you if you fill in the appropriate section of your enrolment form. You should budget for up to $500 a year for health and travel insurance, or around $45 a month.
- Eligibility for health care in New Zealand
Please be aware that most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health care. This means that if you become ill while you are in New Zealand, you may have to pay the full cost of your medical treatment.
PacTec staff, however, will provide free transport and will accompany you to the appropriate health care services if required.
Please see the Ministry of Health website for more information about eligibility for publicly funded health care.
- Accident compensation
Free accident insurance is available for all NZ citizens, permanent residents and temporary visitors through the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). You may still be required to pay for all other medical costs. Please see the ACC website, http://www.acc.co.nz, for more information.
- Immigration to New Zealand
People from most countries can easily travel to New Zealand on a three-month visitor’s visa.
If you want to study with us for longer than three months, you will need to obtain a student visa. The process to apply for this visa may include a medical examination and proof of your ability to financially support yourself while you are here. You should check with the NZ Embassy in your country what the application procedure is, as it may differ and can change without notice.
You can apply for a student visa after you have arrived in New Zealand, but it is preferable that, if you want to study here for longer than three months, you apply for this visa through the NZ embassy in your home country.
For more information about other visas and applying for an extension on your visa, please contact the NZ Immigration Services (NZIS).
- Canceling or withdrawing your studies with us
If you need to cancel your studies with us before you begin studying with PacTec, or if your student visa was denied for any reason, you must notify us in writing and include any supporting documents (such as the letter of refusal from NZIS). The Pacific College of Technology will then refund all course related fees minus 10% or $500, whichever is lesser. Any homestay fees will also be refunded.
Once the course has begun, if you cancel or withdraw up to the eighth day of the course, you must still notify us in writing, including any supporting documents. We will then refund all course related costs minus 10% or $500, whichever works out to be less. All unused homestay fees will be refunded.
If you cancel or withdraw from your studies after the first 8 days of course, PacTec will not refund any course related fees. Any unused homestay fees may be refunded, minus a $500 processing fee.
You can appeal, in writing, the decision not to refund your course fees. The evaluation and conclusion regarding this refund, however, is up to the discretion of PacTec’s Board of Directors.
Please make sure you read our complete Refund Policy before you register for our programmes.
- More information
For more information about living and studying in NZ, please refer to: Guide to Living and Studying in New Zealand published by the NZ Ministry of Education.