Getting an MBA from NZ

The country of New Zealand offers not only stunning scenery and excellent quality of life but also a multicultural diversity that makes it an ideal destination for those looking for academic programs internationally. Master’s in Business Administration is one of the most versatile and valued programs that top universities and colleges in New Zealand can offer. And this program is generally accessible to both New Zealand natives and international students who wish to pursue and get a Master’s degree in the said field.

MBAs in New Zealand are highly credited courses that add immensely to a prospective employee’s CV. MBA programs attempt to combine both the knowledge of concepts and frameworks and application-based hands-on business-related experience to equip graduates with an abundant familiarity with industry structure and work ethics to pursue a blooming career in different business types and specializations. Also, such specializations allow for more innovation to ensue resulting in the development of very industry-specific skills, which are considered to be very valuable in most hiring positions. And these are the very reasons why international students flock to different schools in New Zealand. To qualify for an MBA degree, one should have a Bachelor's degree in any discipline. Whether it is in Public Relations, Communications, Economy, or Technology anyone with a Bachelor's degree is welcome to apply.

General Requirements for MBA Programs

On the other hand, most MBA colleges and universities in New Zealand require work experience (usually 2-5 years). Some universities may also require the applicant to also pass standard admission exams like the GMAT or the Graduate Management Admission Test. All these schools require you to take either IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or any equivalent test to prove the applicant's proficiency in the English language.

Popular Universities for MBA Programs in New Zealand

Here are some of the universities in New Zealand to get an MBA from and their qualifications:

1. The University of Auckland the University of Auckland usually starts its MBA program in February. This program is based on a quarterly system that is maintained throughout the duration of the course. Each quarter is 12 weeks long, weeks 1-10 are dedicated to classes, assessments are conducted in week 11 and the students are then given a week to take a break from classes. Classes are only taught in a block format over the weekend. This is for the benefit of students who are professional people working day jobs in addition to attending classes. Classes are usually on Friday afternoons and evenings and take up the entirety of Saturdays. The program lasts up to 2 years and costs more or less NZ $45,000. The University requires their MBA applicant to at least get a score of 550 in GMAT and pass any English proficiency exam. They also require a minimum of 5-year work experience to qualify for the program. Min. TOEFL is 90 or 6.5 (IELTS).
   
   
2. The University of Canterbury Classes for MBA in the University of Canterbury usually start in February. Recognizing the fact that students may have work commitments and other obligations, the MBA program offered by the university is extremely flexible allowing these students to complete their courses at their pace. The model adopted to achieve this is a blended course consisting of both online and on-campus courses. Weekday classes are delivered both on-campus or online simultaneously in real-time from 5.30 pm to 8 pm. In addition to this, students will be required to attend an intensive two-day workshop on the weekend. This will be conducted from 9 am to 5 pm on a Friday and Saturday.
   
   They typically require their MBA student applicants to get a score of 600 in GMAT and at least 100 in TOEFL or 7.0 in IELTS. Additionally, students need to have at least five years of work (practical, professional or scholarly) experience to qualify for the program. In case students do not have a relevant Bachelor’s degree but have extensive experience, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDipBA) can get students to apply for this course. The MBA program in this school usually runs for 16 months, although due to the flexible nature of the course students may take up to 5 years to complete the course. Based on a standard 16-month course, the tuition fee is estimated to be around $NZ 36,000 (domestic students) and around $NZ 50,000.
   
   
3. Massey University Massey University provides two options to students on how they want to pursue their degree, either as a highly dense and streamlined full-time course that lasts for only a year, or a part-time program which conducted online and is flexible with its duration (it can last up to 5 years). Students who require additional time to complete their courses will have to reapply for admission if they wish to continue studying the course.
   
   The university offers specializations in Business Sustainability, Digital Transformation, or International Marketing. These specializations serve to differentiate your qualifications from non-specialized MBAs. The availability of these courses depends on whether the student studies online or on-campus. The university also offers an EMBA (Executive Master of Business Administration) for those who wish to continue their studies in management even further.
   
   The 12-month full-time course will usually have a tuition fee of around NZ $50,000. The University requires its students to have at least three years of relevant working experience. Students are admitted on the basis of a selection process which may include a written application, references, and practical exercises. The following are the minimum requirements in the respective English proficiency exams: IELTS- 6.5 bands (with a minimum of 6 in all tests), TOEFL iBT- 90 (minimum 20 in writing, PTE Academic- 58 (with minimum 50 in communication skills), and Cambridge English- 180. The university intakes students three times per year; in March, July, and November.
   
   
4. The University of Otago the University of Otago usually starts its MBA programs in mid-September. The university offers 3 types of MBA programs:
   • Full-time MBA : It is a two-phase program that can be completed in 16 months to 2 years, depending upon the choices the student makes in Phase 2 of the program. Phase 1 will consist of 10 months of on0campus study, which will expand over twelve core subjects covering fundamental business areas, in addition to a live case study that will be conducted in collaboration with the business industry.
     Phase 2 offers the student a variety of choices, which extend to continue pursuing their degree through the following three methods, 1) International exchange, 2) Business Projects, 3) On-campus in Dunedin. All three options have their own merits. Students opting for international exchange may choose from a list of 20 reputed international business schools to attend for the rest of the duration of the course at no additional tuition fee. Business projects allow students to put the skills they acquired during the course to practice and gather valuable experience while doing so. Students who continue to remain on campus are offered three specialization electives from the business school.
   • Part-time MBA: This course allows prospective students with day-jobs to study a course that has exactly the same curriculum and classes as full-time students, along with the flexibility to allow them to complete their courses at their own pace (with a maximum of 5 years allowed for completion). A student is expected to spend up to 15 hours per week on each core paper. These hours will be constituted of a blend of lectures, time with your team through extensive group discussions, preparation of assignments, and reading. This course only admits domestic students.
   • Online MBA: This program is meant for people who are unable to take up the program physically on-campus. The subject matter and curriculum are identical to that of the other two offline courses. Classes are conducted twice a week at a specified time. It is also divided into two phases, with phase 1 consisting of the study of 12 papers over the course of 2.5 years. Phase 2 instead allows students to undertake a professional consulting engagement or international exchange (for a 2-week period in Austria or Thailand) or a combination of these two.
   The academic requirements for all of the above-mentioned programs are the same. A relevant undergraduate degree or an equivalent degree of management experience is mandatory. It is also required of the students to have at least an additional 3 years of management or professional experience. Students need to have a GMAT score of 550+ or pass the Otago MBA Admissions Test. In case the student’s first language is not English, the student must have a 6.5 band score in IELTS or an equivalent. The total fee for international students in each of the courses are as follows: 1) Full-time MBA- $NZ 60,000, 2) Part-time MBA: $NZ 37,000 (only domestic students), 3) Online MBA- $NZ 15,000.
   
   
5. Victoria University of Wellington. The Victoria University of Wellington offers a business program called Master of Business (Professional), called MBus(Prof). This program usually commences on 5 Jul 2021, 8 Nov 2021, and 28 Feb 2022. The course, which consists of 180-points (and 12 courses) in total, will help hone your professional skills.
   
   The course offers a large number of specializations to students, allowing for a greater degree of flexibility in studying specific areas of interest. Some of these courses are: Accounting, Applied Data, Analytics, Contemporary Economics, Digital Transformation and Leadership, Economic Thinking, e-Government, Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Commercialisation, Financial Analysis, Investment Management
   
   The program goes through for 16 months (3 trimesters) and costs around $NZ 48,000. The University requires their applicant to have a minimum of 2-year work experience. They also need their students to get a score of at least 90 for TOEFL with a minimum of 20 in writing, 6.5 for IELTS, Pearson Test of English: minimum score of 58 (with a ‘Communicative’ score of not less than 50), EPP: minimum final scores of 4,4,5,5 and a C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 176 or higher, with each skill score no less than 169.

Planning an MBA Course

A Master's degree in Business Administration is something that requires intricate planning. And the best way to decide on a university is to look for an institution that fits your qualification for the degree. Choose the best MBA school in New Zealand that will harness your knowledge and abilities in business administration, and you'll never regret it. Also, students should keep in mind the specializations a university offers since they may then opt for a subject which they have an interest or proficiency in, further diversifying their CVs and resumes. For international students who intend to stay in New Zealand to work after graduation, you may be eligible for a work visa under the Immigration New Zealand Study to Work category.

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