Have you been dreaming of studying and living in a beautiful country like New Zealand? There are reasons why students like you aspiring to migrate to New Zealand can’t stop thinking about it- picturesque landscape, upbeat lifestyle, safety and peace, international qualification and a bright future. Amidst all your dreams to study abroad, there’s one barrier that can dampen your spirit. It’s the cost. 

The good news is that studying in New Zealand is possible even if funds are an issue. All that you need to do is plan carefully and take smart steps. Better the plan, the better are your chances of making your dream to study in Kiwi Land come true. We hope the following points will give you some guidance.

Gain a scholarship

You’ll be surprised by the number of New Zealand Scholarships, Grants, and Fellowships available for international students. These are provided by education providers and various government bodies. They are of great help in cutting down your study costs. Additionally, you will get the opportunity to stand out from the crowd, build a network with other scholarship students and promote your CV. What’s more! These scholarships are not awarded only based on academic excellence. Other factors like excellence in sports, arts, area of study, country of origin, etc., can help you gain a scholarship too. New Zealand is a penny-worth destination. In the worst scenario, even if you might not be able to gain a scholarship, there are other ways to offset your costs which we’ll discuss here. Read on!

Live within a budget

Going abroad to study requires planning well in advance. Earlier the better as it offers you more avenues and time to plan your finances. Start living a decent lifestyle from the time you intend to go overseas. Limit your expenses. Learn to focus on your needs rather than your wants. There are expense tracking apps for free like Mint and Spendee to help keep you on track. A disciplined schedule will not only help you with your study funds but will also teach you to live smartly in a new country. Once you are in New Zealand, finding out the disbursement dates of the pre-deposited living expenses is crucial for helping to keep yourself on track.

Start saving money

Now that you have a goal, a plan and a budget, start putting all the extra money earned into your savings. Saving is always better than taking a loan or credit. You would rather prefer to save money than to spend it on an extravagant night out so that you can invest this saved money in meeting your needs and demands while studying abroad. Your prudent efforts will reap benefits with time as you venture into a new terrain of epiphanies and memorable experiences.

Prepare for additional expenses

Even if you are financially prepared, living in a new country calls for unprecedented expenses which you might not have budgeted back home. Tuition fees, insurance, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) visa charges, living expenses of NZ$1250/month, flight fare and pre-booked accommodation are not the only expenses. There are other additional costs like transportation, stationery, uniforms or lab tools for certain courses, cell phone expenses, your meals, toiletries, personal entertainment and leisure activities too. Be aware of these and keep some extra money to pay for them.

Study Abroad Fundraising Ideas 

There are several education crowdfunding platforms online where you can raise funds for your studies. Popular crowdfunding platforms like Crowdfunder and GoFundMe attract supporters, donors, and millions of well-wishers to pool in funds for your international education. This will help you greatly in meeting your study costs, maybe, even without taking a loan. So, get your creative ideas together and start a magnetic and compelling fundraiser.

Explore Study Loans

Besides all your efforts to gather money to meet the study costs, you might still be short of cash. Various financial institutions in your home country offer schemes to take loans to finance your education in New Zealand. These education loans can be repaid with interest later. Like scholarships, it’s good to research the various features of the different loans available before taking up one.

Studying in New Zealand is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the world, so do your best to make the most of it. Don’t deviate yourself due to challenges and barriers. If you have the will, we’ll find a way for you.