University of Auckland to launch International Study Centres

The initiative is a continuation of the University’s innovative approach to providing opportunities for international students seeking to gain entry to New Zealand’s leading university while overseas. As part of the collaboration, several existing NCUK Centres will become new University of Auckland International Study Centres. Students will progress through a pathway programme delivered in their home country, going on to enrol in the University upon successfully completing their foundation programme.

Brett Berquist, Director International at the University of Auckland, said the initiative formed part of a wider range of strategies to better serve prospective international students who may be unable to enter New Zealand right now.

“The University already has a number of successful partnerships with overseas institutions at undergraduate and postgraduate level, so it seemed natural to expand this to offer new pathways for international students wishing to join us. We have worked with NCUK and their global Study Centre network for several years, so we are delighted to extend our collaboration further.”

Education New Zealand and New Zealand’s eight universities have recently announced a partnership with NCUK which allows students from more than 30 countries to pathway from any of the NCUK’s global network of 81 recognised study centres, to any New Zealand University. All New Zealand Universities are supporting this partnership and committing over $300,000 per year in dedicated scholarships.

The first University of Auckland International Study Centre to launch in 2021 will be located at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), which has been a University of Auckland partner since 2005 and has had an established partnership with NCUK since 2014. The University of Auckland International Study Centre will be based at the BFSU International Business School (IBS), one of BFSU’s newest and largest schools with more than 1,500 students currently.

Yanping Zhang, the Assistant Dean and Director of the International Office at IBS, affirmed, “We are very pleased to work with our prestigious partner, the University of Auckland, to launch a new opportunity for Chinese students aspiring to study in New Zealand.”

The first cohort of students, due to start in March 2021, will complete a foundation programme with the added value of tailored New Zealand studies curriculum developed by University of Auckland staff. Throughout the year, students will benefit from direct linkages with the University as they prepare to make the move to studying on campus in Auckland.

As a further sign of its commitment, the University has established the University of Auckland Pathway Partner High Achiever Award for the top graduates of the International Study Centres. Commencing from 2022, successful scholarship recipients who enrol in an undergraduate degree at the University of Auckland will receive up to $10,000 towards their tuition fees.

NCUK’s CEO, Professor John Brewer, said, “NCUK has a long history of providing high-quality pre-university and university equivalence qualifications to students in their home country. This collaboration with the University of Auckland is an ideal way for students who want to join the University, but for whatever reason are not able to begin their studies in New Zealand, to start their academic journey.”