This article is part of a series covering off some key questions and areas of interest for parents and whānau. For more information, see the Resources for parents and whānau section.
Working or studying overseas can be a rewarding experience, offering personal and professional growth. This article provides a summary of things to consider if you want to use your New Zealand qualification to apply for work or further study overseas.
Moving overseas with NZ qualifications
Qualifications listed on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) are well recognised around the world.
If you are looking to move overseas with your NZQCF-listed qualifications for work or study, New Zealand has formal arrangements with some countries that can make it easier for your qualification to be recognised and understood.
Although these arrangements don't guarantee that your New Zealand qualification will be accepted as equal to one completed in your desired country, they can make it easier for education providers and employers to understand how your qualification compares to theirs.
If you work in a field that’s covered by a professional body (such as Chartered Accountants or Registered Nurses), you should also check with them whether there are any existing arrangements with their counterparts in the country you are moving to.
You may be able to use your New Zealand qualification to continue with post-graduate study overseas.
Be aware that each university or education provider will have their own entry requirements. You will also need to check which documents the education provider you're applying to needs – different countries and providers have different requirements.
See NZ tertiary qualifications overseas for more information.
Overseas study with NCEA
The National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA) can open the doors to undergraduate study in Australia, the UK, Europe, the United States, and many other countries.
If you are thinking of moving overseas with NCEA, New Zealand also has qualifications recognition arrangements with some countries that may help with your application, and have completed mapping evaluations with others, looking at how NCEA compares with their school-leaver qualifications.
NZQA provides ATAR scores for Australia and grade point average estimates for some other countries, along with a range of documents – including your New Zealand Record of Achievement and Overseas Results Notice – where these are needed.
See Applying to study overseas with NCEA for more information.
With the right preparation and understanding of the recognition processes, you can navigate the international job market or international study successfully.