This page provides guidance to New Zealand tertiary education organisations (TEOs) seeking to deliver a programme offshore.
These guidelines set out the New Zealand Qualifications Authority’s quality assurance process for approval, and explain the special criteria in the:
Offshore Programme Delivery Rules 2022
Changes since January 2018
This guide has been updated to:
- reflect that online offshore delivery no longer requires approval under the Offshore Programme Delivery Rules
- include the requirement for Workforce Development Council (WDC) endorsement
- include the requirement that offshore programmes must produce graduates whose skills are comparable to students taught or trained in New Zealand
- clarify the meaning of ‘offshore partner organisations’
- reference the Education (Pastoral Care of International and Domestic Tertiary Students) Code of Practice 2021.
Please send feedback or questions to qaadmin@nzqa.govt.nz.
On this page
What is offshore delivery?
Offshore programme delivery means delivery in a country (other than New Zealand, or a Realm Country, Cook Islands, Niue, or Tokelau) of all or part of an NZQA-approved programme by an offshore provider.
- ‘Offshore provider’ means a university or a Category 1 or Category 2 TEO.
- ‘Programme’ means a programme that leads to the award of a qualification listed on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).
Delivery may be provided by the offshore provider themselves or in partnership with one or more other offshore providers or partner organisations.
- ‘Offshore partner’ means an organisation that is used, or is to be used, by an offshore provider for offshore: teaching, training, or supervision of learning activities; assessment; practical training; academic or pastoral support.
Typically, but not always, a programme will have a history of successful delivery within New Zealand before a TEO considers applying to NZQA to deliver it offshore.
The Offshore Programme Delivery Rules do not apply to:
- delivery of the programme via distance or online modes of delivery only, where the programme has been approved for distance or online mode of delivery in New Zealand
- offshore delivery of all or part of a TEO’s programme leading to the award of an overseas (i.e., non-NZQCF) qualification
- articulation arrangements where a TEO cross-credits part of an overseas qualification towards a New Zealand qualification.
Who can apply?
TEOs with a Category of 1 or 2 can apply for offshore programme approval.
For more information refer to:
Provider categories after external evaluation and review
TEOs include:
- private training establishments (PTEs)
- Te Pūkenga
- wānanga
- government training establishments.
TEOs seeking to be offshore providers must be signatories to the Education (Pastoral Care of International and Domestic Tertiary Students) Code of Practice 2021.
TEOs seeking to be offshore providers must submit for approval either:
- an existing approved programme that they have adapted for offshore delivery that also meets the Offshore Programme Delivery Rules 2022, or
- a new programme that meets both the Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2022, and the Offshore Programme Delivery Rules 2022.
Offshore approval for programmes delivered by New Zealand universities is the responsibility of the:
Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP) (external link)
NZQA rules and guidelines
The following apply:
Offshore Programme Delivery Rules 2022
Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2022 (Programme Rules)
Guidelines for approving and maintaining degrees and related qualifications
Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code)
PTE Enrolment and Academic Records Rules 2022
Quality assurance
NZQA quality assures applications for offshore programme delivery based on the evidence provided to meet Offshore Programme Delivery Rule 7.1.
Applications must meet the following criteria.
- Describe how the offshore programme delivery meets the special criteria set out in the Offshore Programme Delivery Rules 2022. These are set out and explained below. There is one Approval criterion and nine Accreditation criteria.
- Where the language of instruction, assessment or training is not Te Reo Māori or English, explain how that will be communicated to potential students and how that will feature on the certificate of award.
- Where practical training arrangements are involved, explain how they will be overseen, verified, and assessed, and explain the responsibilities and accountabilities of each party.
- Where work placements are involved, explain how the employer and workplace are assessed and how the student's safety and well-being during the work placement will be supported.
NZQA will be clear about the information and evidence on which decisions have been made. An application outcome of approved, not approved, or request for information (RFI) will be provided based on the overall quality of the application.
Te Hono o Te Kahurangi quality assurance
Te Hono o Te Kahurangi is a whare ako framework and methodology NZQA uses for quality assurance in the non-university tertiary sector.
If your organisation uses kaupapa Māori and teaches mātauranga Māori, Te Hono o Te Kahurangi lets you engage with NZQA using Māori approaches and values.
Te Hono o Te Kahurangi guidelines for evaluative quality assurance
These guidelines inform TEOs about how NZQA quality assures educational outcomes. They also show how NZQA prioritises Mātauranga Māori and the acceleration of Māori learner success in the tertiary education context.
Special approval criteria
Special accreditation criteria
How to apply
TEOs may submit an existing approved programme that they have adapted for offshore delivery, or a new programme.
If adapting an existing programme please provide a tracked changes copy of the programme documentation.
How to apply online
- Log in to the providers portal.
- Select TEO Applications.
- Create an application.
- Select ‘Other’.
- Click on contact details. The contact details page is prepopulated with your organisation’s details. You should make any changes necessary to ensure the details are appropriate for the programme.
- Follow the instructions and guided application template.
- On the supporting documents page, attach and upload the documents that support the application.
- Submit.
An email acknowledging receipt of your application will be generated automatically and sent to you.
When the application is received
When the application is received, an email quoting an NZQA case number will be sent to the applicant. This number stays with the application through to its outcome.
The application will be assigned to the Approvals and Accreditation team or Quality Assurance Māori team. Another email will advise the applicant of the Evaluator’s name and contact details.
The Evaluator will commence evaluation and will contact the applicant if the submission lacks sufficient evidence for the evaluation to be carried out.
Timeframes
NZQA will process applications within 45 working days, or 30 working days for Category 1 education organisations. This does not include requests for information.
Supporting documents
This guide offers suggestions for supporting documents. Please indicate how the documents support the application if it is not obvious.
There is a simple template for a programme document:
Appendix 4 Programme document example [DOCX, 18 KB]
Evaluation
The Evaluator will assess the application against the special criteria in the offshore Rules, and the criteria in the Programme Rules, depending on whether it is a new or adapted programme.
Request for further information (RFI)
What does it mean?
Overall, the Evaluator has deemed the application meets the criteria and is supported by documentation of sufficient quality that an RFI should resolve any questions.
There may be further work required and where possible suggestions may be made to assist the applicant. In some cases, the RFI will comprise questions about missing or unclear documentation.
The findings of the evaluation will be set out in a report and the Evaluator will be available to explain or clarify it.
If the Evaluator concludes that the response to the RFI has not addressed the issues raised, then the application will not be approved.
Outcome
Applications will be approved or not approved.
If the application is not approved, the reasons will be set out in a detailed report linked to the criteria in the NZQA Rules. The Evaluator will be available for a phone call or meeting, or will provide clarification via email, in response to the outcome letter and report.
If applications are approved the education organisation will receive an approval letter with a copy of the approved programme details recorded on the NZQA system.
What will it cost?
The work on the application is charged at a rate of $190 per hour plus GST.