Expenses/Costs via Student Visa Path

[ModM]

koru_ph It may be dynamic especially with rapid changes in immigration and education policies, but I don't think of it as a very technical field. In the past few months, PTEs were in the news a couple of times primarily because of the schemes that they and their education agents have been employing in countries like India and Philippines. Even our new ambassador is really looking into this issue now and have asked for comments and inputs from students here to help him understand the plight of the international students.

Unfortunately, quite a lot of agents, whether intentional or out of ignorance, have as you say misrepresented realities of studying in NZ. In fact, I got into a spat with an education agent a few months ago because I saw one flyer that sells the idea that one can study here for postgrad and bring their family -- and their kids get free education from early education up to secondary level. Anyone who sends their kids to school here knows it is not really free.

I believe always in the saying that there is no such thing as a free lunch. My friend who was in the business of selling NZ education abroad for over 15 years said their school's strategy was to look into students from richer countries because they have the means to pay for quality education and not a ticket to residency. Other schools however are in for quantity enrolment and not quality.

[koru_ph]

I think we'll just have to agree to disagree here ModM - both in terms of how technical a field immigration is, and how much we value education agents. Our perspectives are naturally different because we come from different backgrounds and have different types of exposure to migration and migrants. And that's all good :)

[ModM]

hi koru_ph I don't generalise all education agents in the same manner I don't do it for immigration advisors. Immigration advisors are of a different league because they have their licenses to protect. When you have a complicated situation, immigration advisors are and education agents can be of big help. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about all education agents as I know that some of them are clueless of life in NZ and are only out there for the money. I know the difference because I have two Filipino education agents I know first hand from back home. One is totally clueless whereas one, thankfully, lives here, shuttles between PH and NZ and whose partner has taken the student route. Some agents even have the nerve to grab off FB, photos of their previous clients without permission and weave stories/caption to entice new applicants. Sorry but there really are bad eggs out there.

[ModM]

Going back to topic on expenses, for those who are keen to study in New Zealand, study the cost of living expenses. The amount you need to raise does not stop at paying the tuition, getting the visa and buying a plane ticket to NZ. Estimate how much on a weekly basis do you need for accommodation and utilities, transport, food, and school supplies/miscellaneous expenses. Assume that you can't get a job in 3 months. Even when you have a medical insurance, you also have to pay out of pocket before your insurance can reimburse you and it can be crazy expensive. One student kept getting asthma attacks, I recall she had to pay 400nzd yata isang check-up lang.

Siguro mga 300-350 weekly average expense for students.
Accommodation + utilities (shared room) = 120 to 150
Food = 100 to 150

[bagsik]

well said

[allune]

ModM that's right. Nag stop na sila mag-calculate sa tuition at show money kasi ang mindset ma-earn naman ang living expenses through finding a job.... May mga kilala akong students na months na wala pa ring regular na trabaho...

[ModM]

for those na students dito and or marami kilalang students, share niyo naman how much ang weekly costs para makaprepare mga parating.

tsaka rin how long dapat maglast ang "baon".

Is it safe to say na at least 20 weeks worth of baon while waiting to get a job?

[marlonm210]

Let me share mine. Financially I came prepared or so I though since I bought my three kids and my wife. Am studying at AIS and Im almost done with my one year level 8 diploma in Business Admin. Bring at least for one year na "baon". This way if all else fail you won't have serious financial burden on top finishing school and looking for work that will provide PR (which is not that easy to find even for part time while studying).

My Monthly expenses:

Rent 1,700 (425 pw) - 3br flat
Water 40
Power 150
Internet 95
Food 600
Gas 100
Mobile phone - 30 (pre paid for two)

My wife who's on a work visa got a full time work. I got a part time work at a hotel in CBD. Combining our income against our monthly expenses, I would say na kaya naman but a little tight.

Also if you intend to enrol your kids into the "free" tuition schools, there are miscellanious fees you need to consider as follows:

Uniform - 1000 (although school sells second hand din na almost half the price)
Sapatos - 15 to 25 depends if sale
Donation - around 400 per year

For transportation, initially we use to commute by train/bus since may student discount naman. Pero for convenience and in the long run mas tipid ang may kotse specially uso dito ang weekend road trips. Car expenses:

Car - for 5,000 you can get a good sub compact car . . . a friend of mine got a 97 civic sedan for 2,000 and still runs well.
Yearly Registration - 88
WOF - 30
Maintenance cost (tune and change oil) - around 250

Also would suggest to always have a fallback. If you can, leave some money behind sa Pilipinas just in case. . .

[ModM]

marlonm210 thanks for sharing your experience.

unfortunately nga mas matipid ang kotse minsan dito kaysa mag public transport.

yung school costs na share mo, is that per child?

buti na rin at may full time work si wife mo.

[marlonm210]

Sorry for three kids pala I spent 1000 for uniform kasama pants shirt jersey and jacket.

[obey]

Hi guys, I'm from Singapore and currently engaging IDP Singapore to assist on my application. Free yung service nila.

I just realized they recently opened an office there in Ortigas, check this out: www.idp.com/philippines/studyabroad.

Alternatively, most of the schools naman are very responsive, so sariling sikap will do.

[The Lost Sheep]

napakahelpful po ng thread nato.. I see you guys as a blessing from God, plan ko rin mag-aral sa newzealand, and eto.. nag iistart ako sa wala, nagbabasa basa, pursigido ako at desidido kahit gano kahirap lalo na pag mga mahal mo sa buhay ang nasa isip mo, kailangan talaga walang makakahadlang, minsan pag nakikita natin ung mga ganitong gastos eh napapaisip tayo na parang impossibleh to the point na nagiging hopeless na tayo.. but hey, our God is the God of Hope, He is our sustainer, our provider.. yes nothing is impossible to God.. thankyou for this forum

[jeshsevz]

jobo meron pa kayo yong discount ngayo? AIS stands for? Tsaka level7 ba yong course ni Mrs? Magkano na lang after discount?

[jeshsevz]

gladys06

Yong around $15k anong level ng course yon?

[YinDomina]

Adding some info to this thread

Month/Year Entered/Entering New Zealand: Aug 2018
Tuition Costs: 14,850nzd
School and Course: Aspire2 International/Concordia Institute of Business, Grad Diploma in Applied Mgmt, strand Project Mgmt
City in NZ: Auckland
Visa Costs: approx ~11,000php
Airfare Costs: approx ~29,000php PAL
Other Costs:
Insurance - included in tuition
Laptop - included in tuition
Medical - 2,200php (xray only since I was advised by a friend I should lower my BMI first before full medical 😅)
Living Costs in NZ (Per week or per month): $ or PHP eq ... TBD po muna

Were you on Funds Transfer Scheme? Yes. I was told its because most of my savings are in mutual funds and COL financial, kaya daw ako naFTS . Oh well, iniisip ko nalang this will help make sure I have money each month 😋

Will add more info as I go...

[allune]

YinDomina naku nag medical ka na sana... how high is your bmi anyway... mas mahirap papayat dito lalo kung winter

[YinDomina]

Mataas po noon allune. Gusto ko nga sana full med na kaso sabi nung friend ko baka magka problem daw dahil sa bmi ko. Di daw pasok sa ASH, acceptable standard of health(?). Sya kasi yun ang naging problem. 1 mo after nung xray ko saka ko sya napababa to an acceptable level 😥, by then approved na visa so ok na din. Aside from my weight wala naman iba medical problems so naisip ko sa nz nalang ako pa full. oh well, yan nangyayari pag naiiwan sa kusina at may mapagmahal na ina hahaha! 😋

[Lee Sam]

Hi po magkano ang ggastosin po lahat to study here sa auckland ng I.T..,? Bali like for example babayad ako sa school ? Kailangan ba full payment kaagad ito? If my 20k NZD ako kakayanin ko po kaya ito? At if nandito na ako sa nz ngayin? Salamt po sa sasagot..

[koru_ph]

Hi Lee Sam,

Costs depend largely on your programme of study. Kung yung balak mo, course na magllead sa post-study work visa, kulang yung NZD20k overall. Yung tuition, babayaran mo siya ng buo by the year. On top of tuition, yung fund requirement ng INZ nasa NZD15k per year at balak pa nila taasan yun.

Dahil nasa NZ ka na, yung tuition kailangan bayad na bago ka magapply ng visa.

Licensed adviser ako at nagpplace talaga kami ng students sa mga schools. Pwede ka namin matulungan. Kung interested ka, book ka lang ng free initial consultation by filling out this form - forms.gle/e1KNFNUomeWixozW8