If you are a student who has done his graduation from India and is looking forward to study in New Zealand then you can choose to do either a graduate diploma at level 7, postgraduate diploma at level 8 and a master’s degree at level 9 for your study in New Zealand. These are the options you have for your New Zealand study
Choosing a particular course for your further studies depend on your career aspirations as well as family budget you may have for your studies in New Zealand
We regularly receive queries from students aspiring to apply for New Zealand study visa about the difference in the programs -diploma at level 7 and a postgraduate diploma at level 8. The students are interested to know difference in terms of the duration of the course, the duration post study work visa opportunities, eligibility requirements
In the following article we would differentiate these courses on 3 points
- Duration of the course
- Post study work duration
- Admission requirements
Duration of the programs
The duration of both the programs, that is a graduate diploma at level 7 and a postgraduate diploma at level 8 is of one year. Applicants may get most of the programs which are of generally one year in duration. There may be certain programs at PG level the duration of which may be about 18 months. So in terms of duration the students may get a graduate diploma as well as post graduate diploma which they may complete in 1 year
Post study work visa
The duration of the post study work visa after the successful completion of both the programs is different. After the completion of a graduate diploma at level 7 the duration of which is of one year, the students may qualify for a post graduate work visa of one year. But if you choose to do a postgraduate diploma at level 8, the course is also one year but the students get a post study work visa of up to 3 years. This is the in PSW visa between diploma at level 7 and post graduate diploma at level 8.
This is one of the benefits of choosing a postgraduate diploma at level 8 over a graduate diploma at level 7
Admission requirements
To get admission into a course in New Zealand the student need to fulfil academic as well as English language requirements. The requirements for the both the courses that is graduate diploma in new Zealand at level 7 and a postgraduate diploma at level 8 may be different.
The academic requirements may be same but the English language requirements are different. the students can get admission into a graduate diploma at level 7 with the overall IELTS band score of 6 with no band less than 5.5 in any of the four sub skills but to get admission into a postgraduate diploma which is at level 8 of the New Zealand qualification framework the students need to have overall 6.5 with no band less than 6 in any of the four modules. The students may also submit an equivalent PTE is score to get it mission.
New Zealand student Visa financial requirements for both the courses
The visa requirements are almost same. If you choose a 1 year program whether a graduate diploma or a PG Diploma you need to have access to funds of 1 year of tuition fees and cost of living in New Zealand.