New Zealand Increases Student Work Limit To 25 Hours Weekly
In a move aimed at boosting its international education sector, New Zealand has increased the part-time work limit for eligible international students from 20 to 25 hours per week. The policy change is part of a broader strategy to attract more overseas students, particularly as countries like the U.S. and Australia tighten their immigration and education policies.
The change also extends in-study work rights to students enrolled in authorised exchange or study abroad programs, offering them more opportunities to gain professional experience while studying.
“With international student enrolments steadily increasing since 2023, the government wants to supercharge that growth track,” Education Minister Erica Stanford told Reuters on Monday.
What Indian students have to say?
Indian students in New Zealand have responded with cautious optimism. Aditi Mishra, a master's student, said, “It’s a step in the right direction, but finding a decent part-time job is still hard. Many of my friends and I appreciate the increase in work hours because it could ease financial pressure.”
However, she pointed out that jobs paying fairly and aligning with student schedules are limited, “making the benefit more theoretical than practical.”
Another Indian student, currently pursuing an MBA and requesting anonymity, noted the potential downside: “This will help cover living expenses, but juggling more work and full-time study is exhausting.” He added, “While the extra five hours may help financially, it also increases the risk of burnout. My friends and I worry about the toll it can take on academics and mental health, especially in an already high-pressure environment.”
The policy update comes as New Zealand sets ambitious goals for its foreign education sector. According to the government's newly announced plans, the foreign education sector, which currently contributes about NZ$3.6 billion to the economy, is expected to grow to NZ$7.2 billion over the next ten years. According to the proposal, enrolment is anticipated to rise from 83,700 this year to 105,000 by 2027 and then to 119,000 by 2034.
The implementation of these reforms coincides with the tightening of restrictions on popular study locations. The U.S. under President Donald Trump had imposed tighter controls on student visas. Citing housing and infrastructural issues, Australia more recently imposed a nationwide limitation that will limit the number of new overseas students enrolled to 270,000 in 2025.
New Zealand, on the other hand, seems to be going the other way, seizing the opportunity to broaden its educational options and draw in students who might be turned off by stricter regulations elsewhere.
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