Bid to fill student quota under exemption

WELLINGTON: Officials are trying to allow dozens of overseas master’s students into New Zealand under a new border exemption announced by the Government last month.

The Government is allowing 250 international postgraduate students to return, and doctoral students have priority.

About 194 PhD students from 45 countries are confirming their visas before returning. The next steps for these students included receiving confirmation from Immigration New Zealand and obtaining a place in a managed isolation facility, the Ministry of Education said.

Universities New Zealand said the criteria for selection were strict, so the number was fewer than the full quota.

Ministry acting deputy secretary for graduate achievement, vocations and careers Andy Jackson said officials were working to identify a further 56 level 9 master’s students who would complete the cohort of 250 students.

The first priority group are PhD students who hold or have held a valid visa to study in New Zealand in 2020, were enrolled in a PhD or other postgraduate qualification before the border closed on March 19 and are studying towards a qualification that involves practical components that cannot be progressed or completed offshore.