Rise in international students rating New Zealand experience positively

In the 2024 International Student Experience Survey, students lifted their positive rating of their experience to 86 percent, two percent higher than the previous year.  

In addition, the number of students who rated their experience as “excellent” lifted eight percent to 41 percent. 

The results were announced today at the international education sector conference, NZIEC KI TUA, which was organised by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ). 

Commenting on the survey results, ENZ Acting Chief Executive Dr Linda Sissons said the results demonstrate the high quality of the New Zealand education experience both inside and outside the classroom. 

“That we have a significant increase in the number of students rating their overall New Zealand experience as excellent is something to be celebrated. The results are a reassuring testament to the ongoing recovery of the sector and our ability to deliver international students what they highly value in a study destination.  

“We are delighted to see how positive students are about the people they meet and connections they form in New Zealand. This speaks strongly to the enriching ties these students will have to our country in the long run, and how we will benefit and learn from each other,” Dr Sissons said. 

2024 sees the highest proportion of international students (41 percent) rating their overall New Zealand experience as ‘excellent’, up from 33 percent in 2023. This proportion is higher than any of the previous three surveys undertaken. This year also includes a much larger sample of 6,431 students compared to 4,755 students last year.  

Students were most positive about the people and connections they experienced in New Zealand (90%), followed by education experience (87%), making study arrangements (87%), arrival and orientation (85%), and living experience (83%).  

Students also positively rated their experience using an education agent, particularly their agent’s knowledge of their education provider’s application process (84%), New Zealand application options (81%) and how using an education agent reduced the time taken to complete their application (79%). 

For further information:   

Visit Tableau Public to access the data sets (login required) - International Student Experience Survey 2024 | Tableau Public

Visit ENZ's Intellilab for the full report - International Student Experience Survey 2024 Report | ENZ IntelliLab

Or contact: 

Sai Raje | Senior Communications Advisor, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao    

sai.raje@enz.govt.nz   

 +64 21 479 649    

Notes to Editors:    

About the New Zealand International Student Experience Survey 2024  

The New Zealand International Student Experience Survey aims to better understand the overall student experience for international students enrolled with New Zealand education providers as well as those who have recently completed their studies. The survey also aims to understand where improvements can be made to enhance the international student experience.  

International students across all sectors and all stages of the student journey were invited to participate in this online survey. Fieldwork for this survey was conducted from 10 May to 4 June 2024 and included 6,431 respondents representing over 100 nationalities. 

About Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) https://www.enz.govt.nz/     

ENZ is the government agency dedicated to helping Aotearoa New Zealand realise the social, cultural, and economic benefits of international education. Our role is to promote New Zealand as a high-quality education destination offering excellent education and student experiences and to encourage New Zealand students to study overseas.  

With approximately 105 staff in 16 locations around the world, ENZ works closely with New Zealand’s diverse education sector which includes schools, English language providers, Private Training Establishments, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (Te Pūkenga), and universities. Internationally, we work with a range of education stakeholders, including government agencies and education providers to identify and encourage sustainable growth opportunities for New Zealand’s education sector.