International master’s students have, for the first time, outnumbered domestic students.
Education Ministry data shows nearly 15,000 full-time equivalent international students were enrolled in master’s programmes last year, compared with just under 11,000 domestic students.
The number of international master’s students was nearly 50% higher than in 2024.
The Platform’s Michael Laws said that, for many international students, studying “has nothing to do with getting an academic qualification and everything to do with New Zealand’s visa and points system for permanent residency.”
“The easiest way to actually make sure that you accumulate enough for a PR in this country is to get yourself a master’s degree,” he said.
Immigration lawyer Alastair McClymont said that completing a master’s degree in New Zealand can provide all the points needed to apply for residency, provided graduates go on to secure skilled employment.
McClymont said upcoming changes in August are shifting demand toward “the cheapest and easiest master’s degrees”, as students look to secure a post-study work visa before moving into skilled employment.
Laws said many people may not realise how much the master’s degree market has shifted, noting that “a master’s degree is a short course. It’s one year.”
He argued that some universities now view it less as a traditional postgraduate qualification and more as a standalone credential linked to immigration pathways.
Meanwhile, Education New Zealand acting chief executive Linda Sissons said a master’s degree is considered both “high enough level” and “brief enough” to be viewed as leading to employment opportunities.