New Zealand: A good option for International studies at the time of recession

The number of international students choosing to study in New Zealand rose sharply in the past year. Ministry of Education figures show that between January and August, 76,562 international fee-paying students took up studies in New Zealand, up 5.5 per cent on the 72,540 who came last year.
The amounts charged to education providers by the Ministry of Education increased by 7.8 per cent from $2.4 million in 2008 to $2.6 million this year.
Last year, "export education"' was one the top five earners for the economy with dairy, tourism, meat and mineral fuels. Education New Zealand is the umbrella industry body for organisations involved in teaching foreign students. Its communications specialist, Michelle Waitzman, said there were several possible reasons for the increase over the past year. One was New Zealand being seen as good value for money. "Being a global recession, people are looking for cheaper options." She said Auckland continued to be the most popular city for study as a lot of students were used to living in a big city and many had relatives in the region.
The biggest increase in student numbers came from India and Saudi Arabia. She said the reason for the increase in students from countries such as China and India was the growing number of middle-class families who could afford to send their children overseas to study. More students arrived from Saudi Arabia because of their Government's scholarships. "International predictions say that the number of globally mobile students will keep increasing."
Despite growth over the past year, the number of students was down 22 per cent on the 2003 high of 97,905. Ms Waitzman said the high number of international students five years ago occurred when there were fewer countries competing for students. New Zealand was one of the first countries to open its doors to Chinese students and since then many more options had become available.
Even from Gujarat, we have seen study abroad consultants advertising "Study in New Zealand". But, very few do the consulting in the ethical way and most of the applications end up getting rejected. The major reasons being low scores in IELTS and gap in the studies.
If you are not already in New Zealand and are applying to New Zealand to study, you must complete the requirements for the issue of a student visa.
You will be given the required forms by the New Zealand Government office (the visa issuing officer) in your country. Requirements for a student visa will normally include :
1. VERY IMPORTANT : A written offer of a place, which notifies you that you have been accepted by an educational institution in New Zealand to study there.
2. EITHER - A receipt for payment of course fees (You are not required to produce the receipt before your application has been approved in principle)
OR - Evidence that you are exempt from course fees. For e.g. A New Zealand Government Scholarship.
3. A complete and signed ‘Application for Student Visa’ form, with a passport-size photograph. You will be required to pay a non-refundable student visa application fee.
4. A guarantee of accommodation - a written assurance from an educational institution or other person that suitable residential accommodation is available to you in New Zealand.
5. Your passport or certificate of identity, which must be valid for the period of time for which you are applying to study.
6. Evidence that funds are available for your maintenance throughout your stay. One of the four is acceptable as evidence :
• A completed ‘Sponsoring a student’ form, in which your sponsor gives a financial undertaking that he or she can transfer to New Zealand NZ $7,000 a year : this amount is considered minimum for a year’s living expenses.
• A letter from your educational institution confirming that your living expenses have already been paid for as part of your fees.
• A bank document showing that funds of the required amount will be available to you in New Zealand ($1000 for each month of your stay for short term study, $7000 a year for long term study)
• An award of a full New Zealand scholarship
If you intend studying in New Zealand for more than 24 months, you will need :

a) Completed New Zealand Immigration service medical and chest X-ray certificates

b) Character clearances, which must be two original character references (if under 17 years of age), or a local police clearance (if you are 17 and over). You will be advised of the procedure for obtaining these by the New Zealand government office.

All these documents are essential before a student visa is issued. When the overseas New Zealand government office is satisfied that your application is complete and in order, you will be issued a student visa.