For the safety and comfort of our international students, Howick College follows the New Zealand Ministry of Education’s Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. (We will send you a copy on request, or read it at www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/international.)

Term Dates

The school year in New Zealand is divided up into four terms with a two week holiday period between each term. As New Zealand is the Southern Hemisphere, the end of the school year coincides with summer. A six week break over December and January offers students the chance to experience a unique Kiwi summer holiday with BBQs and trips to the beach.

The following dates are advised for 2014:

Term 1 - 3 Feb - 17 April (11 weeks)

Term 2 - 5 May - 4 June (9 weeks)

Term 3 - 21 July - 26 September (10 weeks)

Term 4 - 13 October - 11 December (9 weeks). Senior students at Howick College finish their year a few weeks earlier than this date, due to study leave and examinations.

School Uniform

Like most schools in New Zealand, Howick College has its own uniform. Wearing a uniform creates a sense of community and belonging. We expect our students to wear their uniform correctly and with pride. Details on the Howick College uniform, including where to buy it, and general grooming guidelines, are on the school website here.

Students studying at Year 13 level do not have to wear uniform and instead can wear mufti (their own clothes). Guidelines for wearing mufti can also be found in the uniform section.

International students who are studying at Howick College for one term or less do not have to wear school uniform.

Application requirements and procedures

Applicants must complete the Howick College International Students Application form. In addition, they must complete either the Homestay Aplication form or the Designated Caregiver form or the Parental Care form.

These forms are available from our website here.

The following information must be sent with your application:

two recent school reports
two passport-sized photographs
a letter in English introducing yourself, written by you without assistance
details of proposed insurance if you do not wish Howick College to arrange it.

International students at Howick College have to be successful students in their home country. They need very good results, especially in English. They must display a desire to fully co-operate with and contribute to the life of the school. We’ll use your school reports to judge whether you have a good chance of success in the New Zealand education system. We’ll assess your English language skills when you arrive in New Zealand and will make final decisions about your level and subject placements after that.

If your application is successful, you will receive an Offer of Place and an invoice for the fees payable. The Offer of Place will remain valid for one month. To confirm that you accept the offer, you have to pay the tuition fees as invoiced.

Payment can be made by cash, cheque, or by direct transfer into the school’s bank account. Account details will be stated on the invoice. Students applying directly from China, Vietnam, India or Bangladesh, should not send money until the visa is approved in principle.
When we receive the tuition fees, a receipt will be sent to you. You’ll need this for your visa application.
In order to study in New Zealand as an international student, you have to have a Student Visa. Full details of visa and permit requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service. You can read it on www.immigration.govt.nz

When you apply for a visa, you have to supply:

A completed and signed Application to Study in New Zealand form
The application fee
Your passport
A recent passport photograph
Evidence of financial support while in New Zealand
The Offer of Place that we have sent you
Evidence that you have paid the course fees
Evidence of a guarantee of accommodation.

The requirements listed above are explained in greater detail on the Immigration Service website, www.immigration.govt.nz

Health services

Most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health services in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your visit, you may be liable for the full cost of that treatment. Full details on entitlements to publicly funded health services are available through the Ministry of Health, and can be viewed on www.moh.govt.nz

Accident insurance

The Accident Compensation Corporation provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents, and temporary visitors to New Zealand. However, you may still be liable for all other medical and related costs. Further information can be viewed on the ACC website at www.acc.co.nz

Medical and travel insurance

International students must have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance while they study in New Zealand.

All students accepting a place at Howick College will be invoiced for an initial twelve months’ cover for travel and medical insurance by Uni-Care (PPP Policy). This payment is due with tuition and homestay fees, but will be refunded if students produce evidence of equivalent cover from their home country.

For an insurance policy from the student’s home country to be acceptable, it must contain the following features:

The insurer is a reputable and established company with an excellent credit rating
The insurer is able to provide cover at all hours
The policy covers the period of the student’s contract with the school Travel insurance covering loss of baggage and personal effects, accident and injury, disruption to travel plans, cost of medical care in stopover countries
Medical benefits which include general practitioner visits and prescriptions through to major hospitalisation (public and private), optical and emergency dental procedures, with no excess. Sums insured must be very high, e.g. NZ$1,000,000 plus
Emergency evacuation/repatriation. Ideally this must be unlimited cover
Accompanying relative cover in the event of serious illness or death of the student
Personal effects
Personal liability cover.