Budget 2017/2018: What does it mean for New Zealand students?
Since the announcement of the 2017 Budget early last week,
there has been a great deal of media coverage concerning changes to university
fees, funding and repayment thresholds. However, it is worth considering how
these will impact international students, namely those hailing from New
Zealand.
Students from New Zealand will no longer be eligible for
commonwealth fee subsidies that are offered to domestic students, meaning they
will now pay full price for their qualifications. The fee hike will be
substantial; a science degree that previously cost around $9,000 will skyrocket
to over $35,000.
Student loans will be available for New Zealanders to offset
the financial strain but it will come at a cost in the form of a 25 per cent loan
fee. The changes will apply from January 2018 and fortunately for current New
Zealand natives studying in Australia, the new regulations will not apply to
them.
The decision has been met with strong criticism,
particularly from those across the Tasman. The chairman of advocacy group Oz
Kiwi, Tim Gassin described the fee hikes as “absurd” and an “act of bastardry.”
Even New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English chimed in, saying he was “pretty unhappy”
with the situation.
It comes barely a week after Immigration Minister Peter Dutton
announced the longer wait times associated with citizenship rule changes would
also apply to New Zealanders.
