When Is the Best Time to Study Abroad in New Zealand?
It is important to know in depth the characteristics of the country, especially in relation to the climate, the seasons, the school period and how to get there, making sure that you will embark at the right time and make the most of this experience.
It was with this in mind that, in this post, we have collected information to help you decide when to start your studies. Follow up!
How is the weather in New Zealand?
Contrary to popular belief, the climate in New Zealand is not that different from Brazil. This is because it is temperate and has as main aspects the precipitation of rain and snow, constant humidity and moderate temperatures, without major changes or peaks throughout the seasons – so much so that the average on the island is 20ºC.
“But why is the climate there not so different from Brazil?”, you might be asking yourself. Well, we say that because New Zealand is below the Tropic of Capricorn, the same line that cuts through all the southern states (Santa Catarina, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul).
That is, the region shares the same climate as the land of the kiwis. This means that you won’t have any big surprises when you move to another country to study, as you’ll have a reference of what you can and can’t expect at your study destination.
How are the seasons in the country?
Since we mentioned the seasons in the previous topic, let’s delve deeper into this subject. First, it is important to know that they occur in the same way as in Brazil – and not inversely as in the nations of the northern hemisphere.
Below, we have gathered some information that can help you choose the best time to study abroad in New Zealand according to the seasons. Look:
Spring (September 23 to December 21): mild days with temperatures between 15ºC and 20ºC. It is the ideal season to enjoy the country’s parks and nature reserves, which are many. As for clothing, light clothes predominate;
Summer (21 December to 20 March): time of year with the highest temperatures, between 20ºC and 25ºC. It’s a great time to explore the island’s coastline, do outdoor activities and see sights;
Autumn (March 20th to June 21st): temperatures drop, reaching between 13ºC and 17ºC, and the weather starts to gradually cool down. When dressing, overlaps become frequent. During these months, the focus is on cultural programs and public events (such as festivals) in the open air to integrate the population;
Winter (June 21 and September 23): temperatures drop and hover around 10ºC to 15ºC. Clothing changes and calls for weather-appropriate clothing. In addition, in the southern region of the country, it is common to practice adventure sports such as skiing and snowboarding, walks through glaciers and the like.
What is the cost of air tickets?
“What about the cost of flights to New Zealand? Are there any periods when the tickets are more affordable?”, you might be wondering, since this is one of the most significant expenses of the exchange. So, know that the answer is: yes.
Generally, the trip to the land of the kiwis is cheaper when done in the low season, between the months of February to May and August to November.
In the high season, which includes the other months and is marked by school holidays and the height of summer and winter, values rise significantly.
Doing a survey on the Viajanet website, from São Paulo to Auckland, between November 2018 and April 2019, the average ticket spend is at least R$4,494.00. However, it is not so simple to specify this price, see? This is because it can vary daily due to several factors, such as:
Currency exchange rate;
airline responsible for flights;
place of departure and destination on arrival;
type of flight chosen (direct, stopover or connecting) and desired class (economy, business and first class);
increase or decrease in demand for tickets to New Zealand;
promotions and offers that reduce the total price of the segments.
It is also worth remembering that, as usual, round-trip flights with an interval of one year are cheaper than those with a difference of 30 days between arrival and departure, for example.
Therefore, it is worth evaluating the possibility of doing a long-term exchange, as you will find good prices and even have a more in-depth experience in your destination.
What are the opening times for registration and start of classes?
Finally, we cannot fail to talk about two extremely important matters: the beginning of classes in New Zealand and the opening of registration for enrollment
Regarding the opening of registrations, you need to be aware, as it will vary according to the type of course you intend to take. For high school, undergraduate and graduate courses, for example, it starts months before the start of classes so that the international student can provide all the necessary documentation, apply for a visa, schedule accommodation, etc.
That is, if you intend to do one of these three modalities in New Zealand from the second half of 2019, you must contact the educational institution and start the whole process in the first six months of the year.
On the other hand, English courses – such as general and preparatory courses for IELTS and Cambridge – are more flexible, as schools such as: Edenz, Embassy English and Kaplan form new classes throughout the year and you you can choose not only the duration (from 1 to 52 weeks), but also the best time to do them (during your December and January holidays, for example).
Now that you know how to define the best time to study abroad in New Zealand, be sure to consider all the information we have gathered in this post, right? That way, it will be much easier and safer to hit the hammer when you start your journey on the other side of the world!
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