The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) is a government body (crown entity to be specific) tasked with ensuring that New Zealand qualifications are regarded as credible and robust both nationally and internationally. They play an integral part in ensuring that all learners from New Zealand succeed in their field and contribute significantly to society in the long run.

The NZQA is headed by a Board, which is appointed by the Minister of Education. The Minister approves all policy matters relating to education in New Zealand.

The main responsibilities shouldered by the NZQA are:

• managing the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF)
• administering the secondary school assessment system
• independent quality assurance of non-university education providers
• qualifications recognition and standard-setting for some specified unit standards.

Knowing about the New Zealand Qualifications Framework is very important to Indian students planning to study abroad in New Zealand at the graduate level or higher. NZQA sets a strict standard (i.e NZQF) for education which must be followed by schools, universities and institutes if they want their programmes to gain and maintain recognition by the government of New Zealand.

NZQF recognized programmes/courses are highly valued both in New Zealand itself and internationally. That being said most of the courses offered to you by government universities and ITP’s (institutes of technology and polytechnic) in New Zealand are recognized under the NZQF at different levels.

Our sincere advise to Indian students who want to study in New Zealand is to find a programme in field of your interest and make sure that the programme is recognized by the NZQA under the NZQF.

The NZQA is also charged with qualifications recognition, as such, it will be the body that assesses your prior academic achievements and deems them valid, if necessary, for you to progress to a higher education level.