Can I extend my 1 year NZ Visa if I decide to stay longer?

 Yes, we can help you to do this. It is easy to do and we will help you to do this at Onslow College.

 

 Will my homestay family look after me?

Yes, our homestay families are excellent. Many have been hosting students for many years. We check all our homestay families to make sure they met our high standards. They are police vetted and we check with their referees.

 

 Do I have to stay in a homestay?

 We want all our international students to have a cultural experience to help improving their English. Most students stay with New Zealand families. If a student is still attending Onslow when they are 19, they can apply to go flatting.

  

Can I travel around New Zealand while at Onslow College?

If you are under 18 you can go and travel with other families around New Zealand. We can help you do this. We can also help you to join a tour around New Zealand with your age group or you can join a school organized trip overseas or around New Zealand. Remember ! we also take all new international students on a camp for 2 days to the Wairarapa. You will have the opportunity to go rafting, abseiling, rope climbing, rock climbing and sometimes surfing.

 

Must I have medical Insurance?

Yes, all international students must have medical and tavel insurance for their time in New Zealand. We can arrange this for you.

 

 Is ESOL (English) tuition included in the tuition fees?

 Yes, you don’t need to pay more money for ESOL classes. We have an excellent ESOL Department to help you learn English and prepares you for university study.

 

 Is there any language support for students in their mainstream curriculum subject classes?

Yes 

 

Can international students take music lessons?

Yes, many of our international students take music lessons. Also they join the school choir, rock bands or the school orchestra.

  

Can I play sports at Onslow College?

Yes, we have a huge number of sports teams at Onslow College. Many of the games are played against other school either after school or in the weekend.

 

Can I participate in an outdoor education course at Onslow College?

Yes, we have a new course which will run both semesters. Students will have the chance to experience a range of outdoor pursuits.

   

Is it possible to study subjects at more than one level?

Yes, this is possible. For example students who are good at Mathematics may work at higher level. We have a lot of experience at giving students a study programme that will help them and we will advise you on the best path of study after assessing your English level and looking at your previous school record.

 

 

Can I work while on a student visa?

NZ Immigration rules allow senior students (Year 12 & 13) to work up to 20 hours a week. We only allow you to work 10 hours a week during term time. You need to apply for a Variation of Conditions to your student visa. We can help you to do this.

  

What should I do if I am unhappy about anything in my homestay of school?

You should talk to the Director of International Students or Homestay Manager as soon as possible. We want you to be happy here and enjoy living with your host family.

   

How do I get entrance into university?

If you have an intermediate level of English (this means you have learn English for 3 or more years) you will probably need around two years of high school in NZ before your English is good enough for university study.

 

To get into university in New Zealand:

• You must  pass three Year 13 subjects. Many students achieve good results in the following subjects Maths (calculus), Maths (statistics), Economics, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Art, Accounting, Mandarin, Japanese, German and Spanish. Some universties could now require passes in 4 or 5 subjects.
  

• Also you must pass at least 8 NCEA credits of Year 12 English. You can do these Standards in either English or ESOL classes
  

• You must pass Mathematics at Year 11 level (or higher).

 

The information provided above is only a simple summary of requirements. It is important to check the website of each university for their entry requirements. You may need different grade for some courses.