As a master's student in New Zealand, how many hours can I work per week during academic terms and breaks, and what is the potential weekly earnings?
Yes. A taught master's student in New Zealand can work up to 25 hours a week during academic terms and full time during scheduled breaks, while research master's students face no weekly cap. New Zealand's adult minimum wage is 23.95 NZD an hour from 1 April 2026.
Whether you are enrolled in a taught or a research master's changes your work rights considerably in New Zealand, so the first thing to confirm is which category your program falls into before assuming either limit applies to you.
Taught Master's vs Research Master's Work Rights
- Taught master's, academic term: up to 25 hours per week, the visa maximum for eligible full-time students.
- Taught master's, scheduled break: potentially full time, provided the program and visa conditions meet Immigration New Zealand's requirements, generally at least one academic year in length.
- Research master's: unlimited weekly work hours are allowed, provided you remain enrolled full time in your research program.
Your actual eVisa conditions control what you can do in practice, so always check the work conditions stated on your specific visa rather than relying on the general category rule alone.
What You Could Realistically Earn
| Work period | Hours per week | Approx. gross pay at NZD 23.95/hour |
|---|---|---|
| Academic term, typical | 20 hours | NZD 479 |
| Academic term, visa maximum | 25 hours | NZD 599 |
| Holiday break | 40 hours | NZD 958 |
These are gross figures before income tax and other deductions, so actual take-home pay will be lower. Your nationality does not change any of these limits; they depend entirely on your visa conditions and type of study, not on being an Indian student specifically.
This Information Is Also Available On
Immigration New Zealand's working on a student visa guidance and Employment New Zealand's minimum wage rates page.
My Advice
If your program qualifies as a research master's, confirm that classification in writing with your university early, since the unlimited work-hours benefit only applies if Immigration New Zealand treats your specific program as research-based rather than taught. For taught master's students, budget around the 25-hour weekly cap rather than assuming you will consistently secure that many hours, since part-time student jobs in retail and hospitality do not always guarantee a full quota of shifts.
More expert answers
The 25 hour figure is the standard rule for taught master's students, but there is an important exception for research based programs that many students overlook when planning their budget.
How Much You Can Actually Work
- Standard taught master's: Up to 25 hours per week during study, with your exact entitlement stated on your visa letter.
- Master's by Research: Unlimited work rights are possible if the program is awarded by a New Zealand tertiary institution and you remain enrolled full-time.
- Scheduled breaks: Full-time work is generally permitted outside term dates, subject to your specific visa conditions.
What This Looks Like In Weekly Pay
New Zealand's adult minimum wage is NZD 23.95 per hour from 1 April 2026. At the maximum 25 hours a week that works out to roughly NZD 598.75 gross, before PAYE income tax and other deductions. A student earning NZD 25 an hour at 20 hours a week would bring in about NZD 500 gross weekly, while the same rate at the full 25 hours reaches NZD 625. These figures are all gross pay, so your actual take-home amount will be lower once tax is applied, and your visa conditions remain the final authority on your exact entitlement.
This Information Is Also Available On
Immigration New Zealand, on student visa work conditions, and Employment New Zealand, on minimum wage rates.
My Advice
In my experience, students assume every master's automatically carries the same 25 hour cap, but a Master's by Research can change that entirely. Check whether your specific program is classified as taught or research before you plan your part-time budget around a fixed 25 hour week.
How much can you actually earn part-time in NZ?
See how part-time work fits into your total budget and visa funds.
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