How is the immigration score calculated for my profile in New Zealand for a Master's?

Your master's degree plays a central role in qualifying for New Zealand's Skilled Migrant Category Resident Visa, which requires a total of 6 points from your primary skill category. An international master's degree, including yours if it needs an NZQA qualification assessment, earns you 5 points, one short of the threshold. A New Zealand-earned master's with at least 30 weeks of full-time in-country study, on top of a prior bachelor's, earns you the full 6 points on its own.

How Your Points Break Down

Standard Requirements Beyond the Points Threshold

• You must be under 56 years of age at the time of application.
• You need to meet English language proficiency requirements set by Immigration New Zealand.
• You must pass standard health and character checks.
• You need a skilled job or job offer from an accredited employer in New Zealand to actually apply.
• Points cannot be combined across categories; you choose either your qualification or your income/registration route, not both.

My Advice

If your international master's only gets you to 5 points, plan from day one to secure a full year of skilled, full-time work in New Zealand right after graduation, since that single year closes the gap to 6 points. Always cross-check your exact configuration against the current Immigration New Zealand Skilled Migrant Category portal before you apply, since point values can be updated.