If my wife completes a 2-year master's and 3-year PhD abroad, will she get school fee benefits for our children during that period in UK/New Zealand?
It depends on the country. In the UK, taught Master's students cannot bring dependents, so free schooling starts only during her PhD phase. In New Zealand, dependents join from the Master's level, giving your children free schooling across all five years once a partner work visa is secured.
Whether your children get free public schooling comes down to which country your wife studies in and what visa level she holds. The UK and New Zealand treat Master's and PhD dependents quite differently.
UK Versus New Zealand For School Fees
| Feature | United Kingdom | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Public school fees for dependents | Free for anyone with legal residency, including student dependents | Free once the accompanying partner secures a Partner Work Visa |
| Can dependents join for a taught Master's | Generally no, only research-based postgraduate or government-sponsored students can bring dependents | Yes, from Master's (Level 9) level onward |
| Can dependents join for a PhD | Yes, PhD is research-based, so dependents can accompany her | Yes, PhD (Level 10) also qualifies |
| Timeline for free schooling | Likely only during the 3-year PhD phase | Potentially across all 5 years, Master's and PhD combined |
What Unlocks Free Schooling In Each Country
- In the UK, your children join on a Student Dependent Visa once she is on a research-based degree
- In New Zealand, the trigger is you converting to a Partner Work Visa, not her course level itself
- Check whether her Master's programme is genuinely research-based, since that changes the UK outcome significantly
My Advice
Confirm right now whether your wife's Master's is taught or research-based, since that single detail decides whether your children can join her in the UK for those first two years at all. If New Zealand is on the table, prioritise getting your Partner Work Visa sorted early, since that is what actually unlocks free schooling for your kids across both her Master's and PhD.
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