Academic Year New Zealand

Academic Year for Secondary Schools and Universities


Secondary schooling

In New Zealand, secondary schools (known as either high schools or colleges) have 4 terms in a year, each of them being 10 weeks long. They start in February and end in mid-December. Their holiday breaks are 2 weeks long and are held in April, July and September. Classes are held Monday-Friday, from 8.45-3.15pm, with an hour’s lunch break, while sports and other extra-curricular activities are held after school and on Saturday mornings.

Because qualifications in the final 3 years of secondary school are based on an overall assessment of your work throughout the year, late enrolment may not be possible.


University

As for universities, the timetable varies depending on which one you attend. However in general the year is usually divided into 2 semesters, each one being 12 weeks long. There is a 2-week break in the middle of each semester and a 6- week mid-year break. The university year begins in either late February or early March, and ends in October. Most subjects are held over both semesters, but some only take up one semester. It may be possible to start mid-year study in July. Classes are held Monday to Friday, and libraries and other services are available on weekends. Some universities offer summer school courses from November to February, which is good if you want to reduce the length of time it takes to complete your degree. Each semester starts off with an orientation week.


Private Training Establishments

Most of these run on a similar timetable to government tertiary institutes or universities.


Language schools

These run all year; their subjects may be as short as one or two weeks, or as long as a whole year, and classes are held Monday-Friday. There may be outings or other activities available on the weekend.


Technological and Polytechnic Institutes

These have two semesters: February-June and July-November. The breaks are similar to those of secondary schools. Some courses go for half a year and start in July.