
International Students

A Warm Villa Welcome
A warm Kiwi welcome awaits you at Villa Maria College, in Christchurch, New Zealand.
We are a Catholic school for girls, set on 4.5 hectares of green landscaped grounds. Villa Maria College provides a Catholic Education of the highest standard encompassing true Mercy values. The campus is a safe and welcoming environment for girls in Years 7-13.
Our staff are dedicated to making your time at Villa Maria College as enjoyable as possible.
Our International Director focuses on making sure that students not only achieve but excel in their chosen subjects, we provide ongoing reporting to parents so they can monitor their daughter’s progress. All our teachers are experts in teaching girls, and first language support is available to all nationalities.
Our International students enrich the school community by preparing local students to interact in an inter-connected world and through a sharing of cultures, which enhances the ties and experiences of both groups.
We have an Accommodation Manager who is dedicated to arranging safe and caring homestays for our students. In addition to the support provided by the International Team, students can access the Student Support Team which includes: Careers Counsellors, Guidance Counsellors and the Nurse for any medical query.
Villa Maria College has agreed to observe and be bound by the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students. Copies of the Code are available from the New Zealand Qualification Authority website.
Enrolment Information
Applications For Enrolment
Enrolment will be on the prescribed Enrolment Application Form for International Students. Signing of this enrolment form implies a contract between parents and College that binds the student to follow the rules of Villa Maria College. Failure to comply with the school rules may lead to the expulsion of the student and forfeiture of the tuition fees. Under the Immigration Act, visitors to New Zealand holding a Student Permit are in fulltime study, and enrolled in a particular school. Students may not transfer school without obtaining a new permit.
All applications must be accompanied by:
- a certified copy of the latest available school report in English.
- a letter from the applicant, in English, giving information about herself, and why she wants to attend Villa Maria College.
- a copy of the applicant’s Baptism Certificate, and a letter, in English, from the student’s Parish Priest confirming that the applicant and her family are practising Catholics. This is not a requirement if the international student is not Catholic.
Enrolments must be approved by the Enrolment Committee of the Board of Trustees, on the recommendation of the Principal and/or Director of International Students.
Entry Requirements
All international students must prove that they have reached an Intermediate Level of proficiency in the English language.
This may be done by producing results from recognised ESOL examinations or from school reports. All applicants will be tested during orientation at the College. If the prescribed standard is not achieved, the student will be required to enrol at an intensive language school or course. When the required standard is reached she will be accepted into Villa Maria College. This may take three months or longer. She must have her Student Permit adjusted accordingly. The fees for the English language course are the responsibility of the parent.
The student’s course of tuition may alter according to the result of the College assessment and the individual needs of the student.
Immigration
Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website. You can see a video on how this process works here.
Complaints Process
There is a formal process in place for you or your parents to follow if you have a complaint about Villa Maria College’s compliance with the Code.
If you or your parents have a complaint about Villa breaching the Code, you can make a complaint in writing to the Director of the International Office. The Director will take all steps necessary to ensure that the grievance is settled. Please email cet@villa.school.nz
If your complaint is not resolved you can contact the New Zealand Education Authority: https://www2.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/contact-us/complaint/
International Department

International Co-Ordinator
