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.

We welcome your application.

To enrol at Villa Maria College follow these steps:

  1. Read Fees information.
  2. Click the Enrol Now button opposite.

If you need more information, please email our Director of International Students, Emma Aker, eak@villa.school.nz

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.

www.immigration.govt.nz

International Department

International Director

Mrs. Emma Aker

eak@villa.school.nz

+64 3 348 4165 ext 835

International Students’ Homestay Co-ordinator

Mrs. Cheryl Etheridge

cet@villa.school.nz

+64 03 348 4165 ext 850

About Villa Maria College

Read about Villa in your own language.

Annual Tuition Fee

The annual tuition fee for International students attending Villa Maria College is NZ$14,500, plus an Administration Fee of NZ$1,000 (non-refundable) first year only.

This includes:
Government Services Tax (GST) 15% from October 1st 2010
All school levies
Most subject fees (some specific subject costs not covered)
Any ESOL assistance
All text books (but not workbooks)
All Proprietor’s charges and levies.
This fee needs to be paid in full before a student can obtain a visa to study in New Zealand. As soon as the fees are received, a receipt will be sent.

Additional Costs

The fee does not include:
School uniform costs ($800 for new and approx $300 for secondhand)
Personal stationery costs (including workbooks $100-$200 total)
National examination fees ($383 as applicable plus $100 for each Scholarship subject)
Any extra-curricular activities such as sport, music or cultural activities ($20-40 average per sport)
Music tuition is generally free, $100-300 per instrument for hire
Year 10 Camp ($230 approx)
Some subject costs – Hospitality and Home Economics are $120-$180 per year
Sundry costs (planner/ID card)
Homestay costs – The homestay cost is $285 per week.