Working while you study

Full-time masters students in some departments may work as paid tutors in undergraduate teaching courses for 6-10 hours per week. For PhD students, it is recommended that no more than 500 hours per year be worked. This usually means acting as a laboratory demonstrator/teaching assistant for groups of undergraduate students. Marking duties may also be involved. Tutoring provides valuable professional and teaching experience during the masters or PhD study. Other opportunities are part-time research, and administrative or library work.

Candidates who are in full-time employment in a research-supportive environment, and who expect to continue in that employment situation, may apply to register as part-time students at the time of first registration.

In order to apply for part-time registration, candidates need to provide a letter from their employer outlining the nature of that employment and indicating support for the candidate’s registration. Part-time registration is also available for candidates with demanding family responsibilities that would prevent them attending university and participating in full-time research.

Under the 2008 Statute and Guidelines for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), candidates who have been registered full-time for a period of two years may apply to be registered part-time. This can only be done at the time of re-enrolment and the candidate will need to show good reasons for not being able to work full-time on their PhD.

Some scholarships put limits on the number of hours that you can work - for example, they may require that you work no more than 500 hours a year. They might also require that you be enrolled as a full-time student. It is important that you are fully aware of any such requirements so as not to jeopardise your scholarship entitlement.

To find out more about employment opportunities at The University of Auckland:

• View current vacancies on our website
• Ask your supervisor and check with your department

Under present immigration regulations international students on long term student permits (1 year or longer) are entitled to work up to 20 hours per week during the term time.

Please note that if you are on exchange or on our Study Abroad programme and are not here for longer than 12 months, you are not entitled to work.*

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 at www.immigration.govt.nz.

*Policy on Eligibility of Certificate of Proficiency courses for work rights: Students may be granted a Variation of Conditions to their student permit to allow them to work during the academic year and during any holidays within the academic year for up to 20 hours in any given week if they are undertaking a full-time course of study in New Zealand, culminating in a New Zealand qualification that would qualify for points under the Skilled Migrant Category.
 

Student Job Search is an organisation set up to help students find casual or part-time work. Visit their office in the Student Union Building on the City Campus to register, or visit their website www.sjs.co.nz.