Under 18 international students

It is important that your parents or legal guardian also read this information.

If you have accepted an offer of place to study at the University of Auckland, and you will be under 18 on the first day of semester, it is important that you contact us. This is neccessary because you are not  legally an adult in New Zealand.

We will send you several forms to complete and you must return them before you apply for your student visa and begin your studies. Please include your full name and student ID number when you email us.

You can email the Under 18 team: Under18-international@auckland.ac.nz

As you will be under 18 years old when you start at the University of Auckland, the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 states you must live in one of the following kinds of accommodation:

University of Auckland Hall of Residence

We highly recommend living in one of our catered University Halls of Residence. This is a pre-approved option. The Halls of Residence offer a safe place to live which is close to campus and you have support staff on-site 24/7.

With your parents, designated caregiver or homestay family

A designated caregiver must be a relative or a close family friend. If your parent would like you to live with a designated caregiver, your parent must sign an authorisation form which we will send you.

If you will be living with a parent, designated caregiver or a homestay family, a University respresentative will visit your accommodation to ensure it is suitable and we will undertake a police vetting for all people over 18 residing at that address. 

If you would like to live with a homestay family but are not sure how to find one, we recommend you reach out to our partner provider Host Families NZ who will be able to assist in finding a suitable homestay family for you.

Safety and support for students is a top priority for the University. While you are under 18 you will be required to meet with a student adviser regularly to discuss your wellbeing and academic progress. Non-attendance at these meetings may impact on your enrolment. 

• Orientation events are held the week prior to semester start. It’s a chance for you to get familiar with where everything is, be introduced to your programme of study, meet other students, join clubs, and attend social events. 
• Get involved on campus. Not all learning takes place in the classroom, labs or lecture theatres; it’s important that you engage in wider campus activities. There are a variety of clubs, societies, and communities to get connected with to complement your University experience.
• Our Under 18 students team is happy to answer any questions and support you through challenging times. Email: Under18-international@auckland.ac.nz