Ara Institute of Canterbury Fees for International Students
Ara Institute of Canterbury publishes a $26,572 international fee. What Nepali students must check on tuition, Christchurch living costs and English.
Ara Institute of Canterbury fees for international students
Ara Institute of Canterbury publishes an international student fee figure of $26,572 on its official international fees page (ara.ac.nz international fees). That is the headline number, but the fee attached to your specific programme is what you will actually pay, and it is listed against each qualification on that same page — so open it and find your programme before you plan anything.
Ara is a polytechnic (an institute of technology) in Christchurch, on New Zealand's South Island. It runs certificates, diplomas, bachelor's degrees, graduate diplomas and a Master of Applied Management. Fees differ sharply between a Level 3 certificate and a bachelor's degree, so a single number can never cover every applicant.
The first mistake to avoid
When you look at a fee on the Ara page, check the basis of the figure: is it for one year of study, or for the full qualification? Nepali students and their families regularly budget for a whole course when the published figure covers one year, or the reverse. The fee table on Ara's site is the only place to settle that question. Do not take the number from an agent's brochure, a Facebook group, or this page — take it from Ara.
Also check separately whether your programme has compulsory extra costs (materials, uniforms, equipment, health insurance). Those sit outside the tuition figure and are listed against programmes, not in a single total.
Tuition and living costs sit in two different columns
A common error in student files is treating one big number as "the cost of studying in New Zealand". Keep tuition and living costs separate in your planning, quote each one at its published value, and do the addition yourself when you know which programme and which city apply to you.
Ara is in Christchurch. Here is how monthly living costs in Christchurch compare with other New Zealand student cities:
| City | Monthly living cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | NZ$3,662 | Highest in NZ; UoA/AUT/Massey area |
| Wellington | NZ$3,200 | VUW area; expensive but compact |
| Christchurch | NZ$2,800 | UC area; mid-range — this is Ara's city |
| Hamilton | NZ$2,700 | Waikato/Wintec area |
| Dunedin | NZ$2,500 | Otago; affordable student town |
| Lincoln | NZ$2,500 | Lincoln Uni village |
| Palmerston North | NZ$2,500 | Massey HQ |
| Tauranga | NZ$2,300 | Toi Ohomai region |
| Hawke's Bay | NZ$2,300 | EIT region |
| Invercargill | NZ$1,950 | SIT — cheapest in NZ |
Christchurch sits in the middle. It is meaningfully cheaper per month than Auckland and Wellington, and more expensive than Invercargill. If your budget is very tight, that difference across a long qualification is not small — but compare programmes, not just cities, because a cheaper city with the wrong course is a wasted year.
More on the wider picture is on our New Zealand destination hub.
Funds figures used in our planning tool
Families ask how much money needs to be shown. The figures our planner uses for New Zealand are below. Quote them as they stand and confirm the current official requirement on the New Zealand government's own website before you lodge anything — requirements change, and a figure from a blog is not evidence.
| Situation | Living funds figure | Partner | Child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single student | NZ$20,000 | — | — |
| Couple (no kids) | NZ$20,000 | NZ$7,400 | — |
| Couple + 1 child | NZ$20,000 | NZ$7,400 | NZ$3,200 |
| Couple + 2 children | NZ$20,000 | NZ$7,400 | NZ$6,400 |
The published funds figure is the floor. What actually gets scrutinised in a Nepali file is the source and history of the money: how long it has been in the account, whose account it is, whether the sponsor's income supports the balance, and whether the loan, land sale or remittance behind it is documented. A file that meets the number but cannot explain where the number came from is the file that gets refused. Build the paper trail months before you apply, not the week before.
English requirements at Ara — and one rule that catches Nepali applicants
Ara does not publish a single central equivalency table. The English figures sit on each individual programme page, and Ara defers to the NZQA English Proficiency Outcomes Chart. Here is what is published by level:
| Ara programme level | IELTS requirement |
|---|---|
| Level 3 certificate | 5.0 |
| Bachelor's degree | 6.0 Academic |
| Bachelor of Nursing | 6.5 |
| Graduate Diploma | 6.0 |
| Master of Applied Management | 6.5 |
Two details that decide applications:
Ara does not accept Medium of Instruction. In Ara's own words: "We do not accept Medium of English as evidence." Many Nepali students study at +2 and bachelor level in English and assume a Medium-of-Instruction letter from their college will satisfy the English condition. At Ara it will not. You need a test result. Plan and book the test early — a delayed IELTS date is the most ordinary reason a Nepali offer letter misses an intake.
One test report form, valid two years. Ara accepts a single IELTS TRF within two years. Do not plan to combine your best scores from two separate sittings.
Full application rules, including how English evidence is assessed, are on Ara's how-to-apply page for international students.
How Ara compares with the two universities near Christchurch
If you are weighing Ara against a university in the same region, the published English bars are:
| Institution | Undergraduate | Postgraduate |
|---|---|---|
| Ara | Bachelor 6.0 Academic; Level 3 certificate 5.0 | GradDip 6.0; Master of Applied Management 6.5 |
| University of Canterbury | 6.0, min 5.5 in each band | 6.5, min 6.0 in each band |
| Lincoln University | 6.0, no component below 5.5 | 6.5, no component below 6.0 |
Note the structure, not just the overall score. UC and Lincoln state a minimum in every band. A 6.0 overall with a 5.0 in writing fails at UC and Lincoln. Check each programme page for band minimums before you assume your existing score is enough.
Before you apply: three checks
- Open the Ara fees page and find your programme. Confirm the figure and whether it covers one year or the whole qualification.
- Confirm the English requirement on your programme's page, not from a general table, because Ara publishes English figures programme by programme.
- Match your academics and budget to real courses. Our free Master Reckoner tool matches courses, costs, entry requirements and English levels so you can see which Ara-level qualifications you actually qualify for. More country guides are in the blog.
Common questions
How much are Ara Institute of Canterbury fees for international students?
Ara publishes an international fee figure of $26,572 on its official international fees page. Fees vary by programme, so check the figure listed against your own qualification and confirm whether it is a yearly or whole-course amount. Certificates, diplomas, bachelor's degrees and the Master of Applied Management are not priced the same.
Can I use a Medium of Instruction letter instead of IELTS at Ara?
No. Ara states plainly that it does not accept Medium of English as evidence. If your Nepali college gives you an MOI letter, it will not satisfy Ara's English condition. Book an accepted English test and allow time for the result before your intake deadline.
What IELTS score do I need for a bachelor's degree at Ara?
Ara publishes 6.0 Academic for a bachelor's degree, and 6.5 for the Bachelor of Nursing. A Level 3 certificate is published at 5.0, a Graduate Diploma at 6.0, and the Master of Applied Management at 6.5. Because Ara has no central equivalency table, always confirm on your specific programme page.
Is Christchurch cheaper than Auckland for a student?
Yes, on the published monthly living cost figures. Christchurch is NZ$2,800 a month and Auckland is NZ$3,662 a month. Invercargill, at NZ$1,950, is the cheapest in the list — but choose the programme first and the city second.
Official sources
- Ara Institute of Canterbury — international fees: https://www.ara.ac.nz/study/priority-learner-groups/international/International-fees/
- Ara Institute of Canterbury — how to apply (international): https://www.ara.ac.nz/study/priority-learner-groups/international/international-how-to-apply/
- University of Canterbury — English language requirements: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/study/getting-started/admission-and-enrolment/enrolment-topics/english-language-proficiency/english-language-requirements
- Lincoln University — English language requirements: https://www.lincoln.ac.nz/study/apply-and-enrol/apply/english-language-requirements/