How to Study at Massey University as an International Student: The Complete 2026 Guide

Most Indian families think of a university as one campus. Massey University is three: Auckland (Albany), Manawatū in Palmerston North, and Wellington. Each has its own character and its own subject strengths, and several of Massey's best-known programmes are taught on only one of them. Knowing which campus teaches what is the first piece of insider knowledge that makes a Massey application sharper.

Massey is one of the most searched-for New Zealand universities among Indian students, and for good reason. It ranks 215th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 230th the year before and third in New Zealand. It is 14th in the world for Veterinary Science in the QS subject rankings for 2026, and its School of Aviation trains pilots from its own base beside Palmerston North airport. For Indian students looking to study in New Zealand, it combines a genuinely global reputation with some of the most practical, career-focused programmes in the country.

This guide explains what it takes to study at Massey University as an international student: the three campuses, current fees, entry marks for CBSE, ISC and Karnataka PUC students, scholarships with live deadlines, and the visa and work rules that decide what happens after graduation.

Massey University at a Glance

Massey also has a large distance-learning community: 65% of its students in 2024 studied partly or fully online. As an international student on a student visa, you will study on campus, and the on-campus communities are close-knit. In 2024 there were about 4,185 on-campus students in Auckland, 4,017 in Manawatū and 2,592 in Wellington.

Three Campuses, Three Different Experiences

Auckland (Albany / Ōtehā)

On Auckland's North Shore, in New Zealand's largest city. This is where Massey teaches the Master of Information Sciences and the MBA, so it is the natural campus for Indian students heading into IT, data and business careers in Auckland's job market.

Manawatū (Palmerston North)

Massey's original home, and the centre of its agriculture, veterinary and aviation programmes. The School of Aviation is at 47 Airport Drive, next to an airfield with full air traffic control. Palmerston North is a student city where living costs usually run below Auckland's.

Wellington (Pukeahu)

New Zealand's capital and home of Massey's College of Creative Arts, covering design, fine arts, screen arts and commercial music. It is the campus to choose if your portfolio is your strongest asset.

What Can You Study at Massey?

1. Veterinary, Animal and Agricultural Science

This is where Massey leads the world. It is ranked 14th globally and first in Oceania and Asia for Veterinary Science, and 49th in the world for Agriculture and Forestry (QS subject rankings 2026). ShanghaiRanking also places Massey 48th in the world for Veterinary Science and 48th for Food Science in its 2026 subject tables. For Indian students with a background in agriculture, dairy, food technology or animal science, few universities anywhere offer this depth.

2. Aviation

Massey's School of Aviation is accredited by the Royal Aeronautical Society, holds CAA Part 141 certification and describes itself as New Zealand's only ISO-accredited aviation school. The Bachelor of Aviation (Air Transport Pilot) is taught in Manawatū. It is Massey's most expensive degree because flight training is built in, and it needs a CAANZ Class 1 medical and IELTS 6.5, so start planning it earlier than any other Massey application.

3. Information Sciences, Analytics and Business

The Master of Information Sciences (18 months, Auckland) and the Master of Analytics are the two programmes Indian technology graduates usually compare first. On the business side, the Master of Business Studies and the one-year MBA (Auckland) are also popular. The MBA has three intakes a year, in March, July and November, and requires at least three years of relevant work experience.

4. Design and Creative Arts

Wellington's College of Creative Arts ranks in the 101–150 band worldwide for Art and Design in the QS 2026 subject tables. Communication and Media, Architecture and Sports-related subjects also sit in that band. If you are a design student, your portfolio does much of the talking, and there is a dedicated creative scholarship to match.

Entry Requirements for Indian Students

Undergraduate

• CBSE (AISSC) and ISC: an overall average of 75%, with at least 60% in English.
• State boards named by Massey: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. You need an overall average of 85% or higher across at least four academic subjects, with at least 70% in English.
• Other state boards are not listed on Massey's international entry page, so confirm your board with Massey before applying.
• Programme-specific requirements apply on top. Aviation, for example, needs a CAANZ Class 1 medical and IELTS 6.5.

Postgraduate

• Graduate diplomas: a completed three-year diploma or undergraduate degree. This is Massey's own wording, and it opens a clear route for BCom, BSc and BA graduates.
• Master of Information Sciences: a bachelor's degree with at least a B- average in 300-level major courses. Applicants from an unrelated degree also need two or more years of relevant experience.
• MBA: a bachelor's degree and at least three years of relevant work experience, which Massey applies strictly.
• Other master's programmes set their own entry rules. Massey does not publish an Indian percentage conversion, so have your final-year marks reviewed against the programme page before you apply.

English Language Requirements

TOEFL moved to a new score scale in January 2026. For tests on the new scale, Massey asks for 4.0 (Writing 4.0) for undergraduate study and 4.5 (Writing 4.0) for postgraduate study.

Tuition Fees and Living Costs

Massey has already published its 2027 international fees (NZ$, GST included, for one year of full-time study). A few representative programmes:

• Overall ranges for 2027: bachelor's degrees NZ$35,250–117,780; master's degrees NZ$40,010–61,640; postgraduate diplomas NZ$40,010–52,990.
• Halls in Manawatū (full 2027 year, 14 February–21 November): catered halls around NZ$18,800, self-catered halls NZ$11,200–12,200, plus a deposit.
• Student visa funds: Immigration New Zealand asks for evidence of NZ$20,000 for each year of study (or NZ$1,667 a month for shorter stays), on top of your tuition.
• Insurance: you must hold full medical and travel insurance for your whole stay.

The numbers vary a lot by campus. A self-catered room in Palmerston North and a flat in Auckland are very different budgets, so pick your campus before you fix a figure. Building that budget line by line is exactly what a free session with us covers — talk to us and walk away with a plan your family can check.

Scholarships for Indian Students

1. Toroa International Undergraduate Fee Scholarship — NZ$10,000

A one-off NZ$10,000 award, with up to 40 available, for new international students starting full-time bachelor's study in Animal Science, Business, Construction, Information Sciences or Science. For the February 2027 intake, applications run from 15 September to 20 October 2026.

2. Toroa International Postgraduate Fee Scholarship — NZ$5,000

Up to 80 awards of NZ$5,000 for new students in programmes including the Master of Analytics, MBA, Master of Business Studies, Master of Construction, Master of Finance, Master of Information Sciences, Master of Management and Master of Professional Accountancy. You need the equivalent of an NZ B grade in your previous study. Winners must pay their full fees, or a NZ$500 deposit, within two weeks of the award. The February 2027 round runs from 15 September to 20 October 2026.

3. International Creative Excellence Undergraduate Scholarship — up to NZ$5,000

For Wellington's creative degrees: up to eight awards, with a portfolio required. The current round closes on 15 October 2026.

Intakes and Application Deadlines

Student visa processing takes time as well. Immigration New Zealand says 80% of Fee Paying Student Visa applications are decided within eight weeks, so aim to have your offer in hand well before the deadline.

Applying from Bangalore and Karnataka

• Karnataka PUC students: Massey lists the Karnataka state board by name. You need 85% overall across four or more academic subjects, with at least 70% in English. CBSE and ICSE/ISC students in Bangalore need 75% with 60% in English. If you are choosing between boards, or your II PUC predictions sit near the line, talk it through early.
• Graduates of Karnataka universities: Massey does not publish an Indian institution list. Degrees from VTU, Bangalore University and other recognised universities are assessed against the programme's own grade requirement, so your 300-level (final-year) marks matter most.
• Visa paperwork: the student visa application is made online with Immigration New Zealand. If INZ asks for your passport, VFS Global handles it. In September 2026, VFS lists its Bengaluru New Zealand Visa Application Centre (J.P. Nagar) as temporarily closed, with Chandigarh, Mumbai and New Delhi open. Passports can also be sent by courier, so check VFS's current status before you plan a trip.
• Medical checks: because India is not a low-tuberculosis country, anyone staying longer than six months needs a chest X-ray certificate from an INZ-approved panel physician. Book it early in the process.
• Getting there: we could not confirm any nonstop flights from Kempegowda International Airport to New Zealand, so plan for at least one connection and build the extra travel time into your arrival plan.
• Talk to us in person: Falcon Nova's office is on the 7th floor of Kirloskar Business Park in Hebbal, North Bangalore. You can book free counselling there or online.

Working in New Zealand: During and After Massey

• While you study: the Fee Paying Student Visa lets eligible students work up to 25 hours a week during study and full-time in scheduled holidays, depending on the conditions on your visa. The visa costs from NZD $850.
• After a master's degree: a three-year Post-Study Work Visa, provided you studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks. With a degree-level qualification you can work for any employer.
• After a bachelor's degree or Level 8 postgraduate diploma: a Post-Study Work Visa equal to the time you spent studying for the qualification, up to three years.
• Rules to plan around: you can hold only one Post-Study Work Visa in your lifetime. You must apply within three months of your student visa expiring and show at least NZD $5,000 in funds. The visa costs from NZD $1,670.
• New from 16 November 2026: Immigration New Zealand is extending Post-Study Work Visa eligibility to NZQCF Level 7 graduate diplomas studied full-time in New Zealand, for graduates who already hold a bachelor's degree from New Zealand or overseas. That visa lasts as long as the diploma study, up to one year.
• Partners: partners of students on eligible master's or doctoral programmes can apply for a Partner of a Student Work Visa, and holders of a Post-Study Work Visa can support a partner's work visa.

Put together, this is one of the strongest arguments for Massey's taught master's programmes. An 18-month Master of Information Sciences in Auckland leads to three years of open work rights, in the city where most of New Zealand's technology jobs are. Choosing the qualification that gives you the right visa is a decision worth making with advice — book a free session and we will map it for your profile.

Is Massey Right for You?

Massey is an excellent fit if your interests match its strengths: veterinary and animal science, agriculture and food, aviation, design, or an Auckland-based technology or business master's. It is ranked in the world's top 250 in QS 2027, its entry marks for CBSE and ISC students are clear, and its three campuses let you choose between big-city Auckland, student-friendly Palmerston North and the capital. Start by matching your programme to its campus, then time your application to the Toroa scholarship window, and Massey becomes a very achievable goal.