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Kia ora, greetings from Aotearoa New Zealand

Welcome to our February 2026 agent newsletter from the University of Waikato | Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, where we share updates on new programmes, key application information, and tips to support student success.

In this issue:

• Preparing Students for A Trimester

• Important Enrolment Deadlines for Incoming Students

• Changes to Fees on Offer Letters

• Agent Training

• Upcoming Webinars

• Happy Lunar New Year

• THE 2026 Rankings

• Holidays and Important Dates

Preparing Students for A Trimester

Trimester A will begin on 23 February 2026 with classes starting on 2 March 2026. You can view Orientation Week programmes here.

Students can check out our pre-arrival checklist on our website which provides detailed information for newly arriving international students. We strongly recommend that you send this checklist to your students and encourage them to read it.

Accepting Students’ Formal Offers

As we approach the beginning of semester, we would like to remind you to accept your student's offer in MyWaikato before submitting a visa application. When students arrive on campus with unaccepted offers, it takes longer for students to complete the enrolment process and access their MyWaikato and study materials. Once agents accept an offer on behalf of students, students can create and access their MyWaikato account. Agents can still access their students’ applications. Agents are requested to ensure this important step is completed so that students have a smooth start to their studies.

Paper Selection

Students are able to begin their enrolment process while awaiting their visa approval offshore. Once they have logged into MyWaikato, they may select their papers and submit them for approval by the relevant Division. Students who require assistance with paper selection can refer to the contact details provided in their offer letter or on the University’s website, where each Division’s support information is listed.

Important Enrolment Deadlines for Incoming Students

We have outlined the key dates and requirements for students preparing to begin their studies on campus. To help ensure a smooth start to the academic year, we encourage you to share the following enrolment, visa, and arrival guidelines with your students.

Final Date to Arrive and Complete Enrolment

The latest date for students to arrive in New Zealand and complete their enrolment is close of business (NZT) on 13 March. Students who receive their visa before this deadline and plan to travel after 6 March are asked to notify the University at gowaikato@waikato.ac.nz. This allows staff to prepare and manage enrolment processes ahead of the student’s arrival on campus.

Orientation for Late Arrivals

Students who miss the online orientation held on 25 February should be aware that this session will not be repeated. However, the International Student Services Office may organise an additional orientation for late arrivals. Further details will be provided closer to the time.

Requirement to Be on Campus for the Start of Classes

Students who already have their visa, or expect to receive it soon, should plan to be on campus, fully enrolled, and ready to start classes on Monday, 2 March.

Arrival Deadlines Based on Programme Type

Students with 180‑point, 240‑point, or undergraduate programme offers

These students must arrive and enrol no later than 13 March by close of business (NZT). The Student Centre is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm NZT. Students unable to arrive by this date and time will need to defer to the next available intake.

Students with a 120‑point offer  

These students should contact Immigration New Zealand or a Licensed Immigration Adviser for advice on how late arrival may affect their eligibility to apply for a post-study work visa. Students intending to apply for a post‑study work visa are strongly encouraged to be on campus, fully enrolled, and actively studying from 2 March 2026.

The University cannot provide immigration advice. For more information, students should refer to Immigration New Zealand’s guidance on staying to work after study:

https://www.immigration.govt.nz/study/after-you-finish-your-study/staying-to-work-after-finishing-your-study/

Changes to Fees on Offer Letters

We have now updated how tuition fees are displayed in our offer letters for students beginning in B Trimester (July) 2026.

If a programme extends across more than one calendar year, offer letters will now include indicative 2027 tuition fees for each qualification, to help students plan, budget, and prepare funding applications.

Key details:

• The 2027 fee is indicative and currently estimated at around 5% higher than the 2026 fee.

• Final 2027 fees will be confirmed later this year following the annual review, and some programmes may vary.

If the student holds an unconditional offer letter and requires a revised offer that includes the indicative 2027 fees (for example, for loan or sponsorship purposes), please contact Admissions Office at info@waikato.ac.nz with the student ID and we will be happy to issue one for you.

Agent Training

We are pleased to announce the return of our agent training sessions. These sessions have been carefully designed to support our recruitment partners by strengthening their understanding of the University of Waikato, our programmes, and our admissions processes. By building this knowledge, agents will be better equipped to guide students, answer their questions confidently, and provide accurate, timely support throughout the application and enrolment journey.

Date: Wednesday, 11 March

Time: 4pm - 5pm NZDT

Please note, registration is required to attend this training session.

Happy Lunar New Year

Wishing you a joyful and prosperous Year of the Horse. Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. We truly appreciate your dedication and support throughout the year. May this new year bring you renewed energy, strong momentum, and abundant opportunities. We look forward to achieving even greater success together.

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings 2026

We are pleased to share our latest global rankings, which reflect the strength and impact of our teaching and research. This year, we are ranked in the 401–500 band globally and placed third equal in New Zealand.

Our subject areas continue to perform exceptionally well. We are ranked among the top two universities in New Zealand for:

• Social Sciences (176–200 globally)

• Business and Economics (201–250 globally)

• Physical Sciences (301–400 globally)

We also achieved strong national standings across several other disciplines, placing third in Computer Science and third equal (by band) in Arts and Humanities, Life Sciences, and Engineering.

These results underscore our commitment to academic excellence and our growing reputation on the world stage.

Holidays and Important Dates

Thank you for reading our emails!

We would like to thank you for engaging with our newsletter content. Please share with your New Zealand teams.

For more information on our updates, please contact your Regional Manager.

International and Engagement Office

University of Waikato

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