Southern Institute of Technology (SIT)
The Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) is a New Zealand government owned tertiary institution where all qualifications are registered through the New Zealand qualifications authority (NZQA) and recognized worldwide. SIT is also a member of the International Association of Universities. Currently SIT has 12,000 students between all five campuses and the distance learning faculty. Approximately 1000 of these students are international and SIT has students from over 40 different ethnicities.
Academics
Study abroad students can take any papers or courses as long as it fits the SIT course timetable and also if the student meets any pre requisites that may be applicable for a particular course. If students have a mix of papers they would like to study but are unsure if they fit the criteria the international team at SIT would be more than happy to discuss their options. For a list of SIT course please follow the link below.
https://www.sit.ac.nz/Courses
For direct syllabus for classes, please contact the Global Engagement Office for proper syllabus needed.
Please note that the New Zealand credit system is different to that of the US. Full time study for a semester in New Zealand is 60 credits. Papers that last for one semester are usually 15 credits each. Therefore study abroad students for one semester would likely need to take 4 papers each with 15 credit values. However if a student has a particular set of courses they would like to take which do not fit the above module SIT international staff are happy to discuss with them alternative options.
Academic Calendar
| Fall Semester (Semester 2) |
Mid February-Late June |
| Spring Semester (Semester 1) |
Mid July-Late November |
Orientation is also generally the week before the start of class. SIT has partner universities that are also in the Northern Hemisphere so is able to work with students in cases of overlaps between the two institutions. Please notify SIT if you may be late in order to accommodate late arrivals.
Accommodation
SIT has very modern apartments on campus. These are $120 New Zealand dollars per week (approximately $70/80 USD) and includes electricity, water and internet in the fees. The apartments are fully furnished and students can hire bedlinen and towels. The apartments also each have a kitchen with all amenities included such as knives, forks, plates, pots pans etc. There is also free car parking at the apartments if students would like to purchase a car during their time in New Zealand.
If students would like to stay in a homestay with a kiwi family the fee is $230 New Zealand dollars per week (approximately $160 USD). This includes breakfast, packed lunch and dinner. Power is also included, however students will need to discuss with the host family a fee for internet.
Insurance
SIT has a travel and medical insurance policy included in the programme fees for all students. As soon as you are enrolled as an international student at SIT you will be covered by our insurance policy. If students purchase a car during their stay they must purchase their own insurance for the vehicle.
Immigration and Visas
If your application is successful, SIT will send you an Offer of Place and an invoice. Students will use the Offer of Place documents to apply for their New Zealand student visa. For assistance with the student visa application process and more up to date information, refer to
SIT's visa guide.
Health and Safety
Health and safety are paramount to a successful experience studying abroad. We encourage students to research health and safety considerations of the destination in which they wish to go. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provide up to date and comprehensive information about health and safety abroad. Please visit the following links to find more information:
U.S. Department of State: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en.html
Centers for Disease Control: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/
Costs and Tuition
The study abroad fee for students is $6000 New Zealand dollars per semester (approximately $3000-$4000 USD). This covers both tuition and resource fees for the programme. Study abroad students will also receive a $500 adventure tourism voucher to undertake activities such as skiing, Lord of the Rings tour, bungy jumping and other famous New Zealand tourist activities.
Financial Aid
Students are eligible to receive financial aid for this program as long as they maintain full-time status while abroad. Before departure students will need to receive pre-approval on all course work that they intend to take via their academic advisor or a faculty member through a study away form that can be obtained in the Global Engagement Office. Financial aid will not be released early for education abroad purposes. For specific questions regarding financial aid, students should contact the UCCS financial aid office directly.
Scholarships
Students are eligible to continue to receive most scholarships and grants that they would receive normally during the semester as long as there are not stipulations that students need to be on-campus. Students should confirm this with their appropriate contact for the scholarship. Students wishing to apply for scholarships for study abroad should visit our scholarship website.
Invercargill, New Zealand
Invercargill is the Southern most city of New Zealand. With a population of 55,000 it is large enough to have fantastic amenities, but small enough to also have the very best of nature New Zealand has to offer. Within the region of Southland where Invercargill is located there are two National parks, beaches, mountains, rivers, lakes and many recreational activities. Invercargill is also 2 hours drive from Queenstown which is the adventure tourism capital of the world and sister city to Aspen, Colorado. Queenstown is also where world famous movies such as Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia where filmed. SIT has a $2 return bus trip in weekends for students to visit Queenstown and study abroad students will also receive a $500 NZD voucher for adventure tourism activities. SIT is also main sponsor of the Southland Sharks basketball team which compete in the national basketball league and also sponsors many other sports and cultural activities which gives students the chance to claim free tickets to events throughout the region. If students would like to undertake volunteer work at these events to have a reference on their resume to take home we can also discuss this with event organisers.
To see UCCS student perspectives of SIT watch these videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6ELBnCiErs and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Oq9ITHzZwU
