Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a student visa?
- The PBRS have supplied a general guide to applying for student visas below. Please note that this is no way comprehensive, and that requirements may vary between students and the countries from which they apply. These requirements may also change from time to time, so it is best to go directly to the New Zealand Immigration Sevice Website at www.immigration.govt.nz or alternatively to contact one of The PBRS’ authorized education agents to assist you in your application. The school is happy to supply you with details as to the nearest authorized education agent to you. You must also appreciate the fact that Student Visas usually take some time to process. To ensure that you are not disappointed, please leave an ample amount of time to apply for your student visa before your course start date.
  
  1. Apply to The PBRS for a place on one of our courses. You can do this by completing an online enrolment form or by requesting an enrolment form from international@pbrs.co.nz
  2. Based on your application form The PBRS will decide whether to grant you an Unconditional Offer of Place.
  3. Once you have recieved your Unconditional Offer of Place, you will need to complete a Student Visa application. You can either download a student visa application form from www.immigration.govt.nz or you can alternatively contact PBRS for details of one of our recognized education agents in your area. This service is free of charge and we highly recommend you do take advantage of this service as our agents are very knowledgeable in this area.
  4. Once your application has been given an Approval in Principal by Immigration New Zealand you must then move to make full tuition fee payment into the PBRS' Public Trust Account following the instructions on your Unconditional Offer of Place and Invoice.
  5. Once tuition fee payment has been made you will then be issued with a receipt from the PBRS.
  6. Your receipt must then be fowarded to your INZ Visa Case Officer.
  7. At this stage you should be issued with a Student Visa that is valid for the duration of your course directly into your passport.
  
  Documents Required for Student Visa Processing
  1. Completed student visa application form
  Available from the New Zealand Immigration Service, New Zealand Embassies, High Commissions, or from The Professional Bar and Restaurant School. You can find details as to your closest New Zealand Embassy at: http://www.nzembassy.com
  2. Current passport
  You must ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your study in New Zealand at PBRS.
  3. Student visa application fee
  Please be aware this fee differs between countries.
  4. Unconditional Offer of Place
  You will receive this from PBRS upon enrolment.
  5. Tuition Fees Receipt
  This will be provided by The PBRS when your tuition fees have been paid.
  6. Evidence of sufficient funds
  This refers to evidence that must be supplied to NZ Immigration that you or a sponsor (usually a family member) have at least NZ$10,000.00 per year to support you while you are living in New Zealand. You should provide your personal bank statement, passbook, or a traveller’s cheques as well as a completed “Financial Undertaking of Student” form if a sponsor will be supporting you.
  7. Guarantee of Accommodation
  This is a letter stating that you will have somewhere to live whilst you are in Auckland or Wellington. The PBRS automatically includes this in your offer of place. If you require the PBRS to assist in finding accommodation for you, you must notify us as soon as possible.
  8. Evidence of onward travel arrangements
  You must have an airline ticket to leave New Zealand, or be able to provide evidence that you have extra funds available to pay for such a ticket.
Is there an application fee to study at The Professional Bar and Restaurant School?
- There is no application fee charged.
Do I need to have medical insurance?
- It is mandatory for every international student to purchase travel and medical insurance that covers the duration of their course in New Zealand.
  As an administrator of the Code, The PBRS requires all of its international students to purchase a suitable insurance policy and to present evidence of their insurance policy on the first day of their studies. This also includes renewing any policy when/if it is due to expire.
  The school is able to assist you in organizing cover for the duration of your course. You will then be invoiced appropriately.
  Most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health services whilst in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment whilst in New Zealand, you may be liable for the full costs of the treatment. Full details on entitlements to publicly funded health services can be viewed at: www.moh.govt.nz
How do I enrol and pay my fees?
- To enrol in a course at the PBRS a course new must complete the International student enrolment form. This can be done online or you can contact the International Department at international@pbrs.co.nz to request one. Once you receive an Unconditional Offer of Place and Invoice from The Professional Bar and Restaurant School you can then pay your fees into the PBRS' Public Trust Account. If an agent is helping you with your application process, they will assist you with this.
What happens if I do not attend class or I decide to withdraw from my course?
- As a requirement of PBRS and Immigration New Zealand, you are required to attend 80% of your programme. If your attendance is less then 80%, we are required to advise Immigration NZ. This may result in your student permit being revoked.
  If you withdraw from your course, there are some circumstances in which you may be eligible for a refund.
  (1) If the course runs for 3 months or more and you withdraw before the end of the eighth day from the start of the course, The Professional Bar and Restaurant School will refund an amount equal to the fees paid, minus a deduction of either 10% of the fees paid or $500, whichever is the lesser.
  
  (2)After the eigth day has passed and the withdrawal period has lapsed, no refund will be available.
Am I allowed to work part time while I study?
- Yes. If you are studying on any of our courses offered then you may work for up to 20 hours per week on your student permit once you have applied for a variation of conditions. The Professional Bar and Restaurant School can assist you in finding part-time work.
How expensive is it to live in New Zealand as a student?
- New Zealand is a comparatively inexpensive country to live in.
  Below are some approximate prices for living expenses in Auckland and Wellington.
  
  Rent $150.00 - $200.00
  Milk $3.06
  Cheese $11.99
  Taxi Fare (per km) $1.90
  Petrol (1L unleaded) $2.10
  Parking per hour rate $2.00-$4.00
  Parking per day rate $5.00-$15.00
  Monthly bus pass all areas $110.00-$150.00
  
  Immigration New Zealand reccomends that you have at least NZD$10,000.00 available for the period of 1 year while living in New Zealand
  For additional details on living in NZ, refer to our Student Services page.
What happens if I arrive late for the start of my course?
- Firstly you must try to avoid this, as there will limited time to catch up on any missed out study. We recommend that you make your travel arrangements and flight bookings well in advance to prevent this from happening.
What if my flight or travel details change?
- Please contact us as soon as possible either through your agent or consultant or telephone us directly.
What will I learn when I start my course?
- Much of the first week of your course is induction. During this time you will learn about The Professional Bar and Restaurant School, its rules and regulations, as well as helpful information about living in New Zealand and its culture and how to get the most out of your time studying with us.
Who can I contact if have problems while I’m studying?
- We have specialised Student Advisors who are there to help our international students. You will be introduced to them at the beginning of your course.
What happens to my fees if The Professional Bar and Restaurant School is unable to deliver my tuition?
- The New Zealand Government requires that all Private Training Establishments registered with New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) protect student fees paid to them in advance. To ensure the protection of students’ investment in their education, all student fees are held in a trust account until eight days after the commencement of the course. Once this time period has elapsed, fees will be released by the trustee to the Professional Bar and Restaurant School on a regular basis in arrears of the tuition being delivered. In the unlikely event, therefore, that The Professional Bar and Restaurant School is unable to deliver tuition for any reason, the unused portion of your fees will be protected. For more information, please see: www.publictrust.co.nz
Do I have to inform you if I change my address?
- Yes. You must tell the International Department immediately if any of your contact details change.
Can I get extra English help whilst undertaking my course?
- Yes you can. Please talk to your tutor about any problems you are having. We are also more then happy to organize extra English Language Tuition for you. This can either be on a one on one basis, or in a classroom setting. Please note that there will be extra costs involved in this tuition.
What is the minimum age of study at The Professional Bar and Restaurant School?
- The minimum age is 18, students under this age will not be accepted.
What should I do if I have a complaint?
- The first step is to see the International Pastoral Care Officer and they will discuss the problem with you.
  If they are unable to come to a resolution that pleases all parties, the student should request a meeting with the International Student Coordinator.
  If a resolution is still not forthcoming, a meeting should be organised with the General Manager.
  If the problem cannot be solved internally, a student can contact the International Education Appeals Authority.
  What is the International Education Appeal Authority (IEAA)?
  The IEAA is an independent body established to deal with complaints from international students about pastoral care aspects of advice and services received from their education provider or the provider’s agents. The IEAA enforces the standards in the Code of Practice.
  International Education Appeal Authority c/- Ministry of Education
  Private Bag 92644,
  Symonds Street, Auckland 1150
  Phone: +64 9 632 9513
  Fax: +64 9 632 9456
  Email: info.ieaa@minedu.govt.nz
Do I have to speak English when at school?
- Yes. It is important that when you are at school that you try to speak only English as much as possible.
Can you help me find somewhere to live?
- Auckland and Wellington have an excellent range of accommodation options to suit all budgets. The Professional Bar Restaurant School staff are happy to assist you in finding accommodation to suit your requirements.
  The International Department are very happy to arrange accomodation prior to your arrival or when you have arrived in New Zealand. We currently have great relations with a variety of short-term and long-term accomodation options.
Can I start my course and then organise my student Visa afterwards?
- No, you must have a valid Student Visa before you are able to start your course.
What is the ‘Code of Practice’?
- When students from other countries come to study in New Zealand, it is important that those students are well informed, safe, and properly cared for. New Zealand educational providers have an important responsibility for international students’ welfare. This pamphlet provides an overview of the “Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students” (the Code), and provides a procedure that students can follow if they have concerns about their treatment by a New Zealand educational provider or agent of a provider.
  • What is the Code? The Code is a document that provides a framework for service delivery by educational providers and their agents to international students. The Code sets out the minimum standards of advice and care that are expected of educational providers with respect to international students. The Code applies to pastoral care and provision of information only, and not to academic standards.
  • Who does the Code apply to? The Code applies to all education providers in New Zealand with international students enrolled. The Code is mandatory to these providers and must be signed by them.
  A summary of the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students
  The Code sets standards for education providers to ensure that:
  • high professional standards are maintained
  • the recruitment of international students is undertaken in an ethical and responsible manner
  • information supplied to international students is comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date
  • students are provided with information prior to entering into any commitments
  • contractual dealings with international students are conducted in an ethical and responsible manner
  • the particular needs of international students are recognised
  • international students are in safe accommodation
  • all providers have fair and equitable internal procedures for the resolution of international student grievances
  Full details of what is covered can be found in the Code itself. The Code also establishes the IEAA and the Review Panel to receive and adjudicate on student complaints. You can get a copy of The Code of Practice from PBRS, or alternatively The Code is also available online from www.minedu.govt.nz.
What are the English language entry requirements?
- An IELTS score of 5.5 or equivalent is required for students who do not speak English as a first language.
  IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication.
  To find out more about IELTS testing, please go to: http://www.ielts.org/
What documents should I bring with me to New Zealand?
- To make living and studying in New Zealand as easy as possible please bring as many of the following documents that you can.
  • Birth certificate
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable)
  • Academic qualifications
  • References from previous employers
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Credit references
  • International driver licence
  • Important medical records and prescription information
What sort of clothing should I bring to New Zealand?
- The weather in New Zealand varies from season to season can be changeable. You should bring clothing that is suitable for warm and cold weather as well as a raincoat or umbrella.
  In winter you'll need:
  • warm footwear for wet weather
  • woolen sweaters or other warm garments
  • a windproof jacket and waterproof coat.
  
  In summer you'll need:
  • a sunhat or cap
  • a long-sleeved shirt or blouse made of cool fabric
  • suitable footwear for outings to the beach and the bush.
Can I bring food into New Zealand with me?
- We recommend that you do not.
  To protect New Zealand's agricultural, horticultural and forestry industries, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry enforces very strict quarantine requirements. Many animal and plant products are banned. On the incoming flight you'll be given a declaration form. Declare any items you have or put them in the special bin at the airport.
  It's a good idea to pack everything you think may be inspected near the top of your suitcase. Clean all outdoor footwear and equipment, including farm, camping and sports gear, before you pack.