Mikhail moved to New Zealand from Russia to study at Massey University and completed the Master of Construction with Distinction in Quantity Surveying.
In this article, he shares his experience of studying, living in Auckland, and insights that may be useful for those considering moving through education.
Why New Zealand
I was considering Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. I ruled out Australia because of the climate and insects. I was leaning more towards Canada since it’s a large country and closer than New Zealand. But then I found out that my profession is on the Green List Tier 1, which allows for a faster pathway to residency — and that’s why I ultimately chose New Zealand.
Green List Tier 1 is a list of in-demand occupations in New Zealand that allow you to obtain residency through an accelerated pathway (Straight to Residence).
First impression of New Zealand
To be honest, in the first few days after I arrived, I felt like I had ended up in some kind of village. But then my studies started, I gradually got used to the city, and it began to feel more normal.
The most inconvenient thing was driving on the left side. But people are very friendly — no one rolled their eyes when I asked them to repeat something I didn’t understand.
What really surprised me, though, was the large number of homeless people in central Auckland, I definitely wasn’t prepared for that) And I was also surprised by how calm and unhurried the locals are — honestly, they remind me of Finns or Estonians))
Life in New Zealand now
Overall, I like New Zealand. Auckland is not overcrowded, but at the same time it’s not a village like I initially thought. It has everything you need for a comfortable life. I still can’t get used to the slower pace of life and the fact that most shops close at 6 pm, but those are small things.
The biggest downside right now is finding a job — it’s really stressful. There are real challenges with this at the moment for many people in the country.
Studies
The university is excellent. Everything is modern, and the staff are supportive and always ready to help international students. However, my Master’s program was almost entirely online. There were around 16 in-person lectures per semester, and everything else was done online.
I didn’t learn much new, because, as I understood, their Master’s programs are more focused on developing academic skills rather than gaining new professional knowledge, although there were many important insights for understanding the local industry.
How is the study process structured
The study process was structured as follows: for each subject, there was one study day on campus where they provided basic explanations, introduced the assignment, and then gave time for independent work.
There were regular online sessions with lecturers to ask questions about assignments, but about 70% of the work was done independently. Some subjects had final exams at the end of the semester.
There wasn’t much completely new knowledge — mostly what I already knew from my experience and Russian education, but reinterpreted within the New Zealand context: local types of documentation and local standards.
Part-time job
I worked remotely for a Russian company where I had been employed before moving. In Auckland, I also did some extra work as a background actor. It didn’t take much time, as a lot of effort was already going into my university work.
Career path after graduation
I graduated in November 2025 and received my work visa in January 2026, but as of now, I haven’t been able to find a job in my field yet.
Feedback about Kiwi Education
Kiwi Education helped a lot at the early stages of my move: they selected a suitable study program, helped build a clear relocation plan, and handled communication with the university and language school — essentially organizing everything for a smooth move. I’m very satisfied with their services.
If you’d like to get in touch with Mikhail and ask him questions, you can email him at:
[email protected]
You can book a consultation with us via the link
