31 July 2026
Pavel moved from Indonesia to Auckland. He completed NZCEL Level 5 at ICL and is now preparing for IELTS. In his story, Pavel shares his impressions of studying and living in New Zealand, working part-time as a carpenter and his experience with Kiwi Education.
Why We Chose New Zealand
We considered Malta, Germany and New Zealand.
In Malta, we could study English, but the prospects of finding work and obtaining a work visa were unclear. We have relatives in Germany, but we were unable to secure an appointment to apply for a visa on two occasions.
We chose New Zealand because of the Post Study Work Visa, the Green List and the clear pathway to residence. At the same time, the cost of studying and relocating was affordable for us.
First Impressions of New Zealand
My first impression was mixed. Auckland is considered a large city, but its city centre turned out to be quite compact.
The country itself is very beautiful, although we still miss warm weather, beach holidays and swimming in the ocean. However, we have seen very little so far, so we are sure there is still plenty ahead of us.
We already like New Zealand, and I think we will like it even more over time.
Life in New Zealand Now
New Zealand currently feels like a peaceful country where you can live comfortably, develop professionally and build your own business.
We are gradually beginning to feel at home here. We are making friends and building our own community and familiar social circle.
Essentially, we are creating again the kind of life we had before leaving Russia.
Studying at ICL
I enjoy the IELTS programme. During five hours of classes, we cover a large amount of material and get plenty of practice.
ICL is a private education provider, so it is difficult to compare it with a large public university. However, it is well equipped for its format and conveniently located in central Auckland.
The programme turned out to be more difficult than I expected.
IELTS Preparation
During this time, I have studied on two programmes. My result from NZCEL Level 5 was disappointing and lower than I had expected, although several circumstances contributed to this.
I am now studying IELTS at the same school. I already have experience preparing for this exam, so I can compare the courses.
My current teacher at ICL, Gita, is one of the best teachers I have ever studied with. She genuinely provides students with a great deal of useful knowledge.
What is particularly interesting is that she tries to help each student with the specific areas they find difficult.
My Experience with NZCEL Level 5
I can confidently recommend the IELTS programme at ICL with Gita. I have prepared for IELTS at other schools, so I can compare the experience and understand just how much she gives her students.
I would recommend NZCEL Level 5 only to people who already have a very strong level of English.
It is a difficult programme: you need to successfully complete around 14 assessments, each lasting between one and three hours!!!
Every criterion must be met. If even one criterion is not achieved, the entire assessment is considered unsuccessful and must be completed again. There is no points-based grading system.
With IELTS, the entire exam takes 3.5 hours and is graded using a band score — do the maths and think about it 🙂
With an IELTS level of 6.0, completing the programme can be extremely difficult. I did not manage to complete it successfully.
Working Part-Time While Studying
Yes, while studying, I worked part-time as a carpenter for a construction company. I mainly installed and fixed plasterboard.
If you have experience and are prepared to work with your hands, it is quite realistic to find this type of work here.
Plans After Studying
I am still studying on the IELTS programme, so my journey of finding work after completing my studies has not started yet.
I hope everything works out well after I finish the programme.
What You Should Know Before Moving
It is important to calculate your budget carefully in advance and make sure you have a financial buffer, as money can be spent quite quickly in New Zealand.
It is also worth maintaining a positive but realistic attitude: relocating and adapting to a new country take time.
When choosing an education consultant, I would pay attention to genuine reviews, their experience of working with New Zealand, and how clearly and quickly the specialists answer questions.
My Experience with Kiwi Education
I have only positive impressions of Kiwi Education.
When Denis suggested that we begin the application process, we were living in Indonesia, but we were able to collect all the necessary documents relatively quickly.
Andrey from Kiwi Education helped us with the student visa application, responded to our questions promptly and was always available.
Denis has continued supporting us since we arrived. We can contact him with any questions related to the school or our studies.
The team always tries to help, find a solution and make sure that no one is left to deal with a problem alone.
Telegram: @Egovtsevp
