16 July 2026

Natalia moved from Russia to Auckland with her family. She is currently studying for a Master of Business Informatics specialising in Healthcare Informatics at Yoobee Colleges. During their first three months, the family managed to deal with the main practical matters, enrol the children in schools and early childhood education centres, and adapt to their new life.

Why We Chose New Zealand

We also considered Canada, but New Zealand was our preferred option from the very beginning.

The reasons were its nature, climate, English-speaking environment, the opportunity for our children to attend schools and early childhood education centres almost free of charge, relatively affordable and short study programmes, a clear pathway to residence, and the New Zealand lifestyle — at least as we imagined it.

First Impressions and Adaptation

Overall, everything was as we expected, and perhaps even better.

We had allowed a large safety margin in our budget. By now, we already know where and how we can save money. Finding long-term accommodation and furnishing it turned out not to be particularly difficult or expensive.

Enrolling the children in schools and early childhood education centres, sorting out bills and bank accounts, and dealing with other practical matters also turned out to be fairly easy.

The weather has mostly been pleasant, and we have not felt cold. There is plenty to do, especially with children. Everyone is very friendly, and the English is quite easy to understand, so there is hardly any language barrier.

We all adapted quickly, including the children. We live quite comfortably. We are careful with money, but not to an extreme degree, even though none of us has found a local job yet.

It often feels as though we are on holiday.

Life in New Zealand Now

We have only been living here for a little over three months. Overall, the feeling is still the same.

The initial excitement has settled down a little, but we are still very happy to be here, and our motivation to stay for the long term has only grown.

We would really like to travel around New Zealand, but my studies do not leave enough time for that yet.

Studying at Yoobee Colleges

Overall, the programme has met my expectations. It is interesting to study: much of the material is new to me, although there is also plenty that I already know.

I was pleasantly surprised by the timetable. All the lectures take place at weekends, leaving weekdays free for independent study and job searching.

In terms of difficulty, the programme has been about what I expected.

How the Study Process Works

The workload is reasonable, and it is possible to combine the programme with work.

The projects and assignments are interesting, and students can choose the areas of business they would like to focus on. I usually choose healthcare-related topics.

It is still difficult to say how practical the programme is. This is a fairly new field for me, and a great deal depends on the student. There are plenty of opportunities to gain additional knowledge — everything you need is available.

Why I Chose This Programme

For me, this was practically the only suitable programme because it combines healthcare and information technology. I worked in healthcare for many years before moving into software development.

Analytics is a fairly new field for me, but it is exactly what I felt was missing from my previous experience.

The programme itself is short — only one year — and relatively affordable compared with other alternative programmes available to healthcare professionals.

It includes the possibility of completing an internship, which could be a valuable advantage when looking for work in the future.

I would therefore recommend this programme to people for whom it is genuinely a good fit.

Working While Studying

I still have a remote job in Russia, but I am also applying for suitable roles in New Zealand.

So far, I have submitted around eight to ten applications and had one interview.

I am still studying. In nine months, I will find out how my employment journey develops after graduation 🙂

What You Should Know Before Moving

It is advisable to have a good level of English and, most importantly, not to be afraid of speaking it.

There are not many education consultants who work with Russian-speaking clients. The main thing is to trust, but verify.

There is a lot of content, as well as many chats and forums, about moving to New Zealand. It is worth exploring them in advance so that nothing comes as a surprise.

My Experience with Kiwi Education

Everything is handled to a very high standard. The team is always available, resolves every issue and negotiates tuition discounts.

However, it is still better to prepare in advance so that you at least know what questions to ask.

Telegram: @khripna

Natalia tries to answer questions from members of a New Zealand chat and help with matters she has already explored and understands well.