Whitireia began in Porirua, just north of Wellington, and still has its main campus there, with a second site in Wellington city. It is a public polytechnic now run alongside WelTec in Petone, so offers and course codes often carry both names. Nursing, IT, business and the creative industries are its strongest areas. New Zealand's polytechnic reforms have changed its governance, so check the provider named on your offer.
Porirua, Wellington, New Zealand
Official website: whitireiaweltec.ac.nz
Public polytechnic in the Wellington region
Porirua and Wellington city
Operates jointly with WelTec, Petone
NZ$22,000 – NZ$30,000
International students, diplomas and degrees
NZ$20,000 – NZ$25,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on whitireiaweltec.ac.nz before you apply.
Bachelor of Nursing
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Feb
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5 (7.0 for registration)
Bachelor of Information Technology
Bachelors DegreeDuration
36 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 80
Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology
Postgraduate DiplomaDuration
12 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 5)
DiplomaDuration
12 Months
Intake
Feb, Jul
Exam Score
IELTS: 5.5, TOEFL: 72
A nursing school with long ties to Wellington hospitals.
Applied IT programmes with industry projects.
Small classes and a practical, polytechnic style of teaching.
Nursing graduates who pass registration work in hospitals and aged care across the region.
IT graduates join Wellington's government agencies and software firms.
Eligible graduates can apply for a post-study work visa; check the qualification level.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Limited programmes
Postgrad
Rolling
Porirua is a harbour city about 20 minutes north of Wellington on the Kapiti rail line. Rent is lower than in the capital, and the campus is close to the train station.
Wellington is compact and windy, with a waterfront, Te Papa museum and plenty of cafes on Cuba Street. It is also where most of the government jobs are.
Offer of place from Whitireia New Zealand
Proof of NZD 20,000 per year
Tuition fee receipt or evidence
Medical and chest X-ray certificates
Police certificate, if required
Passport valid three months beyond stay
Whitireia accepts applications year-round, but nursing places are limited and fill early. Apply at least four months before the intake so there is time for the student visa.
The main intakes are February and July. Nursing usually starts only in February.
You'll apply online to Immigration New Zealand for a Fee Paying Student Visa. Budget time for the chest X-ray and medical, which some nationalities need.
Nursing, information technology, the postgraduate diploma in IT and business diplomas are the usual picks. Degrees need completed secondary school; the PG diploma needs a bachelor's degree. IELTS 6.0 to 6.5 is typical, and nursing sets a higher bar.
Scholarships for international students are occasional and small. Check the Whitireia and WelTec international page close to your intake.
