About the university
Whitecliffe College is a private tertiary college founded in 1984, with its head office and main campus on Symonds Street in central Auckland and further campuses in Manukau, Wellington and Christchurch. It teaches fine arts, design, fashion, jewellery, creative arts therapy, business innovation and information technology, from Level 4 certificates up to master's degrees. Its IT programmes run in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Indian students mostly look at Whitecliffe's postgraduate IT programmes and its Master of Business Innovation and Leadership, which have intakes in March and November as well as February. First-year international fees run from NZ$19,950 (Bachelor of Applied Computing Technologies) to NZ$36,000 (master's degrees), plus a student services levy. Several programmes are new or changing and subject to NZQA approval, so check the qualification page before applying.
- Founded
- 1984
- Type
- Private training establishment, NZQA Category One (as stated on its about page)
- Campuses
- Auckland City (67 Symonds Street), Manukau, Wellington (110 Lambton Quay) and Christchurch (167 Madras Street)
- Course levels
- Levels 4 to 9: certificates, bachelor's, postgraduate diplomas and master's
- Main intakes
- February (bachelor's); March and November (postgraduate IT and business)
Rankings
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
Master of Information Technology
- Fee / year
- NZ$36,000
- Duration
- 1 year full-time (3 trimesters; 180 credits) or 2 years part-time
- Intakes
- November 2026; March 2027
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or equivalent
- Postgraduate
Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology
- Fee / year
- NZ$24,000
- Duration
- 1 year full-time (120 credits)
- Intakes
- March 2027
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or equivalent
- Postgraduate
Master of Business Innovation and Leadership (MBIL)
- Fee / year
- NZ$36,000
- Duration
- 1 year full-time (3 trimesters; 180 credits)
- Intakes
- November 2026; March 2027
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or TOEFL 625 (paper-based)
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Applied Computing Technologies
- Fee / year
- NZ$19,950
- Duration
- 3 years full-time (360 credits)
- Intakes
- February 2027
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or equivalent
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Design and Creative Technologies
- Fee / year
- NZ$27,000
- Duration
- 3 years full-time (360 credits)
- Intakes
- February 2027
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or equivalent
- Undergraduate
Bachelor of Fashion Design and Futures
- Fee / year
- NZ$27,000
- Duration
- 3 years full-time (360 credits)
- Intakes
- February 2027
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or equivalent
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- NZ$27,000
- Duration
- 3 years full-time (360 credits)
- Intakes
- February 2027
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or equivalent
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (NZD) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Information Technology | 1 year full-time (3 trimesters; 180 credits) or 2 years part-time | NZ$36,000 | ≈ ₹19.4 lakh |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology | 1 year full-time (120 credits) | NZ$24,000 | ≈ ₹13 lakh |
| Master of Business Innovation and Leadership (MBIL) | 1 year full-time (3 trimesters; 180 credits) | NZ$36,000 | ≈ ₹19.4 lakh |
| Bachelor of Applied Computing Technologies | 3 years full-time (360 credits) | NZ$19,950 | ≈ ₹10.8 lakh |
| Bachelor of Design and Creative Technologies | 3 years full-time (360 credits) | NZ$27,000 | ≈ ₹14.6 lakh |
| Bachelor of Fashion Design and Futures | 3 years full-time (360 credits) | NZ$27,000 | ≈ ₹14.6 lakh |
| Bachelor of Fine Arts | 3 years full-time (360 credits) | NZ$27,000 | ≈ ₹14.6 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Whitecliffe College with similar universities in New Zealand.
Scholarships
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- International applicants must turn 18 within their first year of study.
- A New Zealand qualification or equivalent, such as Class 12 (ask Whitecliffe how it assesses your marks).
- Fine arts: a portfolio of original artwork, a letter of intent and an interview.
- You must meet New Zealand student visa requirements.
Postgraduate
- Postgraduate IT: a New Zealand qualification or overseas equivalent that meets the entry rules on each qualification page.
- Master of Business Innovation and Leadership: a bachelor's degree or equivalent, as set out on the qualification page.
- Some master's programmes are mostly distance-taught with short seminars; check that the programme suits a student visa before applying.
Documents
- Passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets; degree certificate and transcripts for postgraduate study
- IELTS Academic (or equivalent) result
- Portfolio, letter of intent or self-introduction video where the programme asks for one
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic, bachelor's | 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or equivalent |
| IELTS Academic, postgraduate | 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or equivalent |
| TOEFL (paper-based), MBIL | 625 |
| Class 12 English waiver | Not offered on the pages reviewed |
Accommodation and living costs
Whitecliffe does not list its own student housing or costs on the pages reviewed. Its international students page has an accommodation section; ask the international team for help finding housing near your campus.
| Item | In NZD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|
Campus and location
Whitecliffe has four campuses. The head office and main campus are at 67 Symonds Street in central Auckland's education area.
- Auckland City (Symonds Street): fine arts, design, fashion, business and IT.
- Manukau (3 Osterley Way): Level 3 and 4 vocational and foundation programmes, and some design and fashion degrees (subject to numbers).
- Wellington (110 Lambton Quay): IT and some fashion technology programmes.
- Christchurch (167 Madras Street): IT programmes.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Whitecliffe's programmes aim to prepare graduates for the creative industries, design, fashion, IT and business. It publishes no graduate outcome figures on the pages reviewed. See our New Zealand guide for post-study work rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in New Zealand
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in New Zealand. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in New Zealand
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FAQs
How much does Whitecliffe cost for international students?
First-year international fees range from NZ$19,950 for the Bachelor of Applied Computing Technologies to NZ$27,000 for most creative bachelor's degrees and NZ$36,000 for the Master of Information Technology and MBIL, plus a student services levy of NZ$300–NZ$450.
When can I start?
Most bachelor's degrees start in February. The Master of Information Technology and MBIL have November 2026 and March 2027 intakes; the Postgraduate Diploma in IT starts in March 2027.
What IELTS score do I need?
IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5 for bachelor's degrees and 6.5 with no band below 6.0 for postgraduate programmes.
Sources
- Whitecliffe: home page (opens in a new tab)
- Whitecliffe: about us (opens in a new tab)
- Whitecliffe: international students (opens in a new tab)
- Whitecliffe: fees (opens in a new tab)
- Whitecliffe: Master of Information Technology (opens in a new tab)
- Whitecliffe: Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology (opens in a new tab)
- Whitecliffe: Master of Business Innovation and Leadership (opens in a new tab)
- Whitecliffe: Bachelor of Applied Computing Technologies (opens in a new tab)
- Whitecliffe: Bachelor of Fine Arts (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.whitecliffe.ac.nz (opens in a new tab)
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