New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island), and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud. The Realm of New Zealand also includes the Cook Islands and Niue (self-governing but in free association); Tokelau; and the Ross Dependency (New Zealand's territorial claim in Antarctica).

New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation, situated about 2000 km (1250 miles) southeast of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and its closest neighbors to the north are New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga. During its long isolation New Zealand developed a distinctive fauna dominated by birds, a number of which became extinct after the arrival of humans and the mammals they introduced.

New Zealand is reputed the world over for the quality education that the colleges and universities in the country provide. The country has a progressive education system with state-of-the-art latest facilities. Unparalleled study opportunities and excellent support services for international students make the country a favorite destination for higher education. There are courses available in academic, professional and vocational fields. Higher education in New Zealand closely resembles the British pattern. Students pursuing higher education in New Zealand need to have self-direction as most courses are taught via lectures, labs and tutorials.

University education in New Zealand is considered one of the best in the world. In all, there are eight universities in the country and all of them are funded by the state. A bachelor's degree in the country typically takes three years, and students can get an Honors degree after another year of study. However, bachelor’s degrees in some special fields take much longer to complete. Candidates can pursue a Master's degree after completing their bachelor’s. Doctoral studies require either a Master's degree or a Bachelor's degree with Honors. Entry to the higher educational institutions in the country is open, as students need to attain the minimum requirement for admission. However, the emphasis is clearly on independent study.

In New Zealand the academic session is slightly at variance from that in the US. The education system in the country has been patterned on semesters. The first semester starts during the month of February and is over by end June. The second semester starts in July and runs till November. Some universities have a three-semester pattern where the semesters begin in February, July and November.