The opportunities for cutting edge research in New Zealand are many and varied, and the scope for international students to participate at all levels is very high

Having only a small population, New Zealand is very aware of the benefits of international students as an essential element of maintaining a high calibre academic and research environment.

New Zealand's Universities have been in the vanguard of building the countries human and intellectual capital. Whilst modest in number (eight) they are genuinely world class institutions that undertake the lions share of the country's basic research and are well integrated into the overall national research effort at all levels.

All New Zealand's universities are performing very highly on a global level, and New Zealand has a higher percentage of its Universities listed in the Time Higher Education Supplement 2006 (THES 2006) Top 500 and the Shanghai Jiao Tong Top 500 World Universities than any other country. This is an excellent performance by New Zealand, and confirms that there is a depth of quality right across the system. A student contemplating study within a New Zealand University doesn't have to worry about which one - the only decisions they need to make are what course and which part of New Zealand do they want to be in!

"New Zealand has always been well known not only for the beauty of the country and people, but also for its world class education. For instance, University of Canterbury ranks as one of the highly respected university in the world concerning its research and sound teaching," says David Yeoh, university lecturer and aspiring Engineering expert and university professor, currently completing a PhD research programme in Civil Engineering.

David's view is endorsed by Steven Beville, from Ohio in the United States of America. Both David and Steven are in New Zealand on one of the New Zealand Government funded International Doctoral Research Scholarships. Steven is studying the economics of New Zealand's recreational fisheries.

"At Lincoln [University] I am surrounded by friendly, high calibre researchers with inroads to key private and public sector organizations" says Steven.  "I believe that by making the most of these intra and extra-university relationships and opportunities I will have acquired the requisite skills, and established the right connections to be successful in both an academic and non-academic setting."

Lincoln University is host to the National Centre for Advanced Bio-Protection Technologies, one of New Zealand's seven Centres of Research Excellence, which are inter-institutional research networks conducting leading edge international research across a range of disciplines. Other Centres include the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology hosted by Victoria University in Wellington and the New Zealand Institute of Mathematics and its Applications hosted by Auckland University. Outside of these multi-institutional efforts are specific research centres, such as Canterbury University's HIT (Human Interface Technology) Lab which is a world leader in the interface between man and machines and works in partnership with leading United States universities.

The New Zealand Government is keen to support and grow the international cross fertilisation of ideas and research and has introduced and funded number of high end scholarships to bring more leading edge scholars to New Zealand. The New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (NZIDRS) are open to applicants from around the world, with the selection criteria being based on academic merit. These scholarships are administered by Education New Zealand, the export education industry body, and provide full tuition, accommodation and support costs for up to three years for the recipients.

Not surprisingly, interest in the scholarships has been high. "The standard of applicants is right up there" says Camilla Swan, the Scholarships Manager for Education New Zealand. "The selection panel has a tough job selecting from the large volume of applicants. Current recipients come from about 20 different countries, including four from the Philippines, and are at all our Universities, studying everything from advanced chemistry to the influence of music on popular culture".

But it's not all hard work and 'noses to the grindstone'! New Zealand has a justified reputation as being just a good a country for work as it is for play. With any amount of recreational opportunities close at hand, students get plenty of chance to let off some steam. "Lets face it, if you want to climb up it, jump off it, walk round it, fly over it, ski down it or simply just look at it, New Zealand is tops" say Camilla Swan. "It's not the primary reason for doing advanced study and research in New Zealand, but it sure is a nice bonus"!

To get a handle on exactly what courses are available at New Zealand universities, visit www.newzealandeducated.com

And for more information on the New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships, go to www.newzealandeducated.com/scholarships