Hamilton Girls’ High has always welcomed international and exchange students as a valued part of our school community. For many years, our roll has represented a wide range of nationalities and we appreciate the rich cultural diversity they bring to Hamilton Girls’ High School.
All students fall under the care of the School’s International Students’ department including arranging accommodation in a homestay with a New Zealand family or at our hostel Sonninghill.
The international staff are committed to meeting the educational, social and pastoral needs of our students. We aim to ensure your daughter’s transition to life in New Zealand is as seamless as possible.
Thank you for your interest in applying making an application to our school.
Please read these IMPORTANT NOTES before commencing your application.
You must provide all information we need on the “Application to Enrol Check List”. Failure to do so may mean that an “Offer of a Place” cannot be issued to you, or it will delay the processing of your application. The standard time to process an application is around 1~3 working days. The processing begins from when we receive the CORRECTLY COMPLETED application form and other documents if applicable.
The Student must have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance while studying in New Zealand. The insurance documents must be sighted and photocopied by the School before the application can be processed.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) promotes the use of an online tool for students to make visa applications. For more details go to: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/our-online-systems.
A current student visa/permit issued by the New Zealand Immigration Service must be sighted and photocopied by the School before the enrolment can be completed
STUDENT SUPPORT
Coming to a new school can be challenging for both students and parents. To ensure a smooth transition for all concerned, we have integrated pastoral care, a support, academic network. We have an extensive network set up to ensure the help and support that is needed for students and parents is available.
International Student Fee Advice
Tuition for full year
$16,000.00
based on 46 weeks during Term Time
There will be other costs throughout the year eg NCEA fees etc that will be billed directly to the student, uniform and school trip etc..
includes: 2 Blouses, Skirt , Jersey, Blazer, PE top and bottom, Socks and Tie For further information on our uniform please see the uniform shop page. www.hghs.school.nz/our-school/uniform-dess-code/
includes: 2 x blouses and I blazer. For further information on our uniform please see the uniform shop page. www.hghs.school.nz/our-school/uniform-dess-code/
12 Months - individual
Payment made by Bank Transfer
ASB Bank [BIC-number or swift code: ASBBNZ2A]
Hamilton Branch
Address: 500 Victoria Street, Hamilton Central, Hamilton, 3204 NZ.
Account:“Hamilton Girls’ High School”
Account Number:12-3122-0346679-00
Please write student’s name on deposit form in reference/particulars section to assist with identification.
The tuition fee includes a New Zealand Government tax on tuition.There may be additional costs for: Extra-curricular activities (e.g. sport fees, music tuition, field trips)
External Examination entry fees: NCEA examinations for Years 11-13
The Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016
When students come to study in New Zealand, education providers have an important responsibility to ensure that those students are well informed, safe and properly cared for.
To support this, the New Zealand government has developed the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016, which replaced the 2010 Code of Practice.
The new Code of Practice was released in March 2016, and applied from 1 July 2016.
Pastoral-care-of-international-students.pdf (PDF, 508KB) Frequently asked questions about the new Code of Practice.
Hi! I’m Skti Monge and I’m from Costa Rica. I’m an exchange student during this year here in NZ. I’ve been enjoying a lot this first month and I really like the country. At first, girls high school sounded scary for me but, now I’m starting to adapt to the system which is totally different. I liked the swimming and athletics days and there are lots of extra curricular activities. Also, it’s interesting having the opportunity to choose your own subjects and study what you want. I am trying to improve my English and learn new things this year.
– Sukti Monge
Hello, my name is Moe. I’m from Japan and I live with a Kiwi host family. I think New Zealander between Japanese are little different. For example, dinner and go to bed are very early. New Zealanders are very funny because my host family sometimes sing a song and the are kind to me. They speak slowly English because I can’t understand. They are always smiling. I like my host family.
– Moe Fukase
The options I take this year are ESOL, intenrnational English, computer studies, media studies and music. For me, the hardest subject is computer studies, because there are heaps of words I haven’t seen before, so I need to work hard on this course. ESOL and English classes help me to improve my English, I can ask about whatever I don’t understand, that’s good for me. ESOL classes are small and there are lots of teachers around to help.
– Eva Chang
kia ora, my name is Jiayao and I am an international student from HGHS from China.
During my three years of study at HGHS, I have made many good friends and they are all very friendly. And the teachers at HGHS are also very kind, they always support us and help us. When I had difficulties with the University application, the International Coordinator at HGHS helped me to contact the university with me. Because of their help,
I got six university offers from Auckland University, Massey University, Auckland University of Technology, University of Waikato, University of Canterbury, University of Otago, and I also got a 15000 nzd scholarship from the University of Waikato and a 5000 nzd scholarship from the University of Otago. The University of Auckland has been my goal since year 10, it is also the number one university in New Zealand, ranked 83rd in the world, and now my goal is accomplished so I will go to the University of Auckland to study for a Bachelor of Commerce . I am very grateful to my host family, they are my family and they will always support me in everything. I just want to say thank you for everything, thank you host family, thank you all the teachers for your help, thank you HGHS.
– Monica Du
STUDENT SUPPORT
Coming to a new school can be challenging for both students and parents. To ensure a smooth transition for all concerned, we have integrated pastoral care, a support, academic network. We have an extensive network set up to ensure the help and support that is needed for students and parents is available.
All international students at HGHS must live in accommodation approved by the school either with host families, a parent or close family relatives or friends as designated caregivers.
HGHS manages its own homestay programme with a homestay coordinator on site and available to students and families during the school day.
In the selection and monitoring of our host families we always consider ‘if one of our daughters was to study overseas, what sort of environment, care and support would we want for them?’
Prospective host families undergo a strict selection process including an interview, reference checks, Police vetting and a home visit to ensure they will provide a caring and comfortable environment for a student to live. Students can expect their own fully-furnished room, all meals including lunch/snacks to bring to school, and will have their laundry done.
Most importantly they will become part of their new Kiwi family and be made to feel at home.
In order for the best possible placement to be made it is important that all information requested in the application form is completed.
Parents may live in New Zealand to care for their child while they study on a Student Visa. It is a parent’s responsibility to provide the school with their local address and contact details, and to advise of any changes. HGHS requires the parent to provide evidence of a current Visa.
A designated caregiver is a relative or close family friend known to the student’s parents. The designated caregiver must agree to be interviewed, provide references, agree to a New Zealand Police Vet of all members of their household over 18 years of age, and agree to an initial, and from time to time additional, home visits.
Before a student can be placed with a Designated Caregiver the Agreement (contained in the application form) must be completed and signed by all parties.
Do you have room for one more young person in your home?
Would you be keen to show them our wonderful Kiwi hospitality and lifestyle, involve them in family life and support them throughout their time in Hamilton?
Hamilton Girls’ High School is looking for host families for international students arriving in January and throughout the year.
Long term (1 year +) and short term (1-2 terms) placements will be needed.
Police vetting will need to be carried out for all household members over 18.
Interested?
For more information please read the Guidelines or contact the homestay coordinator Takako Smart ph 839 1304 ext 892 (school hours)
Complete a Host Family Application and send it to [email protected]
