Students complete a prescribed number of units or courses for their degree. In each subject there are usually first-year ( stage1 or 100-level ), second-year ( stage2 or 200-level ), third-year ( stage3 or 300-level) courses. In some courses, field trips provide opportunities for on-site study of natural phenomena or social processes. Personal reading and research supplement these learning contacts. Students are expected to develop independent study skills with a minimum of professional supervision. Students must successfully complete the requirement for one stage before beginning work on the next. Student can do an additional "honor" year upon completion of their degree program. Honor is generally the first year of graduate work in the student's field of study.

A one-year, full-time program for graduates. It does not always require its students to have prior learning or experience in the subject matter of the diploma.

A one-year, full-time program, designed for graduates, which builds on the subject matter in the academic field of the previous degree. A postgraduate diploma usually requires one year of full-time study after the bachelor's degree and builds on the subject matter in the academic field of the bachelor's degree. Some graduates may be required to study towards a Graduate Diploma as a first step to confirm their step to confirm their academic level before proceeding to postgraduate studies.

The Master's degree is open to those who have completed a Bachelor’s degree. The program is usually of one or two years full-time study or it's equivalent in part-time study. The work required normally builds upon the prior knowledge gained in the major part of the Bachelor's degree, and most or all of it is in that discipline. It is at a more advanced level. Most Master's degrees include a thesis component, and in some cases, particularly those that are a four year Bachelor's (Honor) courses, the degree may be thesis-only. However increasingly Master's degrees by paper, or paper's plus research, are becoming available.

The main Doctorate offered by New Zealand universities is the PhD or Doctor of Philosophy. A student is required to prepare under supervision a substantial thesis that represents original research into an approved topic normally carried out over a minimum of two to three full-time years. Candidate prepares thesis on the conduct and result of their research. Admission to PhD study requires a first or good second class Master’s degree or Bachelor's degree at first or good second class Honour standard, or comparable qualifications. Acceptance is also subject to the availability of staff for supervision and appropriate facilities.