SIT New Zealand: Southern Institute of Technology Courses, Campuses and Fees
TL;DR: SIT New Zealand is the Southern Institute of Technology, a public polytechnic in Southland that has operated as an independent institution since 1 January 2026. Most international programmes are taught in Invercargill, with hotel, hospitality and culinary study also in Queenstown. International students pay tuition, because SIT's Zero Fees Scheme covers domestic students only. Listed totals run from about NZ$20,800 a year to NZ$33,700 for a master's.
The Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) is based in Invercargill, on New Zealand's South Island, and teaches diplomas to master's degrees in IT, nursing, engineering, hospitality and business. This guide covers campuses, fees, entry rules and intakes. Check your eligibility with Prosper before you choose a programme.
What is SIT New Zealand like for international students?
SIT was part of Te Pūkenga, the national polytechnic network, from 2020. The Ministry of Education confirms that SIT has operated as an independent regional polytechnic since 1 January 2026.
Study is applied and job-focused, and SIT points to Invercargill's lower cost of living. The international resource fee covers health and travel insurance, airport pick-up and two weeks of accommodation. You can also check a New Zealand education provider yourself.
SIT campuses: Invercargill, Queenstown and Christchurch
SIT's current campus list names Invercargill, Queenstown, Gore, Telford and online study. Based on SIT's course and fee pages:
| Campus | International study | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SIT Invercargill | IT, nursing, engineering, business, hospitality, culinary arts, music, screen arts, sport | Main campus, home of the IT degrees |
| SIT Queenstown | Hotel management degree and graduate diploma, hospitality management diplomas, culinary diploma | More intakes through the year |
| SIT Christchurch | No programme linked to it on SIT's fee list | Not on the current campus list |
| Gore, Telford, online | Mainly local and distance study | Online fees charged per credit |
SIT courses and fees for international students
These figures come from SIT's international fees page, checked on 29 Oct 2026. SIT calls them indicative and prints no fee year, so confirm the amount on your offer. SIT shows tuition with its scholarship already applied. Amounts in NZ$.
| Programme | NZQF level | Tuition | Total with resource fee | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Information Technology | 9 | 31,500 | 33,700 | Whole course (18 months) |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology | 8 | 21,500 | 23,300 | Whole course |
| Bachelor of Information Technology | 7 | 19,000 | 20,800 | Per year |
| Bachelor of Nursing | 7 | 26,000 | 27,800 | Per year |
| Graduate Diploma in Hotel Management | 7 | 19,000 | 20,800 | Whole course |
| New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Civil/Mechanical) | 6 | 19,000 | 20,800 | Per year |
Each year's fees are paid in full in advance. See New Zealand qualification levels, our New Zealand tuition fees guide and our Master of Information Technology in New Zealand guide.
About Zero Fees. SIT's Zero Fees Scheme covers tuition for New Zealand citizens and permanent residents, and Australian citizens or permanent residents living in New Zealand. It does not apply to international students. For them, SIT offers the Zero Fees English Scholarship: with a Conditional Offer of Place, the bond for an approved SIT English course is credited against that main programme's tuition once you meet the English requirement. You still pay the remaining tuition and the resource fee, and SIT's terms apply.
Entry and English requirements
SIT assesses applications individually. The Master of Information Technology needs a bachelor's degree or graduate qualification in IT or a related subject, with at least a B average at Level 7 or higher.
English scores follow the programme level, in line with NZQA rules:
- Bachelor of Information Technology (Level 7): IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or PTE Academic 50 with no band below 42.
- Master of Information Technology (Level 9): IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or PTE Academic 58. TOEFL iBT, Cambridge, OET and NZCEL Level 5 are also accepted.
Scores must come from one test taken within two years. SIT's How to Apply page lists a higher standard, IELTS 6.5 with no band below 6.5 or OET C+, beside its nursing guidance, so check your course page. A Conditional Offer of Place lets you close a gap through an SIT English course. See our New Zealand English language requirements guide.
SIT intakes
Many programmes start in February and July. For 2027, SIT's course pages list Semester 1 from 15 February 2027 and Semester 2 from 12 July 2027. Some, including the Bachelor of Nursing, list a February intake only. Queenstown hotel and hospitality programmes list intakes in March, May, July, September, November and December.
How Prosper applies to SIT for you
Prosper can apply to Southern Institute of Technology for you. We check your eligibility, match you to a programme and prepare your application. With your Offer of Place and SIT's invoice, we guide you through the New Zealand student visa requirements. SIT confirms enrolment once your visa is approved in principle and fees are paid.
Under Immigration New Zealand rules, a Level 7 degree or higher studied full-time in New Zealand for at least 30 weeks can lead to a post-study work visa. See also student visa work hours.
Applying from Sri Lanka
For a bachelor's degree, SIT lists GCE A/L passes in three subjects with a minimum grade of C. For a diploma, it lists GCE O/L with a minimum C pass in four subjects. Documents must be in English and verified by an education agency, a Justice of the Peace or a Notary Public. Before lodging your visa, read our guide to IOM document verification for a New Zealand student visa from Sri Lanka.
Frequently asked questions
Is SIT a government institution in New Zealand?
Yes. The Southern Institute of Technology is a public polytechnic that has operated independently of Te Pūkenga since 1 January 2026, as the Ministry of Education confirms.
Is SIT Zero Fees available to international students?
No. SIT's Zero Fees Scheme covers New Zealand citizens and permanent residents, and Australian citizens or permanent residents living in New Zealand. International students pay tuition, though the Zero Fees English Scholarship can credit an SIT English course bond against later tuition.
How much are SIT fees for international students?
SIT's fee page lists about NZ$20,800 a year for many bachelor's degrees, NZ$27,800 a year for the Bachelor of Nursing and NZ$33,700 for the Master of Information Technology. SIT calls these indicative, so confirm them on your offer.
Does SIT have a campus in Christchurch?
Christchurch is not on SIT's current campus list, and SIT's international fee list links no programme to it. International study happens mainly in Invercargill and Queenstown.
PS: Fees, scores and intakes differ across SIT programmes. To find the one that fits your results, Check your eligibility with Prosper.
References
- International Student Fees, Southern Institute of Technology, https://www.sit.ac.nz/Fees-Enrolments/How-to-Apply-International/International-Student-Fees (accessed 29/10/2026)
- International Fees, Southern Institute of Technology, https://www.sit.ac.nz/Fees-Enrolments/International-Fees (accessed 29/10/2026)
- Study with Zero Fees at SIT, Southern Institute of Technology, https://www.sit.ac.nz/Fees-Enrolments/Zero-Fees (accessed 29/10/2026)
- Zero Fees English Scholarship, Southern Institute of Technology, https://www.sit.ac.nz/International/International-Student-Scholarships/Zero-Fees-English-Scholarship (accessed 29/10/2026)
- How to Apply, International, Southern Institute of Technology, https://www.sit.ac.nz/International/How-to-Apply (accessed 29/10/2026)
- Campuses, Southern Institute of Technology, https://sit.ac.nz/Campuses (accessed 29/10/2026)
- Master of Information Technology, Southern Institute of Technology, https://www.sit.ac.nz/programme/course/Master%20of%20Information%20Technology (accessed 29/10/2026)
- Bachelor of Information Technology, Southern Institute of Technology, https://sit.ac.nz/Programme/Course/Bachelor%20of%20Information%20Technology (accessed 29/10/2026)
- Fees and Finances for International Students FAQs, Southern Institute of Technology, https://www.sit.ac.nz/Home/FAQs/International-FAQs/PID/7327/evl/0/CategoryID/127/CategoryName/Fees-Finances-for-International-Students (accessed 29/10/2026)
- SIT and Te Pūkenga, Southern Institute of Technology, https://sit.ac.nz/Home/SIT-and-Te-Pukenga (accessed 29/10/2026)
- Redesign of the vocational education and training system, Ministry of Education, https://www.education.govt.nz/our-work/strategies-policies-and-programmes/tertiary-and-further-education/redesign-vocational-education-and-training-system (accessed 29/10/2026)
- Qualifications needed for a Post-Study Work Visa, Immigration New Zealand, https://www.immigration.govt.nz/study/after-you-finish-your-study/qualifications-needed-for-a-post-study-work-visa/ (accessed 29/10/2026)
