International students at St Matthew’s Collegiate School
St Matthew’s Collegiate School is an Anglican boarding and day school in Masterton, 1.5 hours from Wellington. We are a girls’ school from Years 7 to 13, and our girls in Years 12 and 13 have their classes with the boys from Rathkeale College. Classes are small so teachers give academic support and attention to all students, who achieve excellent examination results. We offer an ESOL programme for students who need additional support with their English.
St Matthew’s is a safe environment and has great facilities set in beautiful gardens. We encourage all our students to become involved in the wide variety of activities and sports that are on offer, as this gives them the opportunity improve their proficiency in English and to make friends.
We take a small number of international students each year, who live in our two boarding houses with local girls and are well looked after by our caring matrons. Living in the boarding houses allows students to begin to acquire the independence and self-management skills needed later for study at university, while giving peace of mind to their parents.
Overall care is provided by the Director of International Students, who keeps in close contact with parents and agents about the students’ wellbeing and academic progress.
For more information contact the Director of International Students, Mrs Lucy Clearwater: lucy.clearwater@trinityschools.nz or apply below.
Important Information
NCEA assessments
All students in Years 11-13 do NCEA assessments in a variety of subjects. These qualifications are recognised by universities both in New Zealand and overseas. See here for more information:
Code of Practice
St Matthew’s Collegiate School has agreed to observe and be bound by The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice published by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
You can see a copy of the code here:
Health & Travel Insurance
The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice requires all international students to have appropriate insurance covering:
(a) the student’s travel:
- to and from New Zealand; and
- within New Zealand; and
- if the travel is part of the course, outside New Zealand; and
(b) medical care in New Zealand, including diagnosis, prescription, surgery, and hospitalisation; and
(c) repatriation or expatriation of the student as a result of serious illness or injury, including cover of travel costs incurred by family members assisting repatriation or expatriation; and
(d) death of the student, including cover of:
- travel costs of family members to and from New Zealand; and
- costs of repatriation or expatriation of the body; and
- funeral expenses.
You will need to provide your insurance documents, or you can purchase insurance through the school.
Visa information
Full details of visa and permit requirements and advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying are available through New Zealand Immigration and can be viewed here:
Application for Enrolment
Application
Follow these simple steps to enrol your child at St Matthew’s Collegiate School:
- Complete the Application Form and Medical Information Form. Send these, and other necessary documents to: tracey.watt@trinityschools.nz
- You will be contacted to arrange an online interview.
- A formal offer of place is sent if the school is willing to accept the student. Sign this and return it to us.
- You will be sent an invoice for the first year’s tuition and boarding fees.
- Once the fees are paid, you will be sent a receipt and a confirmation of offer of place, which will enable you to apply for a student visa from New Zealand Immigration.
International Fees and Information
ST MATTHEW’S COLLEGIATE
FEES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 2025
|
Tuition and Boarding |
Fee for one year
(in NZ Dollars) |
|
| Tuition | $26,800 | |
| Accommodation (38 weeks) | $20,250 | |
| Administration fee*
(including NZ government levy) Disbursement deposit* (refundable at end of stay if all accounts have been paid) *for new enrolments only |
$2,150
$1,000
|
|
| Total fee paid on enrolment | $50,200 | |
|
|
||
| Other compulsory costs | Homestay for holidays and exeat weekends
($55 a night) |
Approx. $4,125
|
| Uniform (first year only) | $1800 | |
| NCEA Examination fee (students in Years 11-13 only) | $384 | |
| Insurance | $580 | |
| Incidental costs (may include: weekly pocket money, school camps, music lessons, trips and excursions, stationery, sports fees, visits to the doctor) | $2000-$3000 | |
| These will be disbursed (charged) to your school account every month. | ||
Payment terms – fees
Fee invoices are sent to parents in October for the following school year. It is recommended that fees are paid by the middle of November to allow time for the processing of visas and other documentation.
Payment is required before an Offer of a Place for International Student form can be completed.
Bank account details for fees only
International fees should be paid directly into the following bank account, referencing the student’s name.
Bank: ASB
Branch: Masterton, New Zealand
Account Name: St Matthew’s Board of Trustees
Account Number: 12-3400-0006106-00
Swift code: ASBBNZ2AXXX
Additional charges
Additional charges are disbursed to the student’s account and emailed to the parents monthly. This account will itemise details of all the charges and should be paid to the school by the 20th of the month following the invoice.
Please let us know if you wish to pay by credit card so that we can make arrangements. Alternatively, we can help students to open a local bank account in which parents can deposit a lump sum at the start of the year to cover disbursements. This should be $5000-$8000, depending on the student’s year level.
Additional charges should be paid directly into the following bank account, referencing the student’s name.
Bank: ASB
Branch: Masterton, New Zealand
Account Name: TSTB St Matthew’s Collegiate School
Account Number: 12-3400-0005875-07
Swift code: ASBBNZ2AXXX
Please note that bank charges are your responsibility.
If you have any further enquiries regarding fees and other charges, please contact the Director of International Students, Mrs Lucy Clearwater – lucy.clearwater@trinityschools.nz
Refund Conditions
- To be eligible for a refund an application must be made in writing to the Board of Trustees/Proprietors by the parent or legal guardian stating clearly the reason for the withdrawal of the student.
- If the withdrawal is made prior to the student coming to New Zealand a full refund shall be made less $750 administration fee.
- There will be no refund if a request to withdraw is made after the student has reached the midpoint of her programme of study in New Zealand except in the case of serious illness of the student or her close family.
In determining any refund the Board of Trustees/Proprietors will take into consideration the special circumstances of the withdrawing student and the costs to the school in providing tuition, costs incurred in employing staff, providing facilities and payments made to other providers.
No refund will be made to any student who transfers to another school or educational institution or is asked to leave because of misbehaviour, poor attendance or violation of the contract with the school.
Our entire refund policy is available here.
Information for Agents
New Zealand is a signatory to the Statement of Principles for the Ethical Recruitment of International Students by Education Agents and Consultants (To be known as the London Statement of Principles) and operates under The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. Agents who enrol students at St Matthew’s Collegiate must comply with the requirements of the Code and the London Statement of Principles.
For further information, please see these guidelines for recruitment agents.