How overseas students rate NZ

Almost a third of international students would not recommend their university to prospective students.

Findings of the largest study of its type in New Zealand released yesterday showed students from Fiji, France, Indonesia and India were the most likely to recommend the experience to others.

But students from Asia - our biggest market - were least likely.

Of almost 4000 students from five universities who responded to the i-Graduate International Student Barometer survey, 70 per cent would recommend their university to others.

The same survey in Northern Hemisphere universities last year found 83 per cent would.

Export education sector body Education New Zealand commissioned the study and released results at its annual conference in Christchurch.

Chief executive Robert Stevens said the lower likelihood of referral showed the continual challenge in getting New Zealand to be the first choice.