An EPO must apply to us for approval before it can start offering a student exchange programme in New Zealand.

They must provide pastoral care and support to their exchange students. While EPOs cannot be signatories of the Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2021, they must meet the standards set out in the Code.

Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice – NZQA

Applying to be an approved EPO

Read the application form before applying. It has information about:

• our expectations of EPOs
• the criteria we use to assess your application
• the application process.

Key requirements

To be approved, you must meet requirement related to:

• your legal status / registration in New Zealand
• governance, size, structure and staffing
• exchange programme and policy
• financial management processes
• risk management processes
• reciprocal permissions in partner countries.

The application form has more information about these requirements.