Bachelor of Business Administration in New Zealand
Build a solid foundation in management, finance and marketing.
What you study
A Bachelor of Business Administration is the broad first degree in business. You study accounting and finance, marketing, management, economics, business law and organisational behaviour, then usually specialise in the final year. It is the widest of the business degrees by design, which suits people who do not yet know which part of business they want. Most programmes include an internship or a capstone consultancy project.
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a Level 7 Business qualification we help international students apply for at accredited New Zealand institutions.
Does the Bachelor of Business Administration lead to residence in New Zealand?
Working here after you graduate
This is a degree at Level 7, so graduates can apply for a post-study work visa of up to three years and work in any job, anywhere in New Zealand. Immigration New Zealand only restricts what you may work in for non-degree qualifications at Level 7 and below, which does not apply here.
Points towards residence
The Skilled Migrant Category is a threshold of six points, not a score to maximise: once you reach six, more points earn nothing. A New Zealand bachelor's degree is worth 5 points, so one year of skilled work in New Zealand takes you to the 6 needed.
A qualification earned in New Zealand is worth more than the same level earned overseas, which is one of the few concrete advantages of studying here rather than at home.
The Green List
No general business occupation is on the Green List: not marketing, not human resources, not sales, not general management. Residence for graduates runs through the Skilled Migrant Category, which is a real route and a slower one.
Our study to residence pathways page sets out how the post-study work visa, the Green List and the Skilled Migrant Category fit together.
Who can advise you on this. Student NZ is an education advisory service. Joy helps you choose the course and the institution, and helps you prepare a student visa application. Advice about your own residence prospects has to come from a licensed immigration adviser, so we connect you to ProVisas' IAA-licensed advisers (Licence 201301110) for that part.
Green List roles are from Immigration New Zealand's list effective 23 March 2026; points are from its Skilled Migrant Category rules. Checked 17 September 2026. Immigration rules change, so confirm against the Green List and the Skilled Migrant Category before making a decision.
Where graduates work
Graduates go into marketing, operations, human resources, sales and general management across New Zealand businesses. None of those occupations are on the Green List, so residence for graduates runs through the Skilled Migrant Category. A New Zealand bachelor's degree is worth 5 points there, one short of the threshold, and a year of skilled work in New Zealand closes the gap.
Questions about the Bachelor of Business Administration
What can I specialise in?
Most New Zealand programmes let you take a major in the final year, commonly marketing, finance, human resources, international business or management. The major changes which roles you are competitive for at graduation. It does not change the level of the qualification, so it makes no difference to your Skilled Migrant Category points.
Can I work in New Zealand after this degree?
Yes. A Level 7 degree qualifies you to apply for a post-study work visa of up to three years, and that visa does not restrict what job you take or where in New Zealand you work. Immigration New Zealand only restricts the field of work for non-degree qualifications at Level 7 and below.
How is this different from a Bachelor of Applied Management?
Business Administration is broader and more academic, covering finance, marketing, economics and law. Applied Management is narrower and more practical, built around running teams and operations. Both are Level 7 and worth the same 5 points under the Skilled Migrant Category.
Other qualifications to compare
The level a qualification sits at decides what you can apply for once you finish, so it is worth comparing a few before you enrol.
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