International FAQs

A number of our students bring their children with them while they study at SIT.  You can find information on local schools here. 

Invercargill has a range of childcare options, from play groups to formal education settings.  You can find information on local childcare options from the Ministry of Education for parents website. 

Children of international students can access the New Zealand government’s 20 hours early childhood education funding, whether or not they are classified as international or domestic students.

SIT’s main Invercargill campus has a student cafe where you can buy food and beverages. Since our campus is so close to other shops, cafes and restaurants, you can simply walk down the street for other food options.

SIT also provides student common rooms where you can eat meals that you have brought from home.  This includes microwaves for heating food and hot water for tea, coffee or noodles.

Many of our students bring their families with them, so we are used to helping out students with families. 

Settling into life in a new country can sometimes be more difficult for the family than the student.  That’s why SIT provides help to ensure families of students settle in successfully.

We recommend spouses of students attend our orientation programmes – particularly our Kiwi culture, employment and accommodation workshops – to ensure they get up to speed with these important areas of life in New Zealand and meet other students. 

Spouses of students can access our international employment officer and participate in student activities.  Student’s families can also visit our on-campus nurse, chaplain and counsellors. 

You can find many foods and ingredients from right around the world in restaurants and supermarkets here.  You can find all kinds of ingredients and foodstuffs here, like rice, instant noodles, fresh garlic, oyster sauce, chapati, roti, curries, lentils, soy sauce, chilli sauces, spices and many more.  There is even a Filipino grocery store in nearby Winton.

There is a range of restaurants and eating establishments in Invercargill, from Thai to Indian, Chinese to Turkish, Kiwi to Japanese.  As an example, Invercargill has over 20 Chinese takeaway places and three dine-in restaurants, several Indian takeaway places and several more dine-in restaurants. 

Many restaurants offer international dishes or cook fusion, where different food styles are combined.  While you are here, make sure you enjoy some traditional New Zealand food, like Sunday roasts and the dessert pavlova – yum!

When you arrive at Invercargill Airport, a SIT representative will meet you and take you to your accommodation.  You just need to send us your flight details well in advance so we can ensure someone is there to meet you. 

Invercargill is relatively compact and most of our students live within walking distance of campus.  The SIT Apartments are only 5 to 10 minutes’ walk from campus.  Supermarkets and shops are just a few minutes walk from our campus. 

Many of our students walk or purchase a bicycle to get to classes and around the city.  There are also taxis and buses available.  There are buses and shuttles that regularly leave for other destinations throughout the week.

The best way is to fly into the Auckland or Christchurch International Airport and then transfer to a domestic flight to Invercargill.  Another option is to fly into Queenstown International Airport and book a bus to Invercargill.

Invercargill has a range of accommodation options for you to choose from.  You can live with a Kiwi family in a homestay, at the SIT Apartments, or flat in a private home.  You can find out more information about our accommodation options here.