Dear Victoria University of Wellington,

Under the Official Information Act 1982, I am requesting information regarding international student outcomes, enrolment policies, support initiatives, and complaints. My interest lies in understanding the university's approach to enrolment, support, and handling of issues raised by international students. Specifically, I request information on the following:

1. Pass and Success Rates of International vs Domestic Students
For each of the last five academic years, please provide the pass rates and overall completion rates of international and domestic students, broken down by:

- Undergraduate programmes
- Honours programmes
- Master’s programmes
- PhD programmes

Are there any significant differences in academic performance trends between international and domestic students? If so, please provide analysis or data on the factors that may contribute to these disparities.

2. International Student Enrolment Policies and Academic Readiness
What specific admission requirements or assessments are required for international students applying to undergraduate, honours, master’s, and PhD programmes? This includes any mandatory language proficiency tests, academic readiness assessments, or prior qualifications verification.

Has the university implemented any testing or pre-admission evaluations aimed at determining an international student’s likelihood of success in a New Zealand tertiary environment? If so, what are these evaluations, and how are they factored into the admission process?

Does the university have policies or guidelines that outline differences (if any) in the enrolment criteria between domestic and international students?

3. Support for Transition from International to Western Academic Systems
What resources or support services does the university provide to assist international students transitioning from non-Western education systems? This includes any orientation programmes, language support, academic workshops, or mentorship initiatives specifically designed for international students.

Are there specific policies, plans, or documents outlining the university’s strategies for supporting international students’ transition academically and socially? If so, could you provide copies of these documents?

Has the university conducted any evaluations or studies on the effectiveness of its support systems for international students? If such evaluations exist, I request a summary or copy of any findings from these assessments.

4. Scholarships for International Students
For each of the last five academic years, how many international students were offered scholarships, and how does this compare to the number of domestic students offered scholarships?

Of the international students who were awarded scholarships, how many completed their degrees under those scholarships, and how many were removed from their scholarship programme before completion? Please provide comparative data for domestic students as well.

What are the criteria and processes for awarding scholarships to international students, and are there any differences compared to the processes for domestic students?

5. Complaints by International Students
In the last five academic years, how many complaints have been lodged by international students regarding lack of support, particularly in academic, language, social, or mental health services?

If possible, please provide a general summary of the nature of these complaints, ensuring that all responses comply with privacy standards and do not disclose individual information. Specifically, I would like to understand any recurring issues or systemic concerns raised by international students regarding the university’s support services.

6. Long-term Tracking of International Student Success and Retention
Does the university track the retention rates of international students as compared to domestic students? If so, could you provide these rates for the last five years?

Are there any reports or analyses related to the long-term academic or employment outcomes of international students post-graduation? If available, please share insights or summaries.

Thank you for your attention to this request. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if further clarification is required. I look forward to your response.

Kindly,
Salient Magazine.