After School
Alternatives to University in New Zealand: What to Do After School
In short
University isn't the only path after school in New Zealand. School leavers increasingly choose paid, real-world routes — like working on superyachts — to travel, save, and build life skills before (or instead of) a degree.
Every year, thousands of Year 13 students across New Zealand face the same question: what now? The default answer — go to university, get a degree, figure it out later — works for some people. But for a lot of school leavers, it doesn't feel right. And that gut feeling is worth listening to.
The pressure to follow the crowd is real
Your friends are enrolling. Your parents have opinions. Everyone seems to know what you should do with your life except you. But following the crowd into the wrong degree is one of the most expensive mistakes a young person can make. University is a bit like a relationship: you're better off being single than being in the wrong one.
I learned this the hard way
I went to university in Dunedin, and I can tell you from personal experience: I didn't find what I was looking for in a cold flat, unsure what I was studying or why. It wasn't until I stepped off the beaten track — eventually finding my way onto superyachts and sailing around the world — that I found something that genuinely lit me up.
Ten years later, I still have friends paying off their student loans. Meanwhile, the people I met on the water got paid to travel the world, learned real life skills no lecture theatre can teach, and are now buying their second homes from the charter tips they earned.
What even is a degree in 2026?
AI is reshaping every industry faster than universities can update their curriculums. The skills that set you apart aren't learned in a classroom — they're learned navigating a new city, working with people from 15 different countries, and figuring things out on the fly. EQ is the new IQ.
The best part? University isn't going anywhere
It'll be there in two years, five years, whenever you're ready — and when you do go, you'll go with savings in the bank, life experience behind you, and a clear idea of why you're there. This post is for anyone finishing school in New Zealand and wondering if there's another way. There is.
Thinking about a career on superyachts?
If you want to talk through your options — no pressure, just an honest conversation about what's possible — get in touch.
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Nick went from zero experience to working in the superyacht industry, and now coaches young Kiwis through the same journey - honest, one-on-one and industry-backed.