After School
The Real Cost of a Gap Year vs a Degree (NZ Numbers)
In short
A year of university typically costs a New Zealand school leaver 10-15k in fees and living costs added to student debt. A year working superyacht crew typically nets 25-40k tax-free in savings, with food, travel and accommodation covered. The numbers aren't close.
On our estimates, a first year of university leaves a typical New Zealand school leaver about $20,000 to $28,000 in debt, while a first year as entry-level superyacht crew nets about $25,000 to $40,000 in savings. For scale, the average New Zealand student loan balance was $26,075 in 2024/25 (Education Counts, checked 9 October 2026).
"Is uni worth it?" gets asked a lot and answered with vibes. Here are the actual numbers, side by side, for a typical New Zealand school leaver's first year out.
What does a first year of university actually cost?
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition fees | ~$7,000-$9,000 |
| Halls / rent | ~$12,000-$16,000 |
| Food, books, general living | ~$4,000-$6,000 |
| Net position after year one | -$20,000 to -$28,000 in debt |
Based on typical NZ domestic tuition and living-cost figures; individual circumstances vary.
What does a first year as superyacht crew actually net?
| Item | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Entry-level crew salary (tax-free) | ~$35,000-$50,000 |
| Food, accommodation, travel | Covered by the yacht |
| STCW + ENG1 course cost (one-off) | ~$3,000-$3,600 |
| Net position after year one | +$25,000 to +$40,000 in savings |
Not sure yet if this is the right move for you?
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“It never felt like a course or a programme — it felt like having someone in your corner who genuinely cared about where you ended up. Nick showed me I already had more to offer than I thought. Six months later I was a deckhand. I’ve sailed to Fiji. I’m 19.” — Freddie MHospitality → Deckhand · sailed to Fiji · age 19
How big is the gap between the two?
That's the gap between a typical first year of university and a typical first year of superyacht crew - not because university has no value, but because the immediate financial position is night and day. One path starts you in debt; the other starts you saving, tax-free, while covering your living costs entirely. See what each role earns in our superyacht salary guide.
Does this mean skipping university altogether?
Some careers need a degree, full stop, and no amount of yacht savings changes that. But for a school leaver who isn't sure yet, or whose intended career doesn't require one, a year or two crewing can fund a degree outright later - or fund something else entirely, debt-free. Our programme walks through exactly what that first year looks like.
Want the numbers for your situation?
Get in touch for an honest conversation about what a first season could realistically look like for you.
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“He wanted to make the most of his gap year — not the ordinary version of it. Three months later he’s working on multi-million dollar yachts in the Med, watching the sun set over the Balearic Sea, living a life most people only dream about.” — Antoni MHigh school → full-time in Palma · age 19
Nick studied at university in Dunedin before finding his way onto superyachts with zero prior experience and sailing around the world. He's worked in recruitment and education, watched good candidates get overlooked for doing the wrong training in the wrong ports, and now coaches young Kiwis through the same journey: honest, one-on-one and industry-backed.