The ongoing business of the committee is carried out by a secretariat located in Wellington. Broadly speaking the role of the committee is to formulate, promote and coordinate inter-university policy on behalf of the seven universities. Most New Zealand university calendars should be available for consultation at New Zealand diplomatic posts. Also available from diplomatic posts are promotional materials published by all the universities specifically for international students. Music is available at Auckland, Canterbury, Otago, Victoria and Waikato.
Most universities specialise in certain fields.
Conjoint programmes leading to the Bachelor of Education degree and a Diploma in Teaching are available at several universities, in some cases in association with the local colleges of education. The University of Waikato has its own School of Education, created by amalgamation with the former Hamilton Teachers' College, and the Massey University College of Education came into being in 1997 when Palmerston North College of Education amalgamated with the university. All universities offer Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral degrees. Most Bachelor's degree courses require three years but some may take up to six years. In some faculties a Bachelor's Honours degree is conferred after an additional year of undergraduate study.