We're StudySpy.

StudySpy is a social enterprise with the mission of enabling access to education.

We make educational opportunities more visible for learners, upskillers, employers, career advisors, teachers, parents, and key influencers in the study and career landscape.

StudySpy was created out of necessity after Founder, Michael, changed his degree three times, feeling misinformed about his study options. He learned that he wasn’t alone and that 55% of recent graduates in New Zealand also felt they’d make the wrong study decision!

Now, StudySpy provides free tools to support 140,000+ people each year make more informed decions about their education!

7,500+
Courses & Programmes
$70M+
Scholarships
60,000+
Searches per month

What does StudySpy do?

Meet the StudySpy herd!

Michael Watson headshot

Michael Watson

Founder & Managing Director

Michael changed his degree 3 times after feeling misinformed around potential study options. After learning 55% or recent grads felt the same way, he started StudySpy to help students make more informed decisions about their education.

Mixed-accent Michael is a Scottish-Kiwi with an entrepreneurial mindset. He’s passionate about education, technology, social enterprise, linguistics and the evolving culture of remote work.

Mikayla Yee headshot

Mikayla Watson

Creative Director

Co-owner and wife of Michael, Mikayla leads StudySpy’s design, marketing, and brand strategy. She now brings Agent Elley the Elephant to life through illustration, our trusty mascot who adds warmth and personality to the StudySpy brand.

Mikayla also runs Virtual Services, a creative studio that supports education providers and mission-led teams with branding, content, and marketing. Outside of mahi, she’s chasing golden hour, spinning the pottery wheel, and planning animal-themed adventures — a Sri Lankan safari is next on the list!

Ollie Bannister headshot

Ollie Bannister

Principal Engineer

Ollie is a software engineer who loves to build things. He has a passion for learning and is always looking for new ways to improve himself. Outside of the office, you’ll find him down by the beach, out in the bush, or out on the slopes.

Ollie's technical background helps StudySpy build the best possible platform for students, helping them to find the best study options for them.

Ben Marino headshot

Ben Marino

Technical Lead

Ben is a runner and has run the New York marathon! He’s great with computers and has written a thesis about technology's impact on society.

Ben has proud Māori & Scots heritage, affiliated with both sunny East Coast of Ngāti Porou and the lakes of Rotorua, Te Arawa.

Sheridan Jamieson headshot

Sheridan Jamieson

Finance Director

Sheridan’s career in business banking & finance took an unexpected turn after attending an impromptu presentation about social enterprise and purpose-led business. The concept of combining purpose & profit resonated deeply and led him to found Nurture - a social enterprise that provides virtual CFO services to impact-focussed businesses.

Sheridan helps organisations like StudySpy build long-term viable, sustainable business models in order to ensure their ongoing impact.

Michael Watson presenting StudySpy

About the organisation

StudySpy is New Zealand’s education directory, helping people find their study path without the confusion, guesswork, or a million browser tabs.

We’re a social enterprise on a mission to make education more accessible. StudySpy brings together clear, reliable information on scholarships, courses and education providers, all in one place. Each year, we help over 140,000 people make more confident decisions about their next step.

Our web app is free for learners, and our data powers other platforms too, including Education New Zealand’s Study with New Zealand site via our StudySpy API.

The idea sparked when our founder changed his degree three times and realised just how hard it was to get the right info. Since then, StudySpy has grown from a Wellington flat into a trusted national platform — proudly bootstrapped, sustainably built, and always learner-first.

We’re here for the long haul, helping students, whānau, and the whole education sector stay informed and inspired.

And yes, we’ve got a secret weapon! Her name’s Agent Elley the Elephant. She never forgets to put the learner first.

Partner with us

StudySpy Elephant
  • Course & scholarship promotion
  • International student recruitment
  • StudySpy API Access / Database licencing
  • StudySpy Sync (automatic Course & Scholarship updates)
  • Digital marketing & co-branded campaigns
  • Analytics, insights & consulting

FAQs

Contact us