The representative body for New Zealand’s eight universities.
The New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee website.
Admission Requirements for Domestic Students
The University Entrance Standard
To enrol at a New Zealand university a student needs to meet the legal definition of a domestic student and fulfil one of the following modes of entrance:
The University Entrance standard
Admission ad eundem statum at entrance level
There are small numbers of programmes which can be taken without one of the above. These are generally programmes that prepare students for university-level study or impart basic workforce skills. Further information is available from each university.
The University Entrance Standard
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA), under section 257 of the Education Act 1989, established the minimum standard required for entrance to a New Zealand University.
The standard established by NZQA may be met in a number of ways, some of which are no longer available, but students who have met them are eligible to enrol at a university.
Some universities have adopted additional standards for entry, above the university entrance standard, for admission either to some or all of their programmes. For more information visit the universities' websites.
National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)
NZQA sets the requirements to obtain NCEA. Please note that the requirements for entrance into a university in 2015 have changed - refer to the NZQA website for details.
Other qualifications:
Other qualifications available to students in New Zealand may be deemed equivalent to the university entrance standard either on their own (CIE, IB, Steiner, ACE), or in combination with NCEA (NZIM Certificates and Enterprise NZ).
University of Cambridge International Examinations
Accelerated Christian Education
New Zealand Institute of Management Certificates
Enterprise New Zealand Trust - Young Enterprise Certificate (the YES Certificate)
Older qualifications (e.g. University Entrance, Bursary etc.)
Admission Ad Eundem Statum at Entrance Level
Ad eundem statum means "with equivalent status".
Domestic students who received their schooling in another country may be eligible for this admission on the basis of their school-leaving qualification. As requirements vary such students should seek advice from the university they wish to attend.
This form of admission is also used for students who have studied in New Zealand and gained a university entrance equivalent such as the CIE examinations or International Baccalaureate.
Universities sometimes charge a fee for this form of admission to cover administrative costs.
University of Cambridge International Examinations
Exams must be taken in New Zealand. To be eligible for admission candidates must achieve the following:
PART A
- a minimum of 120 points on the UCAS Tariff at A or AS level from any syllabus groups from those available in New Zealand (check with a Cambridge school for details) which are broadly equivalent to those in the list of approved subjects for NCEA, and
- a D grade or better in syllabuses from at least three different syllabus groups (excluding Thinking Skills)
PART B
Literacy and numeracy must be satisfied as follows:
LITERACY
|
Either |
An E grade or better in any one of AS English Language, Language and Literature in English, Literature in English. A 'D' grade or better will satisfy one of the syllabus requirements of Part A. |
|
Or |
As prescribed for university entrance with NCEA. |
NUMERACY
|
Either |
(i) A 'D' grade or better in IGCSE or GCSE mathematics, or (ii) Any mathematics passed at AS level. A 'D' grade or better will satisfy one of the syllabus requirements of Part A. |
|
Or |
As prescribed for university entrance with NCEA. |
International Baccalaureate
Completion of the Diploma (minimum of 24 points).
An IB Diploma completed with English as Language A1 at either Higher or Standard Level and including any mathematics subject satisfies the literacy and numeracy requirements for university entrance.
Steiner School Certificate
A completed Steiner School Certificate Level 3, including 9 points in each of 3 approved subject areas, 7 points in literacy (4 writing/3 reading), and 9 points in numeracy.
Accelerated Christian Education
A Year 13 Academic Certificate containing at least 4 credits in subjects designated Year 13.
This certificate satisfies the literacy and numeracy requirements for university entrance through its compulsory components in English and mathematics.
New Zealand Institute of Management Certificates
The Certificate in Management or the Certificate in Small Business Management may contribute to the 'third subject' of the NZQA university entrance standard (i.e. a minimum of 14 credits at level 3). Requirements for literacy, numeracy and 2 approved subjects must be separately fulfilled.
Enterprise New Zealand Trust - Young Enterprise Certificate (the YES Certificate)
Through credit inclusion as recognised by NZQA may contribute to the 'third subject' of the common entrance standard (i.e. a minimum of 14 credits at level 3) in one of 2 ways:
(a) completion of the YES Certificate, or
(b) completion of the course requirements only (worth 10 level 3 credits equivalent to NZIM paper 836) plus at least 4 further credits at level 3 or higher, or a pass in another NZIM paper (worth 10 credits).
Requirements for literacy, numeracy and 2 approved subjects must be separately fulfilled.
Older qualifications
New Zealand University Entrance, Bursaries and Scholarships examinations
The NZUEBS examinations were offered for the last time in 2003. People who have qualified for entrance by this mode may still apply for admission. To qualify for entrance a student must have achieved one of:
- A grade of A, B or C in each of 3 subjects from the approved list, plus Higher School Certificate.
- A New Zealand Bursary at ‘A' or ‘B' level.
- A combination of NZUEBS A, B or C grades and level 3 unit standards* from the National Qualifications Framework in subjects on the approved list, plus Higher School Certificate.
*For this purpose 13 credits at level 3 in a single subject are deemed to be equivalent to a C grade in NZUEBS in that subject.
National Qualifications Framework
This provision was discontinued at the end of 2003, although people who achieved it by that date will be eligible to apply for admission in succeeding years.
The requirement was at least 39 Level 3 credits in unit standards* from the National Qualifications Framework in at least 3 subjects on the approved list, plus Higher School Certificate.
*For this purpose 13 credits at level 3 in a single subject are deemed to be equivalent to a C grade in NZUEBS in that subject.
Note: The National Qualifications Framework was superseded in 2010 by the New Zealand Qualifications Framework and the Directory of Assessment Standards.
New Zealand University Bursaries examination prior to 1993
A grade of A, B C or D in each of 4 subjects satisfied the university entrance requirement.
New Zealand University Entrance prior to 1986
An award of university entrance, by examination or accreditation, was sufficient for admission to a university.
For admission from Year 12 see Discretionary Entrance.
Special Admission
Persons over the age of 20 years, who are New Zealand or Australian* citizens or permanent residents of either country, may enrol at a New Zealand university without having otained a university entrance qualification. Further information is available from each university.
*Australian applicants’ most recent year of schooling must have been in New Zealand.
Discretionary Entrance
The Discretionary Entrance Regulations were published in July 2002 and came into force in 2003. They provide a route to university study for students who have not continued secondary education beyond Year 12. The chief features of the regulations are as follows:
- They apply only to New Zealand or Australian citizens and permanent residents under 20 years of age.
- Applicants must have a minimum of 14 credits in an approved subject at Level 2 towards NCEA.
- Applicants must also have met the literacy and numeracy standards required for University Entrance.
- Application must be made to the university of choice and a fee may be payable.
- A reference from a school principal or other suitable person is required and there may be an interview.
- Students who have undertaken Year 13 study beyond 1 June in any year are ineligible to apply in the same year but may be considered for mid-year admission in the following year.
Definition of domestic student
domestic student, at any time, means a person who is then—
(a) a New Zealand citizen; or
(b) the holder of a residence class visa granted under the Immigration Act 2009 who satisfies the criteria (if any) prescribed by regulations made under subsection (4); or
(c) a person of a class or description of persons required by the Minister, by notice in the Gazette, to be treated as if they are not international students
[Education Act 1989, section 2(1)]