New Zealand: tests and entry requirements for higher education

The criteria for entry to tertiary education in New Zealand vary depending on the institution at which you wish to study

Generally, if you are under 21, you will need to be able to prove that you are reasonably proficient at English. You’ll also need to show evidence of qualifications that make you suitable to study at this level.

Each institution sets its own entry requirements, and you will find that these do vary considerably. Your application will normally be assessed on your current level of qualification. For example, if you have UK or Irish qualifications, you may offer A Levels, Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers, Irish School Leaving Certificate, BTEC National Diploma, International Baccalaureate, or a degree from a UK or Irish university. You may have to sit extra tests if you are applying to study medicine or dentistry.

The institution will advise you if it wants you to have your qualification assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. This costs NZ$450 and takes up to eight weeks.

If you do not immediately meet the qualification and grade criteria for your preferred course, there could be two other options to consider:

• Apply to a polytechnic. Often students wanting to go to university choose to study a similar programme at a polytechnic, where the grade criteria may be lower, and then transfer to a university at a later date

• Apply to an arts or foundation programme. Offered by a number of universities, arts or foundation programmes are a good way to build up extra grades to qualify for your chosen course the following year

English language skills
New Zealand universities and polytechnics require students who have not previously studied in an English speaking country to demonstrate a relatively high level of English proficiency before admission. There are two main ways in which you can prove your proficiency in English:

• Obtain an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score. The IELTS and TOEFL scores required by each institution vary and you must make sure that you are aware of the standard you will need to achieve for your chosen course. TOEFL is the most widely accepted English language test and can be internet-based (iBT) or paper-based . To find out more, visit the website at: www.toefl.org The IELTS tests are administered by British Embassies and British Council Offices worldwide, and test centres can be found on the IELTS website at: www.ielts.org

• Complete the Certificate in English for Tertiary Study – this takes approximately one to three months full-time and costs vary. It is best to contact your chosen institution to see whether they accept the certificate before enrolling on the course. You should also note that there is an English language requirement for admittance to the certificate course. If the level of proficiency is not met, you can enrol on a General English, English for Academic Purposes 1 (EAP1) or English for Academic Purposes 2 (EAP2) course to improve your skills. The costs and duration of these courses vary. Application forms can normally be downloaded from institution websites. Some institutions refer to English language courses as bridging courses.

Pastoral care
All educational institutions that accept international students on to their courses must comply with New Zealand’s Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students, which sets out strict rules and regulations designed to protect the interests of international students in New Zealand. The Code, administered by the New Zealand Ministry of Education, provides a framework for minimum standards, good practice procedures and a complaints procedure.

For more information, visit the website at: www.moe.govt.nz

Tell me more!
You may find it useful to consult Study Options, a free, independent, expert advice and application service for people looking to study in Australia and New Zealand. The official representative of Australian and New Zealand universities and colleges, it can offer help with every stage of the process from choosing a course to applying for a student visa. Visit the website at: www.studyoptions.com

We are grateful to Education New Zealand for their help in preparing this article.