University Entrance

Please note these requirements are subject to change from time to time.  Auckland University, for instance, have recently raised their entry criteria.

 

Gaining entry to New Zealand Universities through NCEA results

A person shall be qualified for entrance to a university in New Zealand if he/she has obtained:

  • Subject Requirement:

    A minimum of 42 credits at Level 3 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, including a minimum of 14 credits at Level 3 or higher in each of two subjects from an approved subject list*, with a further 14 credits at Level 3 or higher taken from no more than two additional domains on the National Qualifications Framework or approved subjects.
    • * Please note that Toursim is not an "approved subject" but the credits obtained can count towards the tertiary entrance standard using the "no more than two additional domains" clause.

  • Numeracy requirement:

    A minimum of 14 credits at Level 1 or higher in Mathematics.
  • In summary you need:

    In your best Level 3 subject : 14 or more credits
    In your second best Level 3 subject : 14 or more credits
    In your next two Level 3 subjects : 14 or more credits in total
    In Level 1, 2, or 3 Maths : 14 or more credits
    In Level 2 or 3 English : 4 or more "reading" credits plus 4 or more "writing" credits

 

Gaining entry to New Zealand Universities through CIE results

To qualify for university entrance CIE candidates must meet the following three requirements:

  • Subject Requirement:
    • CIE candidates presenting A or AS levels must gain a minimum of 120 points on the UCAS points table (below) including a minimum grade of D in each of at least two subjects equivalent to those in the list of approved subjects, plus a minimum grade of D in one further subject either from the approved subject list or related to a domain on the National Qualifications Framework.

    Effectively, this means students need 120 points and three D grades in three different subjects. Though students can count both English Language and Literature in English as separate subjects, they cannot include more than one History grade. Furthermore they can only use two subjects from Accounting, Economics and Business Studies in meeting the subject requirement.

    Grade A Level points AS points
    A 120 60
    B 100 50
    C 80 40
    D 60 30
    E 40 20

  • Numeracy requirement:

    You must have a D grade or better in IGCSE Maths (or an E grade in AS Maths).
  • Literacy requirement:

    You must have an E grade or better in AS English Language or in AS English Literature.

 

Gaining entry through an NCEA/CIE combination

You can meet the Numeracy requirement through NCEA and the Literacy requirement through CIE, or vice versa.


Limited entry courses

Note that some tertiary institutions, particularly Auckland University, have raised their entry level requirements for a number of courses, requiring higher marks and some specific prerequisite subjects. Refer to the University of Auckland 2009 prospectus or go to their website.

 

Admission to Australian and Overseas/International Universities


NZQA advises "Internationally, universities require foreign students applying for admission, to have achieved the university entrance standard set by their own countries. The same principle generally applies to other tertiary providers overseas."

This NZQA site details admission information for tertiary courses overseas: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/ue/tert-admin.html
For Australian admission details go to www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/ue/australia.html


However, many International tertiary study programmes are very competitive in entry, requiring higher entrance standards than the New Zealand UE requirements.

With regard to Australian universities,  NZ citizens are deemed to be Australian citizens for entry purposes but NZ Permanent Residents are categorised as International students.

As a general rule you will require the following in order to meet entry criteria:

CIE: three or more A Levels, with excellent grades, gained in the same academic year, are required. The particular grades vary according to the university and faculty. A good pass in AS English usually fulfils the English language requirement. However, some universities (e.g. UNSW and Sydney) require A Level English for entry to Medicine. Check their specific programme requirements.

NCEA: 20 credits in each of the pre-requisite subjects, with at least 15 at merit or excellence level, and a good pass in Level 3 English.

Students contemplating study out of New Zealand are strongly advised to carefully research potential universities while in Year 12, noting competitive entry requirements and particular pre-requisite subjects, and to plan their Year 13 programme accordingly with the guidance of the Senior Dean, Mr Richard Stead, and Mrs Wendy Carey, the Careers Director.