Our courses are taught in English, so you need to be able to read and write well in English to understand the course materials and submit written assessments.
If you are an international student, or English is not your first language, you must meet the English language entry requirements for the qualification you are enrolling in.
Use the list below to check the level of English needed for each programme type. You should also check the admission requirements on the qualification page, as some may have higher requirements.
International student English language requirements
This list shows the minimum English language requirements for international students by programme level.
We will also accept test results from:
- TOEFL (Paper-based test and Internet-based test)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic)
- Trinity Integrated English Skills (ISE)
- Occupational English Test (OET)
- LanguageCer.
Certificate at Level 3
- IELTS test – a General or Academic score of 5, with no band score lower than 5.
- Cambridge English Qualifications – B2 First or B2 First for Schools with a score of 154. No less than 154 in each skill.
- NZCEL – Level 3 (General).
Certificate at Level 4
- IELTS test – a General or Academic score of 5.5, with no band score lower than 5.
- Cambridge English Qualifications – B2 First or B2 First for Schools with a score of 162. No less than 154 in each skill.
- NZCEL – Level 3 (Applied).
Exceptions
- New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Community Pharmacy Assistant) (Level 4) requires an IELTS band score of 6.0 with no band score lower than 5.5, or equivalent.
- New Zealand Certificate in Pharmacy (Pharmacy Technician) (Level 4) requires an IELTS band score of 6.0 with no band score lower than 5.5, or equivalent.
Certificate or Diploma at Level 5
- IELTS test – an Academic score of 5.5, with no band score lower than 5.
- Cambridge English Qualifications - B2 First or B2 First for Schools with a score of 162. No less than 154 in each skills.
- NZCEL – Level 4 (General) or (Employment).
Certificate or Diploma at Level 6, Degree, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma at Level 7
- IELTS test – an Academic score of 6, with no band score lower than 5.5.
- Cambridge English Qualifications - B2 First, or B2 First for Schools, or C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill.
- NZCEL – Level 4 (Academic).
Exception
- The Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) (Level 7) requires a minimum IELTS score of 7 (Academic), with no band score lower than 7, or equivalent.
Existing English Language Proficiency
You may also provide evidence of your English skills from one of the criteria below.
Previous secondary school study in New Zealand
If you have achieved NCEA Level 3 and have met New Zealand University entrance requirements, you may be eligible for enrolment at all levels of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF).
Previous primary and secondary study in English
If you can provide evidence that you attended a school where English was the language of instruction you may be eligible for enrolment at all levels of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF). You must have studied in a country that has a student visa approval rate of least 80%.
Evidence includes:
- If you completed all of your primary education and at least three years secondary education (the equivalent of New Zealand years 9 to 13), or
- If you completed at least five years secondary education (the equivalent of New Zealand years 9 to 13).
Previous tertiary study in English
If you can provide evidence that you finished a tertiary qualification, which took at least three years and was taught in English in the following countries, you may be eligible for enrolment at all levels of the NZQF:
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Canada
- Republic of Ireland
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- United States.
Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA)
If you can provide evidence that you have gained a Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages(CELTA), previously the Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, you may be eligible for enrolment at all levels of the NZQF.
Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL)
If you can provide evidence that you have gained a Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL), you may be eligible for enrolment at all levels of the NZQF.
Need help?
If you have any questions about English language requirements please get in touch or check the NZQA website.
English language requirements for international students - NZQA website (Opens in new window)