There are academic entrance requirements for all tertiary institutions in New Zealand. These relate to our system of secondary school qualifications. If you�re not a native English speaker you�ll also need to meet the language requirements of the institution you want to attend.

NCEA is the entry standard for university. To gain entry, students must have achieved at least 42 credits at Level 3. Of these, 14 credits must be in Mathematics at Level 1 or higher, and 8 in English or te reo Maori (4 in reading, 4 in writing). It is also possible to apply for discretionary entrance by achieving at least 80 credits at Level 2 in your best four subjects. Many universities require students to submit a recommendation from their school principal. Some also require students to write a letter outlining their reasons for undertaking university study. These requirements are waived once you are 20 years old. Admittance to some courses is keenly competitive. In these cases, only those students with strong academic records are enrolled.

To study at a polytechnic or college of education, Sixth Form Certificate or NCEA Level 2, in subjects relevant to the course studied, is required.

Students who have not been educated in the New Zealand school system may still undertake tertiary studies. Each university, polytechnic and college of education has its own entry requirements for students educated overseas.

Most tertiary institutions require evidence of competency in both spoken and written English. At least either IELTS level 6.0 or 6.5 or TOEFL 550, with a minimum score of 4.0 or 5.0 on the written test, is required. These tests are internationally recognised and both can be taken in New Zealand.

Tertiary institutions generally begin their academic year in February. Closing dates for applications vary. For courses starting in February, it is advisable to apply by September of the previous year. This is particularly so with the more popular courses. Half-year courses run by polytechnics generally begin in July and, as in the case of universities, early enrolment is advisable for popular courses. Application forms are available directly from each individual institution. An application fee of up to NZ$150 applies in some cases. Certified translations should be provided for all educational certificates in any language other than English.