English for Academic Purposes | Study in Wellington | Te Herenga Waka

Improve your English

English for Academic Purposes is a 12-week programme that helps you improve your English and academic skills for university study.

When you successfully complete English for Academic Purposes, you get the Certificate of Proficiency in English. This shows you meet the University’s English entry requirements. It allows you to start undergraduate or postgraduate study at Victoria University of Wellington, depending on your level of achievement.

Why Wellington

Wellington is a compact, safe, and welcoming city known for its creativity and cultural diversity. With everything close by, it’s easy to explore the city and meet new people—all while building the English skills you need for university success.

Discover English for Academic Purposes

Hear our students talk about their success with the English for Academic Purposes Programme.

My English name is Daisy, and my Chinese name is Li Yunxin. I am currently studying for a Master of Professional Accounting.

My name is Misaki Kudo. I am from Japan and am completing a year of overseas study.

My English name is Lauder. I am studying for an honours degree in Economics.

I'm Elida Santos. I'm from a small island in Southeast Asia called Timor-Leste. I'm studying for a Master of Metal Industry.

One of the main reasons I chose the EPP was because Victoria University is located in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. It has an international environment and strong international connections. From the university website, I could see that the EPP would provide a direct pathway to my honours degree.

The EPP was the best way to improve my English before beginning my master's degree. It provides a highly supportive environment for international students, helping them get the most out of living and studying in New Zealand.

EPP students come from diverse backgrounds, which provides a perfect opportunity to use English in class. This means they can learn not only about New Zealand culture but also about other cultures. There is also a strong emphasis on academic skills that help students cope with the demands of university study.

Having a good understanding of the academic environment is helping me in my studies now, particularly with readings, lectures, and university assignments.

We learned referencing skills, including how to cite sources and avoid plagiarism. I'm applying these skills in the reports and case studies required in my master's programme.

On the EPP, we focused on critical thinking skills, including analysis and evaluation, to select appropriate materials for our assignments. These skills have saved me a lot of time when reviewing articles for my coursework.

The programme helped me develop effective communication skills through interaction with teachers and by attending extra English clubs. This made presentations and other academic activities much easier.

The EPP is based on the Kelburn campus. It's a great location that allows students to become familiar with the facilities they will use and enjoy during their studies.

Students also get to know undergraduate and postgraduate students on campus. There are over 100 EPP students in each intake, with classes of about 16 students. This allows teachers to focus on individual student needs.

Because students spend so much time together, they often form strong friendships that continue beyond the course.

If you are struggling with your English, the EPP provides a straightforward pathway to support your future study.

How you’ll study

We offer 12-week English for Academic Purposes courses in every trimester—this includes orientation, testing, and 10 weeks of teaching. Each trimester’s course covers different material, so you can attend more than one. The length of your study depends on your English ability and your university study goals.

You can expect a workload of 40 to 50 hours a week. This includes classes from Monday to Friday and independent learning time.

You’ll study face-to-face with us on our Kelburn campus in Wellington. You’ll learn in small, interactive classes with friendly teachers and students from all over the world.

Before you start, we need to know your current English level. Please provide an international English language test result. Contact us if you do not have one.

The staff at the English Language Institute will work with you to provide a course of study that meets your personal goals. Your teachers will monitor and discuss your progress with you throughout the course.

English Language Institute

Not only was it beneficial for my language study, it also helped me overcome obstacles in my Bachelor study.

Gary Feng English for Academic Purposes graduate and Bachelor of Commerce student in Information Systems

English test score requirements

Test type	Required score
Academic IELTS	Overall: 4.5 Each skill: 4.0 or higher
Duolingo English Test	Overall: 70 Each skill: 65 or higher
TOEFL iBT	Overall: 34 Each skill: 12 or higher
Pearson Test of English (PTE)	Overall: 36 Each skill: 24 or higher

Study online

In some cases, you may be able to study English for Academic Purposes online.

Contact the English Language Institute

How long you’ll study

You may need to study in the English for Academic Purposes programme for one, two, or three trimesters. How long you’ll study depends on two things: your IELTS (or equivalent) score and your study goal (undergraduate or postgraduate study).

Your IELTS score	Study goal: undergraduate	Study goal: postgraduate
6.0		One or two trimesters
5.5–6.0	One or two trimesters	Two or three trimesters
5.0–5.5	At least two trimesters	At least three trimesters
4.5–5.0	At least three trimesters

When you complete English for Academic Purposes

When you successfully complete your English for Academic Purposes study, the qualification you will get is a Certificate of Proficiency in English, with either a Merit or a Distinction.

If you achieve a Merit, you can then apply for most undergraduate programmes at Victoria University of Wellington or another university in New Zealand.
If you achieve a Distinction, you can apply for most postgraduate programmes at Victoria University of Wellington or another university in New Zealand.

Application deadlines

You can apply to study in our English for Academic Purposes programme at any time. We recommend you apply at least eight weeks before the start date. That way, you'll have time to apply for a student visa and accommodation before you travel to New Zealand.

The English for Academic Purposes application deadlines for 2027 are:

Trimester	Course start date	Application deadline
Tri 1	17 February	16 December
Tri 2	16 June	3 May
Tri 3	24 September	20 August

In some cases, domestic students and international students already based in New Zealand can apply after these deadlines.

Apply for a New Zealand study visa

You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.

You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.

Find out how to apply for a visa from Immigration New Zealand

Accommodation

Live in accommodation close to campus at one of our:

catered halls of residence
self-catered apartments or flats
self-catered studios.

We provide care and support across our halls and flatting communities.

Explore University accommodation

Two laughing students having a pillow fight with feathers flying

Fees-free funding for refugee-background students

The Refugee English Fund can support you to improve your English language skills for study at university.

A limited number of government-funded English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses are available for refugee-background students who meet the selection criteria.

Explore the Refugee English Fund