Standard undergraduate English requirements

You can meet our English language requirements by  achieving one of the following test scores:

How to share your Duolingo test results

To send your Duolingo English Test results to the University, follow the steps in How do I send my Duolingo English Test results to institutions?

If you’re an international student who studied at a New Zealand high school, you will likely complete one of these qualifications:

• NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement)
• CAIE (Cambridge Assessment International Education)
• IB (International Baccalaureate).

If you are applying to Victoria University of Wellington based on one of these qualifications, you must meet the standard literacy requirements for admission.

NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement)

International students: You must meet the full University Entrance requirements, including Literacy and Numeracy.

Domestic students: You must meet the University Entrance Literacy requirement through NCEA.

• University Entrance -  NZQA

IB (International Baccalaureate)

You must achieve University Entrance (at least 24 points), including:

• One mathematics subject
• One of the following for literacy:
  • Language A – Literature
  • Language A – Language and Literature
  • Language B (at higher level).

CAIE (Cambridge Assessment International Education)

You need at least 120 points on the New Zealand Tariff from A or AS level subjects across any syllabus group.

To meet literacy and numeracy requirements:

Literacy: You need a  grade of E or better in one of the following:

• AS English Language
• English Language and Literature
• English Literature
• English General Paper

Numeracy: You need a grade of D or better in IGCSE or GCSE Mathematics.

If you completed your secondary school studies outside New Zealand, you may meet the English language requirement through your high school qualification.

This section outlines the accepted qualifications and minimum English results for admission to undergraduate study at Victoria University of Wellington.

By country or region

Denmark

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• A grade of 6 in English A
• A grade of 9 in English B in Højere Handelseksamen or Højere Forberedelseseksamen.

Finland

A grade of 8 in English in Ylioppilastutkinto/Studentexamen meets the English-language requirement.

Germany

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulereife (Abitur) English: minimum grade of 3 on the 1–6 grading scale
• Minimum grade of 10 on the 1–15 grading scale
• DAAD English test: Minimum grade of B2 in each section.

India

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• All India Senior School Examination (CBSE), Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE), or Higher Secondary School Certificate issued by Maharashtra, Karnataka or West Bengal State Board: minimum of 65% in English.
• Higher Secondary School Certificate issued by all other India State Boards: minimum of 70% in English.

Malaysia

You can meet the English-language requirement  with one of the following:

• A grade of A- in SPM English
• B4 in GCE O-level English 1119 or CEFR B2 with a B2 in each band
• B in STPM English
• B4 in UEC English.

Netherlands

A grade of 7 in English in Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs meets the English-language requirement.

Norway

A grade of 4 in Vitnemål fra den Videregående Skole meets the English-language requirement.

South Africa

A score of D or 4 in English in the Senior Matriculation Certificate (National Senior Certificate) meets the English-language requirement.

Sweden

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• A Slutbetyg grade of 4/VG or 15/C in English (A or B) in the Avgångsbetyg, or Slutbetyg
• A grade of C in English (5 or 6) in the Högskoleförberedande examen.

Pacific Nations

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• A minimum of C grade in Communication in the University of the South Pacific Foundation Year
• A C1 or better grade in Foundation English (HEN004) in the National University of Samoa Foundation Certificate
• Pacific Senior Secondary Certificate (National Form 6).

By qualification

IB (International Baccalaureate)

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• A grade of 3 in Higher Level English A or B
• A grade of 5 in Standard Level English A.

European Baccalaureate

A score of 7.5 in English where it is a compulsory subject or full option meets the English-language requirement.

A Levels

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• A Level English (endorsed by Cambridge International, OCR, Edexcel, AQA or other UK authority): Grade E; independent and school-assessed GCE A Levels are not sufficient
• A Level English-intensive subjects (Biology, Classical Studies, Economics, English Language, English Literature, History, History of Art, Geography): Grade C.

AS Levels

• AS Level English Language or English Literature (endorsed by Cambridge International, OCR, Edexcel, AQA or other UK authority): Grade E; independent and school-assessed GCE A Levels are not sufficient.

O Levels

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• Cambridge International Examinations Ordinary Level English: Grade C
• International O-Level in English: Grade C.

IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) First Language

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• Specification 0500: Grade C with Speaking and Listening at grade 2
• Specification 0990: Grade 4 with Speaking and Listening at grade 2
• Specification 0524: Grade C with Speaking and Listening at grade 2.

IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) Second Language

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• Specification 0511: Grade A
• Specification 0510: Grade A with Speaking and Listening at grade 2
• Specification 0991: Grade 7
• Specification 0993: Grade 7 with Speaking and Listening at grade 2.

Other IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) options

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• IGCSE English Language A Pearson/Edexcel (4EA1): Grade 4 with Merit in the spoken language endorsement
• IGCSE English Second Language Pearson/Edexcel (Specification 4ES1): Grade 7 with Merit in the spoken language endorsement
• IGCSE English Language B Pearson/Edexcel (4EB1): Grade 4 with Merit in the spoken language endorsement
• Oxford AQA IGCSE English Language (Specification 9270): Grade 4 with Merit in the speaking and listening endorsement
• Oxford AQA IGCSE English as a Second Language (Specification 9280): Grade 7.

The evidence you need to provide for your English-language ability depends on your nationality and where you have studied.

List A countries

Nationals

If you are a national of a List A country, you are generally exempt from providing additional evidence of your English-language ability.

Additional evidence may be requested if there are concerns about your English ability.

Non-nationals

If you are not a national of a List A country but have studies there, you are generally exempt from providing additional evidence of your English-language ability if you have successfully completed at least one year of degree-level study at a recognised institution in a List A country.

Additional evidence may be requested if there are concerns about your English ability.

List A countries

• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Canada (except Quebec)
• Cook Islands
• Fiji
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Malta
• Mauritius
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Niue
• Singapore
• Tanzania
• Tokelau
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Kingdom
• USA
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

List B countries

Students who studied in a country listed in Country List B (nationals or non-nationals of that country) may satisfy the English language requirements, if the following criteria are met:

• Successful completion of at least one year of degree-level study at a recognised institution from that country
• The entire content was taught in English
• The study was completed within two years prior to application
• English as the language of instruction is confirmed on the transcript or with a supporting letter from the institution.

List B countries

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Belize
• Botswana
• Cuba
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Hong Kong
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malaysia
• Marshall Islands
• Micronesia
• Nauru
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Samoa
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• Sweden
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Vanuatu

Waiver of English Language Requirements

If you have studied in one of the countries listed above but do not meet the exemption criteria, you may still be eligible for a waiver of the English language requirements. To be considered, you must provide documented evidence of strong English proficiency. This can include writing samples, reference letters from previous lecturers, or other relevant proof. Waiver requests are assessed individually by the University on a case-by-case basis.

The following foundation programmes and certificates meet the English-language requirements for undergraduate study.

University of Otago

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• Language Centre “English for Otago”: English for Undergraduate Academic Purposes – Grade C or higher
• Foundation Studies Certificate: Successful completion of the certificate with a C in both Academic English papers

University of Auckland

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes (FCertEAP): Successful completion of the certificate with a C grade or higher
• English Language Academy (ELA) pathway programmes: Successful completion of the English Pathway for Undergraduate Studies (EPUS) with a C Grade

AUT (Auckland University of Technology)

• Certificate in English for Academic Study: B overall, minimum B in writing, all other grades C+ or higher

Lincoln University

• Certificate in English for Academic Purposes: 65%

University of Waikato

• Certificate of Attainment in English Language (CAEL): Level 7

UP International College

You can meet the English-language requirement with one of the following:

• University of Auckland Certificate in Foundation Studies (EAP module): 65% (B- grade)
• AUT Certificate in Foundation Studies (EAP module): 65% (B- grade)

NCUK (Northern Consortium of United Kingdom universities) International Foundation Year

• English for Academic Purposes module: C grade overall, no less than a D grade in each component

The following English language requirements apply only to undergraduate students applying for Study Abroad or Exchange programmes. These options are not valid for admission to full degree programmes.

CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

Applicants may meet the English language requirement with the CEFR if they achieve a B2 or higher in each skill area.

Note: CEFR is accepted for undergraduate Study Abroad and Exchange applications only. It is not accepted for entry into full degrees.

Support letter from a partner institution

Students from partner institutions in certain countries may meet the English language requirements by providing a support letter from their home university. The letter must:

• Be an original document issued by the university
• Confirm the student’s English proficiency is equivalent to or higher than the required standard
• Reference a recognised framework such as the CEFR, or grading scales used by IELTS or TOEFL.

This option is available to students from partner universities in the following countries:

• Denmark
• Finland
• Germany
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Sweden.