New Zealand and Australian Students

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National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)

You will be eligible for admission to university if you have obtained:

  • A minimum of 42 credits at level 3 or higher, made up of a minimum of 14 credits in each of two approved subjects, with a further 14 credits at level 3 or higher taken from no more than two additional domains or approved subjects.

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In addition, you will need to have met the literacy and numeracy standards required for entrance to university:

  • For literacy this is a minimum of eight credits at level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Māori; four credits must be in reading and four credits must be in writing.
  • For numeracy it is a minimum of 14 credits at level 1 or higher in Mathematics or Pangarau.

For more information, a University Entrance Information Sheet is available from Student Recruitment & Course Advice.

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Discretionary Entrance

If you do not gain university entrance from NCEA level 3 you may be considered for second trimester admission under Discretionary Entrance. Students must be under the age of 20 and have gained at least 14 credits in an approved subject in NCEA level 2, and also met the literacy and numeracy standards shown above.

Students who fail to gain University Entrance through NCEA are ineligible for Discretionary Entrance in the trimester immediately following their completion of Year 13. They may be considered for admission in the second trimester.

Students may apply directly from Year 12, but they need high academic achievement in at least four NCEA level 2 approved subjects and have strong support from their school to enter university.

For more information, a Discretionary Entrance Information Sheet is available from Student Recruitment & Course Advice.

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Certificate of University Preparation

If you do not gain university entrance from NCEA level 3 you can take Victoria's one-trimester Certificate of University Preparation programme. On successful completion of this programme you will gain admission to university by Qualification Assessment at Entrance Level. You can then apply for any of Victoria’s undergraduate degrees.

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Bursary

For students who have completed Bursary, entrance to university is possible by any one of the following:

  • Minimum entrance: obtaining grade C (46–55%) or better in each of three University Bursaries subjects plus Higher School Certificate. The three grades can be accumulated over two or more years.
  • Obtaining an A Bursary (total of 300 or more) or B Bursary (total in the range 250-299) over no more than 5 subjects in the University Bursaries exams.
  • Achieving 13 credits in each of three different NZQA approved subjects (please refer to list linked below) at level 3 or above on the National Qualifications Framework plus Higher School Certificate (13 credits at level 3 are deemed equivalent to one C grade in University Bursaries).
  • 13 credits at level 3 gained in the same year on the NZQA Framework in a canon Bursary subject or approved subject is recognised as equivalent to a ‘C’ grade in Bursary. Students can gain UE with a combination of unit standards and Bursary.

Higher School Certificate is granted by the secondary school. It is based on completion of at least five years of post-primary education and attendance in at least 80% of the Year 13 academic year.

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Admission Standards for Australian Students

Australian students require a TER/ENTER/UAI rank of 74.00 or greater. Queensland students need an OP rank of 12 or lower.

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Admission If You're 20 or Older

If you are 20 years of age or older at the time you start your studies, you are entitled to admission to Victoria whether you have an entrance qualification or not. This is called Special Admission. Special Admission guarantees entry to any New Zealand university, but not necessarily into every degree programme or course.

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Qualification Assessment at Entrance Level

This is for students who have a recognised university entrance qualification from outside New Zealand, or have completed Year 12 in New Zealand and then completed a year of academic studies overseas.

This form of admission also applies to those students who have completed Victoria's Certificate of University Preparation programme or any other recognised University Entrance qualification.

Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)

For admission based on Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) taken in New Zealand, applicants will be required to meet the following standards:

Numeracy Standard

  • a minimum grade of D in IGCSE (or D grade in GCSE Mathematics or E grade in AS Mathematics).

Literacy Standard

  • a minimum grade of E in any one of AS English Language, AS Literature in English or AS Language & Literature in English.

General Standard

  • a minimum of 120 points on the UCAS Tariff ,including a minimum grade of D in each of at least two subjects equivalent to those on the List of Approved Subjects; plus
  • a minimum grade of D pass in one further subject either from the Approved List or related to a domain on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). 
  • Students may include points from one additional CIE subject to meet 120 points.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

International Baccalaureate is a qualification offered by a small number of secondary schools in New Zealand. The IB diploma must have been completed (24 points minimum) before admission at entrance level may be granted.

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Qualification Assessment with Credit or Graduate Status

If you have studied overseas or at a New Zealand tertiary institution at degree level you may apply for admission under Qualification Assessment. Please contact the relevant Faculty Administration Office for an assessment of your qualifications and potential credit transfer.

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English Language Competency

If you are not a native speaker of English, you need to ensure your English is good enough for university study. Courses at Victoria are normally taught in English. Essays and reports are the main kind of written work for assessment and exams.

You should be able to:

  • Write grammatically correct English and develop ideas clearly.
  • Read with understanding, find information without guidance and analyse an argument.
  • Understand spoken English in lectures and tutorials.
  • Speak clearly so you can contribute to discussions and present ideas.

Victoria offers intensive English courses for speakers of other languages: contact the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. International students should contact Victoria International.

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