English language requirements
You will need to show evidence of your English language skills if English is not your first language.
The description of your qualification will explain if higher English language requirements than the minimum are needed.
English language courses and tests
We offer short English language courses, such as the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course, IELTS tests and preparation courses and Occupational English Tests.
Recognised English language examinations
We recognise these English language examinations:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – academic scores only
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Cambridge English Qualifications
- NZCEL
- Pearson Test of English (Academic)
- LanguageCert.
Your test results (scores) are valid for two years from the date on which you took the test.
If you have taken a test other than the English language examinations listed above, include it with your Application for Admission as an International Student. It might be considered.
Submitting scanned copies of English language examination
You can submit a scanned copy of your English language examination scores, as we can verify most of your results online.
Literacy requirements
IELTS can't be used as a substitute for any literacy requirement that your qualification asks for. It may be required for qualifications that have specific English language requirements, which will be outlined in the qualification description.
English language examination required scores
| English Evidence |
English for Academic Purposes 1 (EAP1) |
Foundation Certificate (International) |
English for Academic Purposes 2 (EAP2) |
Foundation Certificate (International Accelerate) |
Undergraduate |
Postgraduate (sub-doctoral*) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic IELTS^ | 5.0 overall and minimum 4.5 in each band | 5.5 overall and minimum 5.0 in each band | 5.5 overall and minimum 5.0 in each band | 6.0 overall and minimum 5.5 in each band | 6.0 overall and minimum 5.5 in each band | 6.5 overall and minimum 6.0 in each band |
| TOEFL iBT |
40 overall (3 in reading & listening, 13 in speaking & writing) |
50 overall (5 in reading & listening, 15 in speaking & writing) |
50 overall (5 in reading & listening, 15 in speaking & writing) |
65 overall (10 in reading & listening, 17 in speaking & writing) |
Overall score 80, minimum 19 in Writing |
Overall score 90, minimum 20 in Writing |
| Cambridge English Qualification | 155 | 165 | 165 | 170 |
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. |
C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 176. No less than 169 in each skill. |
| NZ Certificate in English Language | Level 3 (General) | Level 3 (Applied) | Level 3 (Applied) | Level 4 (Academic) | Level 4 (Academic) | Level 5 |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) | 38 overall | 46 overall | 46 overall | 50 overall |
50 overall and minimum 42 in each communicative skills |
58 overall and minimum 50 in each communicative skills |
| LanguageCert |
B1 Achiever IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill |
B2 Communicator IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill |
B2 Communicator IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill |
C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill |
C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill |
C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with HIGH PASS and no less than Pass in each skill or C2 Mastery IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill |
* For doctoral-degree-specific English language requirements, see the How to apply for a doctoral degree page.
^ In general, if you do not meet the overall and minimum band requirements you will have to resit the full IELTS test. However, if you meet the overall requirement, but fail one of the bands, it is possible to sit a one-skill retake within 90 days.
DAAD (German students only)
German undergraduate students need a minimum B grade in each section, plus a letter of support from their university. Some colleges may specify a higher level of attainment for PhD applicants.
Specific qualifications
Some qualifications require you to have a higher level of English language skills than the minimum we usually ask for. This will be explained in the entry requirements description of your qualification.
Foundation qualifications to meet entry requirements
If you don't have the skills or qualifications you need to be accepted into your chosen study, you can do foundation qualifications.
Undergraduate qualifications entry requirements
To be admitted to an undergraduate qualification, you will need a minimum level of academic achievement from school, or another university or tertiary institution. The specific level depends on which country or region of the world you are from.
If your country isn't on this list, email us at admission@massey.ac.nz
Australia
You must meet one of these entry requirements:
- Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) score 74 or greater
- Overall Position (OP) score 12 or lower
- Tertiary Education Rank (TER) 74 or greater
- Universities Admission Index (UAI) 74 or greater.
Australian citizens who live and will study in New Zealand are considered to be domestic students.
Brazil
Successful completion of one year of tertiary study at a recognised institution.
Canada
General
High School graduation (Grade 12 Certificate) with an average achievement of 60% across six subjects, including English – as a minimum level of achievement.
Ontario
Secondary Diploma with a minimum average 65% in Grade 12. Higher levels of achievement will be needed for limited entry qualifications (such as Aviation).
Quebec
First year of CEGEP with 60% across six subjects including English. Students with the full two years of CEGEP with 60% across six subjects including English can be considered for admission plus credit.
China
You must meet one of these entry requirements:
- Senior High School graduation plus successful completion of one year of bachelor's-level study from a recognised institution
- successful completion of a two-year diploma, or a minimum of two years out of a three-year diploma from a recognised institution
- completed Gaokao with a tier 1 score from the related province.
Chile
Successful completion of one year of bachelor's degree-level study at a recognised institution.
Colombia
Successful completion of one year of tertiary study at a recognised institution.
Denmark
You must meet one of these entry requirements:
- Højere Forberedelseseksamen (HF)
- Højere Handelseksamen (HHX).
Fiji
You must meet one of these entry requirements:
- Fiji Form 7 Certificate – aggregate over four subjects of 250 marks out of 400, with a minimum of 50 in English
- USP foundation year in either science or social sciences, with a grade average of B and no grade lower than C in the eight required courses
- USP Certificate IV in Business Leadership and Management – a completed Certificate IV in Business Leadership and Management and an earlier qualification at Level 5 or above on the Fiji National Qualifications Framework.
France
Successful completion of French Baccalaureat Diploma (Diplôme du Baccalauréat).
Germany
Successful completion of Senior High School (Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife – Arbitur).
Hong Kong
You must meet one of these entry requirements:
- Three Hong Kong Advanced Level passes with one at grade C or higher in academic subjects
- Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education – score of 15, based on aggregate of your best five subjects (at an average Level 3 in each subject) from any combination of:
- Core and Category A and C electives;
- but excluding Category B (Applied Learning) subjects.
India
You must meet one of these entry requirements:
- All India Senior School Certificate (AISSC) Year 12 with an overall average of 75% and a minimum of 60% in English
- Indian School Certificate (ISC) Year 12 with an overall average of 75% and a minimum of 60% in English
- Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSC) – State Board Examination in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, with:
- an overall average of 85% or higher (with no less than four academic subjects), with
- a minimum of 70% or above in English.
Indonesia
You must meet one of these entry requirements:
- successful completion of one year’s tertiary study at a recognised institution
- a minimum of 8.5 of Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA).
Iran
Successful completion of one year of bachelor's degree-level study at a recognised institution.
Japan
You must meet one of the following requirements:
- completion of a High School Diploma with a B average
- one year of successful study at a Japanese university
- completion of a junior college diploma of two or three years’ duration.
Kuwait
Successful completion of General Secondary Education Certificate (GSEC) with an overall average of 80% over approved academic subjects.
Latin America
Successful completion of one year’s tertiary study at a recognised institution.
Malaysia
You must meet one of these entry requirements:
- STPM three principal passes
- UEC with a maximum of 18 points over six academic subjects
- GCE A levels with at least three results with one grade at Level C or above
- SAM (or equivalent) with a minimum tertiary entrance rank of 74.
Mexico
Successful completion of one year of bachelor's degree-level study at a recognised institution or university, with grades of eight or above.
Nigeria
Successful completion of one year’s study at a recognised tertiary institution.
Oman
Successful completion of a two-year diploma at an internationally-recognised tertiary institution.
Pakistan
Successful completion of one year of study at an internationally-recognised tertiary institution.
Papua New Guinea
You must meet one of these entry requirements:
- successfully completed one year of study at an internationally-recognised tertiary institution
- successfully completed the South Pacific Form 7 Certificate (with three or more B grades in academic subjects).
Philippines
Successful completion of one year of study at an internationally-recognised tertiary institution.
Russia
Successful completion of one year of study at an internationally-recognised tertiary institution.
Saudi Arabia
Successful completion of either an undergraduate diploma or an associate degree at a recognised tertiary institution.
Singapore
You must meet one of these entry requirements:
- a minimum of 3 H2 passes at C grade
- successful completion of NUS High School Diploma.
Solomon Islands
USP foundation year in either:
- science, or
- social science, with
- a grade average of B or higher, and
- no grade lower than C in the eight required courses.
South Africa
Successful completion of the South African National Senior Certificate that qualifies you for entry to university.
South Korea
Korean University Entrance examination, with a minimum of 250 for general degrees. Higher scores may be needed for specialist qualifications.
South Pacific countries
You will need South Pacific Form 7 Certificate with:
- three or more B grades in academic subjects, with
- a minimum of Grade 5 in PSSC English, and
- a minimum of Grade 6 in PSSC maths.
Sri Lanka
GCE A-levels with a minimum of three credit passes.
Taiwan
You must meet one of these entry requirements:
- successfully completed one year of study at an internationally-recognised university
- senior high school and a two-year junior college diploma
- junior high school and a five-year junior college diploma
- GSAT, with three at high level, and one at standard bench marks (If seeking entry into a science-based qualification, you must have a high level in science).
Thailand
You must meet one of these entry requirements:
- successfully completed one year of tertiary study at an internationally-recognised tertiary institution
- Matayom 6 with a GPA of 3.2.
Tonga
You must meet one of these entry requirements:
- successfully completed the USP Foundation Programme
- Tonga National Form Seven Certificate with three or more B grades in academic subjects
- South Pacific Form Seven Certificate, with three or more B grades in academic subjects with a minimum of Grade 5 in PSSC English, and Grade 6 in PSSC maths (Grade 1 is highest).
United Kingdom
A-Levels and AS-Levels GCSE (considered on a case-by-case basis).
United States of America
High School Diploma from an accredited high school with a minimum GPA of 2.5 (out of 4).
Vietnam
Completion of:
- Bang Tot Nghiep Trung hoc Pho thong (Vietnam Upper Senior Secondary Graduation Diploma), with
- eight out of 10 in the Secondary School Leaving Examination, (SSLE), (Thi Tot Nghiep Pho thong Trung hoc), or
- one year of study at a recognised tertiary institution.
Worldwide
These qualifications are available worldwide. You can use one of these as an entry requirement:
- an International Baccalaureate (IB) – a complete diploma of 24 points
- Cambridge International Examination (CIE) – three A-Levels taken in countries other than New Zealand (and excluding the UK), including at least one C grade or better (a result in General Studies cannot be included among the three on which the application is based).
Graduate diplomas entry requirements
To be admitted to a graduate diploma, you will need to have successfully completed a three-year diploma or undergraduate degree from a recognised tertiary institution.
New Zealand Diploma of Business
If you have completed the New Zealand Diploma of Business (NZDipBus) at three B-grade level 5 or 6 passes, you can apply for entry into a bachelor's degree.
You will need:
- an NZQA transcript of your NZDipBus results so we can assess credit - only papers with a minimum grade of B will be assessed
- English language skills of either a minimum IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) used to gain entry to the NZDipBus, or a recent IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5.
Students who went to New Zealand secondary school
You do not have to give us extra evidence of your English language skills if you went to secondary school in New Zealand and achieved:
- National Certificates of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3
- Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).
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