English Language Requirements for Admission

Applicants whose first language is not English or Māori are required to provide satisfactory evidence of English language proficiency. Scores can vary according to the qualification sought.

Applicants who have achieved University Entrance through NCEA are not required to provide further evidence of English language proficiency.

1. Admission to CertAttainFoundSt

   The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:
   • an Academic IELTS overall score of 5.5 (with at least 5.0 in the Writing band), or
   • a TOEFL iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) minimum score of 46 with a writing score of 14, or
   • a TOEFL iBT Home Edition minimum score of 46 with a writing score of 14, or
   • a B grade or better at Level 6 in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English, or
   • a PTE Academic overall score of 36 and no band score lower than 29, or
     a Language-Cert International ESOL (LRWS) B2 Communicator with a pass and no less than pass in each skill, or
   • awarded a New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Applied) (Level 3), or
   • a Language-Cert International ESOL (LRWS) B1 Achiever with a high pass and no less than pass in each skill, or
   • a Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) II with no less than a pass in any band, or
   • a B1 and B2 (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) with an overall score of 162 and no bands below 154, or
   • a C2 Proficiency (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) with an overall score of 162 and no bands below 154, or
   • a Michigan English Test (formally known as Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)) minimum score of 50.

All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.

2. Admission to International Diploma

The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:

• an Academic IELTS overall score of 5.5 (with no less than 5.0 in any band) or equivalent.
• a TOEFL iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) minimum score of 46 with a Writing score of 14, or
• a B grade or better with a B in Writing at Level 6 in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English, or
• a PTE Academic overall score of 36 and no band score less than 29, or
• a Language-Cert International ESOL (LRWS) B1 Achiever with a high pass and no less than pass in each skill, or
• a Language-Cert International ESOL (LRWS) B2 Communicator with a pass and no less than pass in each skill, or
• awarded a New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Applied) (Level 3), or
• a Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) II with no less than a merit in any band, or
• a B1 and B2 (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) with an overall score of 162 and no bands below 154, or
• a Michigan English Test (formally known as Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) (MELAB)) minimum score of 50.

All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.

3. Admission to the Diploma in Postgraduate Preparation - Pre-Masters

   The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:
   • an Academic IELTS overall score of 6.0 (with no less than 5.5 in any band) or equivalent.
   • a TOEFL iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) score of 80 with a Writing score of 21, or
   • a TOEFL iBT Home Edition overall score of 80 with a writing score of 21, or
   • a B grade or better at Level 7 in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English, or
   • a PTE Academic overall score of 46 with no band less than 36, or
   • a Language-Cert International ESOL (LRWS) B2 Communicator with 33-37 score per skill, or
   • awarded a New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Academic) (Level 4), or
   • a Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) II with distinction in all four components, or
   • a B2 (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) with an overall
     score of 169 and no bands below 162, or
   • a C2 Proficiency (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) with an overall score of 169 and no bands below 162, or
   • a Michigan English Test (formally known as Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)) minimum score of 54.

All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.

4. Admission to all undergraduate qualifications, all graduate certificates, and all graduate diplomas except where otherwise stated below (exceptions are stated below for: LLB, BNurs, Initial Teacher Education (ITE) qualifications, and any other graduate programmes)

The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:

• • an Academic IELTS overall score of 6.0 (with no bands below 5.5), or
  • a TOEFL iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) score of 80 with a Writing score of 21, or
  • a TOEFL iBT Home Edition score of 80 with a Writing score of 21, or
  • a B grade or better at Level 7 in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English, or
  • a PTE Academic overall score of 46 with no band less than 36, or
  • a Language-Cert International ESOL (LRWS) B2 Communicator Expert with 33-37 score per skill, or
  • awarded a New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Academic) (Level 4), or
  • a Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) II with distinction in all four components, or
  • a B2 First (formally known as Cambridge English: First (FCE)) with an overall score of 169 and no bands below 162, or
  • a C2 Proficiency (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) with an overall score of 169 and no bands below 162, or
  • a Michigan English Test (formally known as Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)) minimum score of 54.

All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.

5. Admission to LLB

   The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:
   • an Academic IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in any band), or
   • a TOEFL iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) score of 90 with a Writing score of 21, or
   • a B grade or better at Level 8 in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English, or
   • a PTE Academic overall score of 56 with no band less than 46.

All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.

6. Admission to BNurs

   The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:
   • an Academic IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no bands below 6.5).

All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.

7. Admission to other graduate, and all postgraduate programmes (including higher degrees)

   It is generally recommended that students have:
   • an Academic IELTS Overall score of at least 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in any band), or
   • a TOEFL iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) score of 90 with a Writing score of 21, or
   • a TOEFL iBT Home Edition overall score of 90 with a Writing score of 21, or
   • a B grade or better at Level 8 in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English, or
   • a PTE Academic overall score of 56 with no band less than 46, or
   • a Language Cert International ESOL (LRWS) C1 Expert with an overall high pass and no less than a pass in each skill, or
   • a Language Cert International ESOL (LRWS) B2 Communicator with 38-50 score per skill, or
   • awarded a New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Academic) (Level 5), or
   • a Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) III with a pass in all four components, or
   • a B2 First (formally known as Cambridge English: First (FCE)) with an overall score of 176 and no bands below 169, or
   • a C2 Proficiency (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) with an overall score of 176 and no bands below 169, or
   • a Michigan English Test (formally known as Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)) minimum score of 59.

However, some qualifications, such as the LLD and SJD, require a higher score. The English language proficiency requirements for admission to particular qualifications are at the discretion of the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies concerned.

8. Admission to MNursPrac

   The following minimum score is considered to be evidence of such competence:
   • an Academic IELTS overall score of 7.0 (with no less than 7.0 in any band);

and All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.

9. Admission to all Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes (BTchg, GradDipTchg, PGDipTchg) and MTchgLn

   The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:
   • an Academic IELTS overall score of 7.0 (with no less than 7.0 in any band)
   • International Baccalaureate full diploma in English medium (24 points minimum). This must be completed at an IB school;
   • Cambridge International Examinations minimum 120 points on the UCAS Tariff plus meeting the CIE literacy requirements;
   • Awarded Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA);
   • Awarded Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);
   • Cambridge English exams C2 Proficiency (CPE) or C1 Advanced (CAE) or
   • Cambridge English exams B2 First (FCE). A minimum score of 185, with no band score less than 185;
   • International Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ISLPR). A minimum score of 4 in all modules;
   • Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic. A minimum score of 65 in all four modules;
   • Trinity ISE III (3). A pass with Merit in all four modules;
   • LanguageCert C2 Mastery IESOL. A pass in all four modules;
   • LanguageCert C1 Expert IESOL. A high pass in all four modules;
   • a TOEFL iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) Must meet the following overall score of 98 and the following scores in each module: Listening - 24; Reading - 24; Writing - 27; Speaking – 23.

All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.

For more information about IELTS, visit the University of Waikato IELTS Test Centre.