Admission Regulations
Application for Admission
All new students intending to study at the University of Auckland for the first time, and students intending to change their programme, must submit an Application for Admission. To be admitted applicants must meet (a) the admission requirements as detailed below and (b) any specific programme entry requirements. Applicants whose admission to a programme is approved will receive an offer of a place and on acceptance of this offer may proceed to enrol online in courses.
Prerequisites and Conditions
1 Subject to the Council’s statutory powers to decline admission and enrolment (whether for insufficiency of accommodation or of teachers or for other cause) and to Regulation 2, a person is eligible to be admitted to the University and to be admitted as a student if that person:
a has satisfied the requirements for entrance to a university in New Zealand
or
b is granted Special Admission
or
c is granted Discretionary Entrance
or
d is granted admission ad eundem statum, based upon study at a secondary school or another tertiary institution:
(i) at entrance level
or
(ii) with credit
or
(iii) with graduate status.
2 Unless the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) or the Discretionary Entrance Academic Adviser approves otherwise, a person who has not reached the age of 16 years by 31 December in the year preceding that in which admission is sought will not be eligible to be admitted to this University.
3 A person seeking to be admitted to the University must:
a comply with these regulations
and
b sign and date the declaration on the Application for Admission form which includes the words:
‘I will comply at all times with the University’s statutes, regulations, rules and policies’
or
c complete and submit the Application for Admission online, which includes a declaration with the words: ‘I will comply at all times with the University’s statutes, regulations, rules and policies’ and accept that completing and submitting the Application for Admission online constitutes signing and dating the declaration as defined under the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017.
Requirements for Entrance to a University in New Zealand
4 a National Certificate of Educational Achievement
From 2005 to 2014: a minimum of 42 credits at Level 3 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, including a minimum of 14 credits at Level 3 or higher in each of two subjects from an approved subject list, with a further 14 credits at Level 3 or higher taken from no more than two additional domains on the National Qualifications Framework or approved subjects; plus, a minimum of 14 credits at Level 1 or higher in Mathematics or Pangarau; plus, a minimum of 8 credits at Level 2 or higher in English or te reo Māori; 4 credits must be in Reading and 4 credits must be in Writing.
From 2015: NCEA Level 3; plus, three subjects at Level 3, made up of 14 credits each, in three approved subjects; plus Literacy, 10 credits at Level 2 or above*, made up of 5 credits in reading, 5 credits in writing; plus Numeracy, 10 credits at Level 1 or above*, made up of Achievement standards – specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects, or Unit standards – package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627 – all three required).
For 2020 only to recognise the disruption caused by COVID-19. NCEA level 3; plus three subjects at Level 3, made up of 12 credits each in three approved subjects; plus Literacy, 10 credits at Level 2 or above*, made up of 5 credits in reading, 5 credits in writing; plus Numeracy, 10 credits at Level 1 or above*, made up of Achievement standards – specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects, or Unit standards – package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627 – all three required).
*Note: For the lists of Level 1, Level 2 and 3 standards that contribute to University Entrance requirements, please visit the NZQA website (www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea).
b Bursaries examination
Up to and including 1986: an aggregate total of 160 marks in four subjects.
From 1987 to 1992: four individual subjects with D grades or higher. (Practical Art up to 1988 counts as two subjects for this purpose.)
From 1993 to 2003: three individual subjects with C grades or higher plus Higher School Certificate, or an ‘A’ or ‘B’ Bursary.
c UE gained before 1986.
d Up to and including 1992: a combination of credits, in a minimum of four subjects, gained from UE before 1986 and/or Bursaries Examinations since. A credit required a mark of at least 40 percent in 1986 or a D grade or higher from 1987 on. (Practical Art up to 1988 counts as two subjects for this purpose.)
From 1993 to 2003: a combination of credits in three individual subjects in the Bursaries Examination plus Higher School Certificate.
e Up to and including 2003: 13 credits in three different subjects at Level 3 or above on the National Qualifications Framework and Higher School Certificate.
Note: Credits in approved subjects from the National Qualifications Framework, and grades C or better in NZUEBS or equivalent, may be combined to make up the equivalent of three C passes.
Special Admission
5 a A person who does not hold a university entrance qualification but who is a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident and has attained the age of 20 years on or before the first day of the semester in which a proposed programme is offered is eligible to be granted Special Admission.
b A person seeking Special Admission to the University has to apply for it in accordance with the Admission Regulations and submit evidence of age and educational qualifications.
c Senate may waive the age requirement where an applicant is in its opinion otherwise fit to be admitted and, in particular, has satisfied any qualification for admission specified in the regulations for that programme of study.
d A person seeking to be admitted to the University of Auckland who wishes to be granted credit for any prior learning must apply under Regulation 7 (Admission at Entrance Level or with Credit).
e Special Admission applicants who have previously failed a foundation programme, or not reached an adequate standard in a preparatory programme, will not be re-admitted to the University unless their last enrolment is two or more years previous and they have subsequently undertaken work, study or life experience that demonstrates readiness for academic study. Special Admission applicants refused admission should be advised of other study options.
Discretionary Entrance
6 a A person under the age of 20 years who does not meet the University Entrance standard, but
(i) is a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia*
and
(ii) has received secondary schooling to at least New Zealand Year 12 level (or its equivalent overseas) and earned at least 14 credits in an approved subject at Level 2 towards NCEA (or its equivalent)
and
(iii) has met the literacy and numeracy standards required for University Entrance, or their equivalents
may apply for Discretionary Entrance.
* Australian applicants’ most recent year of schooling must have been in New Zealand.
b New Zealand or Australian citizens or New Zealand permanent residents who have undertaken Year 13 study beyond 1 June at a New Zealand secondary school may normally not be admitted under the Discretionary Entrance provisions before July in the following year.
c In special circumstances the Chair of Universities New Zealand–Te Pōkai Tara’s Sub-Committee on University Entrance may permit persons who do not fulfill Regulation 6a(ii) or Regulation 6a(iii) above to apply for Discretionary Entrance.
d A person studying at a New Zealand secondary school, who is attempting to qualify for entrance to the University, may apply for Discretionary Entrance in the same year for the purpose of enrolling in courses offered in Summer School. Any person admitted under this regulation who does not, in the following January, meet the University Entrance standard will be required to withdraw from the University and may re-apply for admission at mid-year. Students required to withdraw may complete their Summer School programme before doing so, but any courses passed will not be credited to a qualification until a University Entrance qualification is gained.
e A person seeking Discretionary Entrance to the University must apply by completing the requirements prescribed on the Discretionary Entrance form.
f The decision on Admission to the University under the category of Discretionary Entrance, and any required admission conditions, will be made by the Discretionary Entrance Academic Adviser on the basis of the completed application required under 6e, any feedback provided from programme staff and the outcome of an interview (if required by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) or Discretionary Entrance Adviser).
Admission ad eundem statum (Admission at Entrance Level or with Credit)
7 a From a New Zealand university
A student from another university in New Zealand, including a student who had enrolled at the University of Auckland previously, who wishes to reapply to the University of Auckland must submit an Application for Admission online and may apply for credit under the provisions of the Credit Regulations.
b From another tertiary institution in New Zealand or overseas
A person who wishes to be admitted to the University and who has gained appropriate qualifications validated by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority or from an overseas institution may be granted admission by this University:
(i) at entrance level
(ii) with credit towards a certificate, diploma or a Bachelors degree for work which in the opinion of Senate is substantially equivalent and is in accordance with the credit regulations
(iii) with graduate status.
c From a New Zealand secondary school
New Zealand citizens, permanent residents or international students who have gained from a New Zealand secondary school an entrance qualification approved by Universities New Zealand–Te Pōkai Tara for the purpose of admission ad eundem statum, may be granted admission ad eundem statum to this University.
d From an overseas secondary school
New Zealand citizens, permanent residents or international students who have gained an appropriate overseas qualification may apply to have that qualification recognised as being equivalent to a university entrance qualification set out in Regulations 4a–e above. A New Zealand citizen who has completed a year of academic study overseas, which is deemed to be at the equivalent of Year 13 in New Zealand, whether or not a formal academic qualification has been obtained, may apply for Discretionary Entrance, if appropriate, or may apply for ad eundem statum entrance under this Regulation.
e A person seeking admission under this regulation has to apply by completing the requirements on the Application for Admission online.
8 a Credits may be specified or unspecified and the grant of admission may include permission to advance in specified subjects or courses.
b Prerequisite courses or programmes may be prescribed as a condition of the approval to proceed to a higher degree or other qualification.
Students Enrolled at Another Educational Institution
9 a When they enrol, students are required to declare if they are intending to enrol concurrently during the year in question at any other educational institution.
b A student at a New Zealand secondary school who satisfies the admission requirements and who has the specific written approval of the institution’s principal may, with the approval of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) or the Discretionary Entrance Academic Adviser, enrol in up to 15 points per semester under the Young Scholars programme.
English Language Competence
10 a Applicants for admission to the University of Auckland must provide evidence acceptable to the University of their competence in both written and spoken English.
b For admission purposes, the University will be satisfied of an applicant’s competence in English:
(i) if English is the applicant’s first language
or
(ii) if the applicant has a New Zealand university entrance qualification
or
(iii) if the applicant has an overseas university entrance qualification from a country where the main language is English and the main language of instruction and assessment for that qualification was English
or
(iv) if the applicant performs to a satisfactory standard, as set down by the University Senate from time to time, in an approved English Language test
or
(v) if the applicant provides other evidence acceptable to the University of competence in both written and spoken English.
c If the academic performance of a student during their first year of study indicates a discrepancy with the evidence of English language competence provided at the time of admission, then the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education), on the recommendation of the relevant Associate Dean (Academic), may require the student to undertake an approved English Language test. The cost of this English Language test will be met by the University. If the student fails to take the test within a three-month period, or the result of the new test is such that the student would have been declined admission to the University on initial application, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) may discontinue the student’s enrolment or permit the student to continue their enrolment under specific conditions determined by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education).
d Where the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) permits a student to continue their enrolment under specific conditions under regulation 10(c), the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) may discontinue the student’s enrolment if they determine the student has breached those conditions.
e A student whose enrolment has been discontinued under regulation 10(c) or 10(d) will be eligible for a full refund of tuition fees for the course(s) deleted, unless the evidence of their English language competence provided to the University at the time of admission was falsified or obtained dishonestly.
f The English Language Competency requirements outlined in the Admission Regulations do not apply to applicants who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents and aged 20 years or older, unless the applicant is applying to a limited entry programme for which English Language Competency is a selection criterion prescribed by Council under section 4(b) of the Limitation of Entry Statute 1999.
Early Programme Entry
11 a An applicant may, with the approval of the Programme Director, be admitted to a postgraduate programme at this University with one course, of no more than 30 points, left to complete in their qualifying undergraduate degree providing they have:
(i) met all other requirements for the completion of the degree
and
(ii) passed at least 45 points above Stage II
and
(iii) passed any required prerequisite courses for the postgraduate programme to which they are applying
and
(iv) met the required Grade Point Average and any other entry requirements for the postgraduate programme to which they are applying.
b The requirements for the qualifying undergraduate degree must be met during the student’s first semester of initial enrolment in the postgraduate programme. If the requirements for the undergraduate degree are not met within the first semester, further enrolment in the postgraduate programme will not be permitted until the requirements have been met.
12 a An applicant may be admitted to a postgraduate programme at this University based on their Grade Point Average calculated on grades from all courses excluding the final semester (or equivalent) of their qualifying programme providing that they are currently enrolled in all the required courses to complete the qualifying programme.
b The qualifying programme must be completed before they commence their first semester of study in the postgraduate programme, unless they are approved admission under Regulation 11. If the qualifying programme is not completed by the time the postgraduate programme commences, and the applicant is not admitted under Regulation 11, then enrolment in the postgraduate programme will not be permitted until the requirements have been met.