NCEA and getting into tertiary study

What NCEA credits do I need to get into university?

Credits you need to get into university

Additional university entry requirements and guaranteed entry scores

Some university programmes have additional entry requirements, especially where admission is competitive or restricted (eg engineering and medicine).

Applicants may be ranked by their best NCEA credits, short-listed and/or asked to attend an interview. 

Some universities have also introduced a guaranteed entry score. If you meet a university's score, you are guaranteed admission into their degree programme. If you do not meet this score, you will go onto a waiting list for the programme you want, and may be offered a place depending on demand.

What are guaranteed entry scores based on?

Criteria for the guaranteed entry score varies by university, but is usually based on your best 80 credits in approved subjects at Level 3 (or higher). Points are awarded based on your level of achievement - so you will earn more points for credits gained with excellence than for achieved credits.

You'll need to check with each university to find out about their particular entry requirements. Take a look at the link below for an example of how an entry score is calculated.

• University of Otago website - calculate your entry score based on your NCEA credits
  

What if I don’t get university entrance?

If you don’t achieve university entrance but still want to go to university, there are other ways to get in:

• Cambridge A or AS-level qualifications and several other overseas qualifications are accepted as university entrance.
• Many universities offer bridging or foundation programmes which can be helpful. Look at each university’s website for details.
• If you have not studied beyond Year 12, you may be eligible for discretionary entrance providing you meet the required criteria.
• Work towards university entrance extramurally through the Correspondence School.

• Bridging and foundation courses - find out how you can earn the credits and skills you need for tertiary study
• Find links to university websites, where you can look up bridging courses
• NZ Vice-Chancellors' Committee website - find out if you qualify for discretionary entrance
• The Correspondence School website - find out how you can earn NCEA credits by correspondence
  

What NCEA credits do I need to get into a polytech or institute of technology?

• Entry requirements for courses at polytechs and institutes of technology differ depending on the type and level of study you are doing – for example, whether it is at certificate, diploma or degree level.
• Some competitive diplomas or degrees have higher NCEA pre-requisites, industry specific pre-requisites, or require University Entrance. Check the polytech websites for more details.

What if I don’t have NCEA?

• Some certificate courses are open entry, which means you don’t need NCEA to get in. You can use these to step up to a diploma, then a degree course.

• Search the courses and training database for a specific course
• Find links to polytech and institute of technology websites

What NCEA credits do I need to get into a private training establishment?

Entry requirements for courses at private training providers differ depending on the type and level of study you are doing.

What if I don’t have NCEA?

Many certificate courses are open entry, which means you don’t need NCEA.

• Search the courses and training database for a specific course
• Find links to private training establishment websites

What NCEA credits do I need to get into a wānanga?

Entry requirements at wānanga differ depending on the type and level of study you are doing. Many certificate and diploma courses don’t require NCEA.

What if I don’t have NCEA?

Some wānanga courses require an information seminar and selection interview instead of NCEA.

• Find links to wānanga websites

Find out more