Admission Statute

Read the Admission Statute 2016.

  1. Title
    This is the Admission Statute 2016.
  2. Date of effect
    This statute is effective from 1 March 2024.
  3. Application
    This statute applies to those seeking admission to the University of Waikato at undergraduate level and higher (100 - 900 levels). It does not apply to those seeking admission to non-assessed or sub-degree level papers or qualifications.
  4. Equitable Access
    Eligibility for admission is offered, subject to this Statute, in accordance with principles of equitable access to education for all persons, as detailed in the Human Rights Act 1993 and the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
  5. General
    1. Unless approved otherwise by the Academic Board, a person who will be under 16 years of age on the first day of the trimester in which he or she wishes to enrol is not eligible for admission.
    2. Unless approved otherwise by the Academic Board, a person who is enrolled for full-time instruction in a secondary school or area school is not eligible for admission.
    3. Subject to the Limitations Statute and any academic criteria that may apply with respect to particular papers or qualifications, a person may qualify for admission under any of the following provisions:
      1. University Entrance
      2. Discretionary Entrance
      3. Special Admission
      4. Admission at entrance level with credit based on previous tertiary study.
    4. In addition to qualifying under section 5 of this statute, the person must also meet the particular academic criteria set out
      1. in the case of undergraduate qualifications, in the Criteria for Admission to Particular Qualifications
      2. in the case of graduate and postgraduate qualifications, in the regulations for the relevant qualification.
  6. University Entrance
    University Entrance means
      1. From 2015:NCEA Level 3,
        1. a minimum of 14 credits at Level 3 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, in each of three approved subjects, and
        2. the numeracy requirements of a minimum of 10 credits at Level 1 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, made up of achievement standards and/or unit standards specified by NZQA, and
        3. the literacy requirement1 of a minimum of 10 credits at Level 2 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, made up of:
          5 credits in reading, and
          5 credits in writing from a list specified by NZQA.
      2. From 2005-2014:
        1. 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 list, with a further
          14 credits at Level 3 or higher taken from one or two additional domains or approved subjects
        2. and the numeracy requirements of a minimum of 14 credits at Level 1 or higher in Mathematics or Pāngarau on the National Qualifications framework
        3. and the literacy requirement of a minimum of 8 credits at Level 2 or higher which show reading and writing skills in English or te reo Māori are required.1
      3. From 1993 to 2004: Higher School Certificate and a C grade or higher in each of three New Zealand University Entrance, Bursaries and Scholarships (NZUEBS) subjects; or an A or B bursary
      4. A qualification recognised by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority for University Entrance purposes
      5. From 1986 to 1992: a D grade or higher in each of four NZUEBS subjects
      6. Before 1986: the University Entrance qualification (by accreditation or examination).
  7. Discretionary Entrance
    1. From 2005: A person who has undertaken NCEA at Level 3 in three or more approved subjects (in the same year) and failed to gain University Entrance is not eligible to be considered for Discretionary Entrance until the B trimester of the following year.
    2. Admission will be at the discretion of the University, with the proviso that a person who has 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.2
    3. Otherwise, a person who will be at least 16 years of age and under 20 years of age on the first day of the trimester of enrolment who does not meet the University Entrance standard, but
      1. is a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia3, and
      2. 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
      3. has met the literacy and numeracy standards required for University Entrance, or their equivalents,

        may apply for Discretionary Entrance.
    4. Approval of an application for Discretionary Entrance is based on
      1. the applicant’s submission
      2. the proposed programme of study
      3. the applicant’s past academic achievements, and
      4. a statement from an adviser (such as a school principal or a University Student Recruitment Adviser) as to the applicant’s preparedness for university study.
    5. A person who wishes to apply for Discretionary Entrance must do so as part of the formal enrolment application.
    6. Applications for Discretionary Entrance are considered and decided by the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies in which the applicant wishes to enrol, under delegated authority of the Academic Board.
    7. If Discretionary Entrance is approved, the prescribed fee is payable by the student at enrolment.
    8. A person whose application for Discretionary Entrance is declined by the relevant Pro Vice-Chancellor or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies may appeal the decision to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic under delegated authority of the Academic Board.
    9. A person whose application for Discretionary Entrance is declined by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic may make a further appeal to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
    10. A person studying at a New Zealand secondary school who is attempting to qualify for University Entrance may apply for Discretionary Entrance in the same year for the purpose of enrolling in papers offered by the University. Any person admitted under this regulation who does not subsequently meet the University Entrance standard during the period enrolled at the University will be required to withdraw from the University and may re-apply for admission at mid-year. Any papers passed during the period enrolled at the University will not be credited to a qualification until a University Entrance qualification is gained.
  1. Special Admission
    1. Applicants are eligible to be considered for Special Admission if they will be at least 20 years of age on the first day of the trimester for which they are applying to enrol.
    2. In exceptional cases, an applicant who does not hold a university entrance qualification and who will not be 20 by the first day of the trimester for which admission is sought, may apply for special admission. In assessing whether to grant special admission in exceptional cases, the primary focus will be on the applicant’s level of preparedness for university study.
    3. Approval of an application for Special Admission is based on
      1. the applicant’s submission
      2. the proposed programme of study
      3. the applicant’s past academic achievements, and
      4. evidence of the applicant’s preparedness for university study.
    4. A person who wishes to apply for Special Admission must do so as part of the formal enrolment application.
    5. Applications for Special Admission are considered and decided by the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies in which the applicant wishes to enrol, under delegated authority of the Academic Board.
    6. A person whose application for Special Admission is declined by the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies may appeal the decision to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic under delegated authority of the Academic Board.
  2. Admission at entrance level or with credit from previous study
    1. A person may qualify for admission at entrance level, or with credit, on the basis of
      1. having been awarded a qualification which is deemed to be equivalent to University Entrance
      2. having completed previous tertiary study.
    2. A person who wishes to apply for admission under subsection 9(1) of this statute must do so as part of the formal enrolment application.
    3. If admission at entrance level or with credit from previous tertiary study is approved, the prescribed fee is payable by the student at enrolment.
    4. Applications for admission at entrance level or with credit from previous tertiary study are considered and decided by the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies in which the applicant wishes to enrol, under delegated authority of the Academic Board.
    5. A person whose application for admission under subsection 9(1) of this statute is declined by the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies may appeal the decision to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic under delegated authority of the Academic Board.
    6. A person whose application for admission at entrance level is declined by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic may make a further appeal to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
  3. Delegation of powers
    The powers and authority of the Academic Board referred to in this statute have been delegated in certain matters under the Delegation of Powers Statute 2014.
  4. Report to the Education Committee
    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic must submit an annual report to the Education Committee providing an overview of admission appeal decisions made during the relevant year, together with any consequent recommendations with respect to the Admission Statute.

Notes:

  1. The University of Waikato Certificate of Studies: English at Level 2 or Level 3 is recognised as meeting the literacy requirements of NCEA.
  2. In special circumstances, the Chair of the CUAP Sub-Committee on University Entrance may permit persons who do not fulfil section 7(3)(b) or 7(3)(c) of these regulations to apply for Discretionary Entrance.
  3. Australian applicants’ most recent year of schooling must have been in New Zealand.