Staff + Student LoginAcademic and English Language Requirements
Academic Entrance Requirements
At the time of their enrolment at the University of Waikato, study abroad and exchange students must have:
- Completed at least two semesters of study and be currently enrolled at a recognised tertiary institution
- Achieved a minimum GPA of 2.5. Applicants from countries where it is not possible to calculate a grade point average must be in good academic standing.
Please also check whether you meet the English language requirements.
English Language Requirements
GeneralWaikato University teaches in the medium of English and students require competence in this language to be admitted to this University and to be successful in their studies.
Students with qualifications from countries such as Bahrain, Canada, Cook Islands, Fiji, Ghana, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Soloman Islands, South Africa, Sweden, Tonga, USA, and Vanuatu would usually indicate that English is their first language or that English was the language of previous study if this is the case. Please note that applicants who have studied in some countries in which English is the medium of instruction may still be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English language and are considered on a case by case basis.
Applicants whose first language is not English are required to provide satisfactory evidence of English language proficiency, generally in the form of an IELTS or TOEFL. Scores can vary according to the qualification sought. In some cases IELTS or TOEFL requirement may be waived.
Students applying for graduate study who supply evidence of the following will not be required to provide IELTS or TOEFL results to verify their English language ability:
Norway
Students who have attained a Grade 4 or higher in English Level 1 from the Norwegian first level/year of Upper Secondary School (Videregående Skoler), where 2 is the lowest passing grade and 6 is the highest grade.
Sweden
Students who have a "VG" (Pass with Distinction) or "MVG" (Pass with Honours) grade in Level "B" English language from Senior High School in Sweden.
Undergraduate Level
| IELTS Requirements | TOEFL Requirements | Computer-based TOEFL Requirements | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Programmes of Studies | IELTS | Writing Bands | All Bands | TOEFL | TWE | Computer-based TOEFL | Essay Rating |
| All Undergraduate Degrees, except: | 6.0 | 6.0 | - | 550 | 5.0 | 213 | 5.0 |
| BCS, BECom, BMS, and BTour | 6.0 | - | 6.0 | 550 | 5.0 | 213 | 5.0 |
| BE, BSc(Tech) | 6.0 | - | 6.0 | 550 | 5.0 | 213 | 5.0 |
| LLB and LLB double degrees | 6.5 | 6.0 | - | 600 | 5.0 | 213 | 5.0 |
| BTchg | 6.5 | 6.0 | - | 600 | 5.0 | 250 | 5.0 |
Consideration for a waiver will be given where:
- English was the language of instruction in the last two years of secondary/tertiary studies. Students need to provide evidence of this at the time of application
- Successful completion of the Level 7 Certificate of Academic English Language (CAEL) programme at the University of Waikato Language Institute with a B grade average and no less than C in any section
- Successful completion of the Foundation papers CAFS001 and CAFS002 with no less that B grades in each
- A minimum of 8 credits at level 2 or higher in NCEA English; 4 credits must be in reading and 4 credits must be in writing.
Please note:
- The English language requirements are subject to change
- Each School of Studies/Faculty reserves the right to request an IELTS or TOEFL score or equivalent
- School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences - undergraduate students with an IELTS score of less than 7.0 or a paper-based TOEFL score of less than 600 will be required to enrol in and pass the paper ESLA101 Academic Writing and Research in their first semester of enrolment
- Bachelor of Teaching - upon completion of study, students must be able to demonstrate a minimum score of IELTS 7.0 in each area of competence to gain teacher registration with the New Zealand Teachers Council
- Students are encouraged to develop their confidence in speaking and writing English and as such should choose an English as a Second Language paper as one of their elective papers.
Graduate Level
| IELTS Requirements | TOEFL Requirements |
Computer-based TOEFL Requirements
|
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Programmes of Studies | IELTS | Writing Bands | All Bands | TOEFL | TWE | Computer-based TOEFL | Essay Rating |
| Graduate Diplomas - Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences | 6.0 | 6.0 | - | 550 | 5.0 | 213 | 5.0 |
| Graduate Diplomas - Waikato Management School | 6.0* | - | 6.0 | 600 | 5.0 | 250 | 5.0 |
| Graduate Diplomas - School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences | 6.5 | 6.0 | - | 600 | 5.0 | 250 | 5.0 |
| Graduate Diploma in Teaching | 7.0 | - | 7.0 | - | - | - | - |
| Graduate Law Qualifications | 6.5 | 6.0 | - | 600 | 5.0 | 250 | 5.5 |
| PGDipSLT and MA(App) in Applied Linguistics | 6.5 | - | 6.0 | 600 | 5.0 | - | - |
| All other Postgraduate Diplomas, Bachelor with Honours and Masters Degrees | 6.5 | 6.0 | - | 600 | 5.0 | 250 | 5.0 |
| MPhil, PhD and EdD | 6.5 | 6.0 | - | 600 | 5.0 | - | - |
*Students who have an overall IELTS score of 6 will be required to complete ESLA200 Academic Writing Discourse or equivalent.Students who have an overall score of 6.5 or above will not be required to take this course.
Consideration for a waiver will be given where:
- English was the language of instruction in the last two years of tertiary studies. Students need to provide evidence of this at the time of application.
Please note:
- The English language requirements are subject to change
- Each School of Studies/Faculty reserves the right to request an IELTS, TOEFL score or equivalent.
