Application process for international undergraduate students

Step-by-step guide for international students applying for undergraduate study at Waikato, including links to entry requirements, fees, application, and visa info.

Thank you for choosing to study at the University of Waikato. This section will guide you through the international student application process.

Check our application and enrolment dates to ensure we receive your application on time to start your study.

  1. Choose your programme of study

    We offer more than 100 subjects to choose from. Check out our available programmes.

  2. Check your eligibility

    Before you apply, make sure that you meet our Academic and English entry requirements.

  3. Check tuition fees

    Get an estimated cost of your study at our international tuition fees page. Please note that your exact final tuition fee will depend on your choice of papers. 
     
    You also need to pay some non-tuition costs, such as the Student Services Fee and enrolment charges.

  4. Apply

    Once you have decided what you want to study and have all your documents ready, you can apply online. Create an account on MyWaikato and follow the steps to complete your application.

    You can apply at any time throughout the year. You will see the next available intake during your application process.  

    Depending on your situation, you may also apply through one of the following pathways:  

    Educational Agent
    If you think you may need some extra help in your home country, one of our approved International Recruitment Agents can assist you with submitting your application.

    Study Abroad or Exchange
    If you are interested in short term study, and the opportunity to transfer your credits back to your home institution, you may like to Study Abroad and Exchange. 

    Higher Research Degrees
    If you are applying for a Higher research degrees program such as Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) and Masters of Philosophy (MPhil), you should look at the PhD and Doctoral Degrees Application Process. 

    Pathway Programmes
    If you do not meet the academic or English language requirements for entry, you may choose to study a pathway programme at the University of Waikato College. Find out how to apply  to the College or if you are ready to apply directly by using the online application form. The University of Waikato also welcomes applications from students completing NCUK pathway programmes. 

    Apply for Credit or Recognition of Prior Learning
    If you have previously undertaken tertiary or non-formal education, you may apply for Credit (for formal studies) or Recognition of Prior Learning (for non-formal studies). This recognises your previous studies and can reduce the number of papers required to complete your University of Waikato qualification. You need to apply at least six weeks prior to your first trimester of study. Find out more, including how to apply, see Credits and Transfers.

  5. Explore Scholarships

    The University of Waikato has a range of scholarship opportunities available for international students. After submitting your application, you will have access to the ‘Scholarships’ tab at your MyWaikato portal where you will be able to apply for available scholarships. 
     
    Visit International Scholarships FAQs for further details.

  6. Receive an Offer of Place

    If your application is successful, you will receive an Offer of Place to study at Waikato via email. If you still don't meet all the entry requirements, you will receive a Conditional Offer. You need to obtain a Full or Unconditional Offer of Place to proceed to the next steps. 

  7. Accept your offer

    Login to MyWaikato and accept your offer of place. This step lets us know that you intend to come and we can share important information and next steps with you.

  8. Pay your fees

    You will need to pay for your full programme (or first year of study) fees to formally accept your offer.

    Check payment methods available for international students by visiting How to accept and pay fees.

  9. Apply for a Student Visa

    To study in New Zealand, you must have a valid student visa. See the international student visas for New Zealand for further details and how to apply for your visa.  

    Important: you will use your payment receipt to apply for your Student Visa with Immigration New Zealand. If you are outside of New Zealand when you apply for your Student Visa, you may choose to provide your evidence of payment only after your application has been assessed and approved in principle (AIP) by Immigration New Zealand. 

Congratulations!

You have now successfully applied to study at the University of Waikato. We will be in touch if we require any additional information or documentation to support your application. 

Closer to the start of your classes, we will be in touch with you to guide you on how to choose your papers online (if applicable) and other pre-arrival steps. As a new international student studying in New Zealand, you can only complete your enrolment once you have arrived on campus and provided us with a copy of your Student Visa. We will complete this final part together when you arrive.  

If you’re applying to study at a higher education level, such as a PhD or other doctoral programmes, please refer to our PhD and Doctoral Application process for full details on admission criteria and how to apply. 

What’s next?

For students who will join us on-campus in New Zealand, please refer to the On-campus Student Enrolment Guide for steps on how to complete your enrolment. This guide is simple to follow and includes screenshots which will take you through the full enrolment process in MyWaikato.

Please note you will need to be in New Zealand on a valid visa. Most international students apply for an International Student Visa or Pathway Student Visa.

Offshore students who start studying online

For students who are studying with us online until they can join us in New Zealand, please refer to the Offshore/online Student Enrolment Guide for steps on how to complete your enrolment. This guide is simple to follow and includes screenshots which will take you through the full enrolment process in MyWaikato.

You do not need a student visa to commence your studies online while you are living outside of New Zealand. However, when you are ready to come to New Zealand to continue your studies face-to-face, you will need to apply for a student visa before travelling.

When the time comes, to ensure you arrive in New Zealand with everything you need to complete your enrolment, and to settle into your new home, check out our pre-departure info.

Entrance guidelines for students from selected countries and regions

The following admission guidelines do not guarantee entry into a programme of study. Each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The following programmes have additional prerequisites/entrance requirements and/or an additional selection process may apply. These may vary depending on the individual major or specialisation that you choose. Please see the relevant qualification page for further details:

Country / region

 Entry requirements

New Zealand

 See NCEA University Entrance criteria

Australia

 Australian Tertiary Admission Rank of 70 or higher or QLD OP of 14 or lower (if sat prior to 2020). This also applies to students studying Australian qualifications outside Australia, such as the South Australian Matriculation (SAM) and the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE).

Bangladesh

Successful completion of Bangladesh Higher School Certificate (HSC) with a GPA of 4.0 out of a maximum of 5.0 scale.

Note: Individual universities to determine equivalency of Alim for admission purposes.

Brazil

 Successful completion of one year of study at a recognised institution of university standing.

Canada

 Ontario Secondary School Diploma – 65% overall average grade. Quebec Grade 12 Certificate – average of 60% across six subjects (including English). British Columbia Certificate of Graduation - pass in at least five Grade 12 courses.

Chile

 Successful completion of one year of study at a recognised institution of university standing

China

Achieve the university Gaokao entry requirements for your province in the year you take the exam - for example, using 2024 Gaokao cut-off scores as a reference - 67% of the full mark for the Arts stream and 64% of the full mark for the Sciences stream. 

Successful completion of two years academic study at a recognised junior college; or, 

Successful completion of one year of study at a recognised institution of university standing. 

Colombia

Successful completion of Tecnólogo Especializado at a recognised tertiary institution; or, 

Successful completion of one year of study at a recognised institution of university standing. 

Fiji

The Fiji Year 13 Certificate – an aggregate over 4 subjects of 250 marks out of 400 with a minimum of 50 in English.

University of the South Pacific (USP) Foundation Certificate in Arts, Business or Science with a grade average of B or higher and no grade lower than C in the 8 required courses. 

France

 Successful completion of Diplome du Baccalaureat.

Germany

 Successful completion of Abitur or Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife.

Ghana

 One year's successful bachelor degree level study at a recognised institution of university standing with good passing grades.

Hong Kong

 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education with a score of 15, based on aggregate of best five (5) subjects, from any combination of Core and Category A and C electives. This excludes Category B (Applied Learning) subjects. 

India

Achieve an average of 75% over the best four academic subjects with a minimum 60% in English in the class XII/year 12 certificate awarded by CBSE or CISCE, or the Senior School Certificate awarded by one of the following Year 12 Indian State Boards: (i) Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Higher (Secondary) School Certificate; (ii) Karnataka Pre-University Certificate; (iii) West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education; or,

An average of 80% over the best four academic subjects with a minimum of 65% in English in the Senior School Certificate awarded from all other year 12 Indian State Boards. 

Indonesia

An overall average of 8.5/80% or more in SMA; or, 

Successful completion of one year of study at a recognised institution of university standing; or, 

Successful completion of a Diploma II from a recognised tertiary institution. 

Japan

Completion of a high school diploma with a B average; or, 

One year of successful study at a Japanese university; or, 

Completion of a Junior College Diploma of two- or three-years' duration. 

Korea

 National College Scholastic Aptitude Test (CSAT) with a minimum score of 250. 

Kuwait

 Successful completion of General Secondary Education Certificate with an overall average of 80% (calculated on academic subjects only). 

Malaysia

Foundation Studies (Business) - KDU College, Petaling Jaya with B average. Malaysian Matrikulation Certificate (Matrikulasi) - Cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5 (Calculated on the basis that A=4.0, A-=3.67, B+=3.33, B=3.0, B-=2.67, C+=2.33, C=2.0, C-=1.67, D+=1.33, D=1.0, F=0). 

A minimum of 3 Principal Passes obtained from at least three Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) subjects. (Calculated on the basis that A=4.0, A-=3.67, B+=3.33, B=3.0, B-=2.67, C+=2.33, C=2.0, C-=1.67, D+=1.33, D=1.0, F=0 - Principal Pass is from C to A); or, 

Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) of the Malaysian independent Chinese Secondary System with a maximum of 20 points over 5 academic subjects, (Calculated on the basis that A1=1, A2=2, B3=3, B4=4, B5=5, B6=6 etc). 

Nigeria

 One year's successful bachelor's degree level study at a recognised institution of university standing with good passing grades. Completion of Nigerian National Diploma. 

Norway

 Successful completion of the Vitnemål for videregående opplæring (Leaving Certificate from Upper Secondary School: General or Vocational) or Successful completion of Examen Artium (University Preparatory Examination). 

Oman

 One year of successful Bachelor's degree level study at a recognised institution of university standing. 

Pakistan

 One year of successful Bachelor's degree level study at a recognised institution of university standing. 

Philippines

 Philippines High School Diploma (Academic Track) with a minimum grade requirement of 85%.

Learning Resource Network Level 3 Diploma in Pre U Foundation Studies: 

Level 3 Diploma in Pre U Foundation Studies achieved at merit level. 
Applicants whose first language is not English must also meet the university’s English-language entry requirements. 

Saudi Arabia

Successful completion of a diploma at a recognised Technical College or Vocational Institute; or, 

One year of successful study at bachelor’s level at a recognised institution of university standing. 

Singapore

 A levels / H levels: A minimum of 3 H2 passes at C grade. (Pre-2008 = 3 A-level passes). 

South Africa

 Successful completion of the National Senior Certificate with confirmation of eligibility to enrol in a bachelor’s degree at a South African university. 

South Pacific countries (not individually listed)

 South Pacific Form Seven Certificate (SPFSC) with a minimum of three B grades. All students must have Grade 5 or better in PSSC English and Grade 6 or better in PSSC Maths. 

Sri Lanka

 Sri Lankan General Certificate of Education Advanced Levels with at least three C grades achieved. At least one year of successful tertiary level study at a recognised University or Institution. 

Taiwan

 One year of university study; or Senior high school and a two-year Junior College Diploma; or Junior high school and a five-year Junior College Diploma. 

Thailand

 Mathayom 6 with a minimum GPA of 3.2 

Tonga

 Successful completion of Tonga National Form Seven; or South Pacific Form Seven Certificate (SPFSC) with a minimum of three B grades. All students must have Grade 5 or better in PSSC English and Grade 6 or better in PSSC Maths. 

UAE

Successful completion of a Diploma from a recognised Higher College of Technology; or, 

One year of successful study at bachelor’s level at a recognised institution of university standing. 

United Kingdom (A Levels)

Successful completion of GCE Advanced level with a minimum of 6 points taken from three subjects, achieving a minimum grade of C in at least one subject. Points calculated as follows: A = 5, B = 4, C = 3, D = 2, E = 1. 

A Levels only, AS Level grades are not included. 

USA

Completion of USA High School Diploma with a GPA of 2.5 in grade 12; or, Completion of the GED with 660 overall (145 min in each subject). Please note these criteria also apply to SAT, ACT, and GED taken in grade 12 from any other country. 

Vietnam

Complete the National High School Graduation Examination (Kỳ Thi Tốt Nghiệp Trung Học Phổ Thông Quốc Gia) with an overall pass and achieve a minimum GPA of 8.0/10.0 in each of the best four subjects (both mandatory and elective) in Grade 12, as indicated on the High School report (Học Bạ Trung Học Phổ Thông). 

*The Temporary High School Graduation Certificate can be provided for the July intake. 

Recognised tertiary institutions and universities are those acknowledged as offering programme equivalent to those of Waikato. To find out whether your institution or university is recognised, please contact international@waikato.ac.nz

English language entry requirements

English language test

 Undergraduate, graduate certificates, and graduate diplomas (all courses except those listed below)

IELTS (Academic)

 6.0 overall (no band less than 5.5)

iBT (internet-based) TOEFL

 80 with a score of 21 in writing

iBT (home-based) TOEFL

 80 with a score of 21 in writing
Duolingo English Test (DET)
 105
C2 Proficiency (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) 169 and no bands below 162
Language Cert International ESOL (LRWS) B2 Communicator with 33-37 score per skill
NCUK English for Academic Purposes Minimum C grade average with no lower than D in all components. Some programmes have additional entry requirements. For further details, visit our dedicated NCUK information page.

New Zealand Certificate in English Language (NZCEL)

 Level 4 (Academic)
Michigan English Test (formally known as Michigan Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)) Minimum score of 54

Pearson PTE Academic

 Overall score of 50 with no Band less than 42

Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE)

 II with distinction in all four components

University of Waikato College

 Successful completion of Level 7 with a B grade in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English (CAAE) programme

Equivalent qualifications

If you have successfully completed study in the medium of English, or you have taken an English language assessment not listed, please refer to the documents below. These documents list all approved alternatives to our English language entry requirements.

Special admission

Students over 20 years of age with successful post-secondary education and/or work experience may be considered for special admission to a Bachelor degree if they do not meet academic requirements.

The Faculties or Schools of Studies may place students admitted on the basis of special admission in a restricted programme of studies.

Pre-degree programmes

If you do not meet the entry requirements the University has English language and academic pre-degree programmes available that can help you gain direct entry into a university programme.

Note: some programmes have limited numbers.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Contacts

International Office

+64 7 807 9275