Entry requirements for international students
Find out what qualification from your home country you need for entry into different levels of undergraduate study at Otago Polytechnic.
Academic requirements to study in New Zealand
To enter Otago Polytechnic’s undergraduate certificates, diplomas and degrees, you need to have achieved a secondary school qualification that is equivalent to New Zealand’s NCEA levels (National Certificate of Educational Achievement).
The following table shows you what qualification from your home country you need for entry into different levels of undergraduate study.
Equivalent academic entry requirements by country
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Titulo de Bachillerato |
Successful completion of one year of tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
— |
Successful completion of Year 12/High School Certificate with an ATAR score of 74 or higher. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Higher Secondary Certificate with 1st division pass |
Successful completion of one year of tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Certificado de Ensino Medio |
Successful completion of one year’s tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
— |
Canadian High School Graduation with a minimum overall grade average of B or 65%. Different Provinces or Territories may vary. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Licencia de Educacion Media or Tecnico Media |
Successful completion of one year’s tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Senior Secondary School Diploma |
Achievement of good results in the National Higher Education Entrance Examination commonly known as the “Gaokao”. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Bachillerato/Diploma de Bachilller |
Successful completion of one year of tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Folkeskolens 10 Klasseprove |
Bevis for Studentereksamen (Hojere Forberedelsesekam) or Bevis for Hojere Handelseksamen |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Fiji School Leaving Certificate with a 65% average over the best four subjects, which must include English and mathematics |
Fiji 7th Form Certificate with a minimum of 250 including 50% in English; USP Foundation Studies Programme including a C in Communication Studies. |
|
CEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
— |
Baccalauréat |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Mittlere Reife Realschlabschluss |
Abitur or Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
West African School Certificate or GCE O Level with at least 4 A–C grades
|
Successful completion of one year of tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Hong Kong Certificate of Education (HKCE) |
Three General Certificate of Education (GCE) “Ordinary” level passes and two “Advanced” level passes (minimum of 5 points) in the GCE. Or Advanced Level Examination (minimum of 5 points) plus three passes (min grade C) in the HKCEE. Or completion of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) with a point score between 13–15 from the five best subjects. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
At least 55% average across 4 academic subjects in CBSE, HSC or ISC with at least 60% in English, or equivalent in other boards |
At least a 70% average over 4 academic subjects in CBSE, HSC, or ISC with at least 60% in English, or equivalent in other boards. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
STTB – SMA |
SMA (average of 8.5). Successful completion of one year’s tertiary education. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
High School Diploma (3 years) with grades of |
Pre-University Certificate (Peeshdaneshgahe) or successful completion of one year’s tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
— |
Successful completion of the Diploma di Maturita with a pass of at least 75%. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shomeisho (Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate) |
Successful completion of High School Diploma with a B average. Or successful completion of one year’s tertiary education. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
SPM with grades 1–6 or Chinese Unified Examination or equivalent |
3 passes in STPM with C or better, or a maximum score of 18 points over 6 academic subjects in the UEC. English Language Proficiency Criteria: STPM English grade of B or higher; SPM English grade of A1 or A2; UEC English grade of B4 or higher. Or successful completion of an Australian Matriculation Programme, or successful completion of a Canadian Matriculation Programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Higher Secondary Certificate with 1st division pass. |
Successful completion of one year’s tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
HAVO Diploma/senior general secondary education |
VWO-Gymnasium A or B; VWO-Atheneum A or B Diplomas |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Baccalauréat with a minimum grade 10 |
Baccalauréat with a minimum grade 12 |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Vitnemal fra Grunnskolen |
Vitnemal fra den Videregaende Skole |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Thanawiya Amma (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) with a minimum overall mark of 80% |
Successful completion of one year’s tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Higher Secondary School Certificate with a minimum average of 60% |
Successful completion of one year’s tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Higher School Certificate |
UPNG Foundation Studies Certificate. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
High School Graduation with a pass in the University Admission Test |
Successful completion of one year’s tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
(Attestat) Certificate of Secondary Education, or Certificate of Maturity |
Successful completion of one year’s tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
— |
USP Foundation Studies Certificate; UPY Certificate with at least 8 passes including a C1 pass in English. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Tawjihiyah (General Secondary Education Certificate) with a minimum overall mark of 60%; Higher Technical Institute Diploma |
Successful completion of one year’s tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
GCE O Level with 4 grades of 1–6 |
GCE A Level; Foundation Studies Certificate |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
High School Diploma |
Successful completion of High School Diploma with a B average. Or successful completion of one year’s tertiary education. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
4 GCE O Levels with grades ranging from A-C |
Sri Lankan GCE A Levels with passes in at least 3 subjects. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Slutbetyg fran Grundskola (Upper Grades) |
Student Examen/Avgangsbetyg Leaving Certificate |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
— |
Successful completion of the Diploma di Maturita with a pass of at least 75%. Maturiatszeugnis/Certificat de Maturite/Attestato di Maturita |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Senior High School Leaving Certificate |
Junior College Diploma or one year’s tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Matayom 6 (with a score of 50% or higher) |
Matayom 6 with either 80% or more of grades at Level 4 or a Grade Point Average of 2.5 or higher, with a relevant subject mix. Or successful completion of one year’s tertiary education.Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Successful completion of Form 6 |
Successful completion of Form 7; USP Foundation Studies Certificate. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
High School Graduation Diploma, with a minimum C average |
High School Graduation Diploma with a minimum C average, plus SAT 1 and SAT II score minimum 500/part. Or the Advanced Placement Exam. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
GCE O Levels in 4 subjects |
GCE A Levels in 3 subjects |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Successful completion of either the Diploma of General Education (Bang Tu Tai) or the Upper Secondary School Graduation Certificate (Bang Tot Nghiep Pho Tong Trung Hoc) with scores of 6 or higher. |
Successful completion of one year’s tertiary study at a recognised institution. Or successful completion of an Otago Polytechnic certificate programme. |
|
NCEA Level 2 |
NCEA Level 3 |
|
Cambridge O Levels |
Cambridge A Levels |
Contact us
If you’re not sure what to study and would like some guidance, we’re here to help. Feel free to chat to us directly about any questions you may have.
