University Entrance with NCEA

University Entrance (UE) is the minimum requirement to go to a New Zealand university. To qualify you will need:

• NCEA Level 3
• 14 Credits in 3 UE Approved Level 3 subjects 
• Literacy - 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of:

• 5 credits in reading
• 5 credits in writing

•  Numeracy - 10 credits at Level 1 or above, made up of: achievement standards – specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects, or unit standards - package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627- all three required).

Once you have met the requirements for University Entrance it will appear on your Record of Achievement. Credits can be accumulated over more than one year.

If a unit and an achievement standard assess the same learning outcome, only the credits for ONE standard can be counted. In other words they are ‘mutually exclusive’. A list of such exclusions is published by NZQA each year.

Discretionary Entrance

When an applicant does not qualify for University Entrance to a New Zealand university, they may be eligible for Discretionary Entrance. Contact the appropriate university 

UE Approved Subjects at NPGHS