University Entrance

About University Entrance, the minimum requirement to go from school to a New Zealand university

About University Entrance

University Entrance (UE) is the minimum requirement to go from school to a New Zealand university. Being awarded University Entrance also opens doors to tertiary study in other countries.

Once you have met the requirements for University Entrance, it will appear on your Record of Achievement.

To be awarded UE, you need:

  • NCEA Level 3
  • 14 credits at Level 3 in each of three approved subjects
  • 10 Literacy credits at Level 2 or above, made up of:
    • 5 credits in reading
    • 5 credits in writing.
  • 10 Numeracy credits at Level 1 or above, made up of:
    • co-requisite Level 1 Numeracy unit standard 32406 or Te Pāngarau unit standard 32412, or
    • certain achievement standards.

Wherever possible, you should continue your mathematical studies beyond this foundational level to keep your future pathways open. University Entrance numeracy requirements are a minimum for entry to university-level study, and some degrees have specific prerequisites from Level 3 Mathematics standards.

More information

List of approved University Entrance subjects

Literacy requirements for University Entrance

Numeracy achievement standards for University Entrance [XLSX, 12 KB]

Te Marautanga o Aotearoa University Entrance subjects

Entrance to overseas tertiary courses

New University Entrance numeracy requirements

The University Entrance numeracy requirements have changed. 

About the 2024 changes to UE numeracy requirements

Students who met the University Entrance numeracy requirement for 2023 before the end of the 2023 academic year, have met the University Entrance numeracy requirement for the 2024 and 2025 academic years.

The current University Entrance review will inform any future changes.

About the 2023 to 2025 University Entrance requirements review

Credits

Credits can be accumulated over more than one year.

If a unit standard and an achievement standard assess the same learning outcome, only the credits for one of the standards can be counted. In other words, they are 'mutually exclusive'. A list of these exclusions is published each year.

View the standards exclusion list

Discretionary entrance

If you are under 20 years of age and do not have University Entrance, you may still be eligible for Discretionary Entrance to attend a New Zealand university.

Universities set their own discretionary entrance requirements. If you are thinking of applying, please speak with the enrolments office of the university you would like to attend.

If you applied for Discretionary Entrance but are not happy with the university’s decision, you may appeal that decision to NZQA.

Find out about the Discretionary Entrance appeal process

Reviews of University Entrance requirements

NZQA regularly reviews the list of standards that contribute to University Entrance requirements.

Maintenance happens when new achievement standards are developed or existing standards are reviewed, often on a yearly basis.

Periodic requirements reviews allow the whole list of standards to be considered against current evidence.

See below for information about reviews and proposals.

Read about the 2023–2025 University Entrance requirements review

Read the outcome of the 2017 consultation on Te Marautanga o Aotearoa and University Entrance (external link)

Read about the 2016-2017 University Entrance requirements review (external link)

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