University Of Waikato English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English or Māori are required to provide satisfactory evidence of English language proficiency, generally in the form of an IELTS (academic) or TOEFL examination score. Scores can vary according to the qualification sought.

Applicants who have achieved University Entrance through NCEA are not required to provide further evidence of English language proficiency.

Admission to CertAttainFoundSt
The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:
- an Academic IELTS overall score of 5.5 (with at least 5.0 in the Writing band), or
- an iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) minimum score of 46 with a writing score of 14, or
- a TOEFL iBT Home-based minimum score of 46 with a writing score of 14, or
- a B grade or better at Level 6 in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English, or
- a PTE Academic overall score of 49 and no less than 38 for Writing, or
- a Language Cert International ESOL (LRWS) B2 Communicator with a pass and no less than pass in each skill, or
- awarded a New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Applied) (Level 3), or
- a Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) II with no less than a pass in any band, or
- a C1 Advanced (formally known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)) with an overall score of 162 and no bands below 154, or
- a C2 Proficiency (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) with an overall score of 162 and no bands below 154, or
- a Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) minimum score of 75.
All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.
Admission to International Diploma
The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:
- an Academic IELTS overall score of 5.5 (with no less than 5.0 in any band) or equivalent.
All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.
Admission to all undergraduate qualifications with the exception of LLB, BSW and Teaching
The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:
- an Academic IELTS overall score of 6.0 (with no bands below 5.5), or
- an iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) score of 80 with a Writing score of 21, or
- a TOEFL iBT Home-based overall score of 80 with a Writing score of 21, or
- a B grade or better at Level 7 in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English, or
- a PTE Academic overall score of 50 and no PTE communicative skills score below 42, or
- a Language Cert International ESOL (LRWS) C1 Expert with an overall pass and no less than pass in each skill, or
- awarded a New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Academic) (Level 4), or
- a Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) II with distinction in all four components, or
- a C1 Advanced (formally known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)) with an overall score of 169 and no bands below 162, or
- a C2 Proficiency (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) with an overall score of 169 and no bands below 162, or
- a Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) minimum score of 80.
All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.
Admission to LLB
The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:
- an Academic IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in any band), or
- an iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) score of 90 with a Writing score of 21, or
- a B grade or better at Level 8 in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English, or
- a PTE Academic overall score of 58 and no PTE communicative skills score below 50.
All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.
Admission to BSW
All students who do not have English, Māori, or New Zealand sign language as their primary language must demonstrate either:
- an Academic IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no less than 6.5 in any band) or
- an iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) score of 85 or higher with a Writing score of 22.
These tests must have been completed in one sitting within the previous two years. All other evidence will be considered on a case by case basis.
Admission to graduate/postgraduate programmes
The requirements are higher for admission to graduate qualifications (including higher degrees such as the MPhil, PhD and EdD). It is generally recommended that students have:
- an Academic IELTS Overall score of at least 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in any band), or
- an iBT (Internet Based TOEFL) score of 90 with a Writing score of 21, or
- a TOEFL iBT Home-based overall score of 90 with a Writing score of 21, or
- a B grade or better at Level 8 in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English, or
- a PTE Academic overall score of 58 and no PTE communicative skills below 50, or
- a Language Cert International ESOL (LRWS) C1 Expert with an overall high pass and no less than a pass in each skill, or
- a Language Cert International ESOL (LRWS) C2 Mastery with an overall pass and no less than a pass in each skill, or
- awarded a New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Academic) (Level 5), or
- a Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE) III with a pass in all four components, or
- a C1 Advanced (formally known as Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)) with an overall score of 176 and no bands below 169, or
- a C2 Proficiency (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)) with an overall score of 176 and no bands below 169, or
- a Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) minimum score of 85.
However, some qualifications, such as the LLD, SJD, MBA require a higher score. The English language proficiency requirements for admission to particular qualifications are at the discretion of the Dean concerned.
Admission to all Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes (BTchg, BEd(Technology), and GradDipT):
The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:
- an Academic IELTS overall score of 7.0 (with no less than 7.0 in any band)
- International Baccalaureate full diploma in English medium (24 points minimum). This must be completed at an IB school;
- Cambridge International Examinations minimum 120 points on the UCAS Tariff plus meeting the CIE literacy requirements;
- Awarded Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA);
- Awarded Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);
- Cambridge English exams C2 Proficiency (CPE) or C1 Advanced (CAE) or Cambridge English exams B2 First (FCE). A minimum score of 185, with no band score less than185;
- International Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ISLPR). A minimum score of 4 in all modules;
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic. A minimum score of 65 in all four modules;
- Trinity ISE III (3). A pass with Merit in all four modules;
- LanguageCert C2 Mastery IESOL. A pass in all four modules;
- TOEFL Internet-based test (IBT). Must meet the following scores in each module: Listening – 24; Reading – 24; Writing – 27; Speaking – 23.
All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.
Admission to MTchgLn
The following minimum scores are considered to be evidence of such competence:
- an Academic IELTS overall score of 7.5 (with no less than 7.0 in any band)
All other evidence is considered on a case by case basis.