Your Entry Requirements

This section explains how your secondary, high school or tertiary (college, polytechnic or university) qualification is used as your entry criteria for admission into one of our undergraduate certificate, diploma or degree programmes, or one of our graduate or post graduate programmes.

How We Decide

As an international applicant, you will be individually considered to see if you meet your programme’s academic, English Language and other entry criteria. In addition to meeting the academic and English Language requirements, you may also have to submit a portfolio, resume or curriculum vitae or a personal statement.

We Teach in English:

Your English Language Requirements

All programmes at Otago Polytechnic are taught in English. If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your English language proficiency. Otago Polytechnic recognises IELTS, TOEFL and TOIEC scores as evidence of proficiency; please contact our International Admissions Office to discuss any alternative tests.

Undergraduate Entry Requirements

Certificate level entrance is usually open, however we will need to see evidence of your secondary school achievement.

• Diploma level entrance is based on secondary school achievement as equivalent to New Zealand’s NCEA Level 2 or year 12 of secondary school.
• Degree level entrance is based on secondary school achievement as equivalent to New Zealand’s NCEA Level 3 or Year 13 of secondary school.

Graduate and Post Graduate Entry Requirements

Entry to our graduate and post graduate programmes varies per programme, and you will be required provide evidence of successful study at undergraduate level from a recognised tertiary institution, evidence of your English language proficiency (if English is not your first language) and any supplementary information as required by each programme.

Need Help? Have a Question?

Contact our Admissions Office for more information about your eligibility, or study pathway or to discuss the documentation required with your application.

Contact Details:

Email: internationalop.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 477 3014

How We Keep in Touch

As soon as you submit your application or make an enquiry about a programme, we keep in touch with you and ensure we’ve got all the information we need to assess your application and provide you with the right offer of place for the programme of your choice.

Studied in New Zealand?

Refer to the NCEA based admission criteria for each of programmes. Here is a list of our programmes with further information about their entry criteria.

Want to know more about NCEA in New Zealand? See www.nzqa.govt.nz