Tertiary entrance information
What are the minimum subject requirements for tertiary entrance in New Zealand?
As outlined in the Assessment and Certification Rules and Procedures for Secondary Schools for 2004:
From 2004, students will be qualified for entrance to a university in New Zealand if they have obtained:
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a minimum of 42 credits at level 3 or higher on the National Qualifications Framework, including a minimum of 14 credits at level 3 or higher in each of two subjects from the 'approved subject' list, with a further 14 credits at level 3 or higher taken from no more than two additional domains on the National Qualifications Framework or approved subjects
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a minimum of 14 numeracy credits at level 1 or higher in Mathematics or Pangarau on the National Qualifications Framework
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a minimum of 8 literacy credits at level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo M_ori; 4 credits must be in Reading and 4 credits must be in Writing. The literacy credits will be selected from a schedule of approved achievement standards and unit standards.
Credits can be accumulated over more than one year. Where a unit standard and an achievement standard assess the same learning outcome they are mutually exclusive for the NCEA qualifications and university entrance purposes.
To qualify for university entrance, achievement must be from NQF credits, either from achievement standards or from unit standards.
The Board of the Qualifications Authority has approved the list of approved subjects for university entrance.
Achievement from subjects that are not in the 'approved subjects' list can be used for university entrance purposes, provided that 14 credits come from no more than two domains.
The following table lists each 'approved subject' for university entrance.
Approved Subjects
| Accounting | Japanese |
| Agriculture & Horticulture | Korean |
| Biology | Latin |
| Chemistry | Mathematics with Calculus |
| Chinese | Statistics and Modelling |
| Classical Studies | Media Studies |
| Computing | Music Studies |
| Cook Islands Maori | Painting (Practical Art) |
| Design (Practical Art) | Photography (Practical Art) |
| Drama | Physical Education |
| Economics | Physics |
| English | Printmaking (Practical Art) |
| French | Samoan |
| Geography | Science |
| German | Sculpture (Practical Art) |
| Graphics | Spanish |
| History | Social Studies |
| History of Art | Te Reo Rangatira or Te Reo Maori |
| Indonesian |