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Introduction
The exams required to study in New Zealand exist because universities judge two things at admission: can you handle the academic content and can you study in English? The first is shown through your marks. The second is shown through a test such as IELTS Academic.
The English test for New Zealand student visa purposes is a separate question from the exams required to study in New Zealand for admission. Immigration New Zealand does not make an English test result mandatory for a Fee Paying Student Visa. It does say that test results can help show you genuinely intend to study (INZ). In practice the university requirement is the one that decides your offer. The offer is what the visa rests on.
Indian students are now the second-largest group of international students in New Zealand at 14% of total enrolment in 2025 (ICEF Monitor). Admissions teams see a lot of Indian applications, so they know Indian boards and grading well. A clean, complete file moves faster than a borderline one. That makes the exams required to study in New Zealand worth planning early.
Exams required to study in New Zealand
Here are the exams required to study in New Zealand, with what each one is for.
| Exam | Purpose | Needed by | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
IELTS Academic
|
English proficiency
|
Almost all international applicants
|
The test most Indian students take; IELTS Online is accepted at Otago
|
|
PTE Academic
|
English proficiency
|
Accepted widely
|
Auckland has a set process for sending PTE results (Auckland)
|
|
TOEFL iBT
|
English proficiency
|
Accepted widely
|
Check the minimum per section on each course page
|
|
Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency
|
English proficiency
|
Accepted at most universities
|
Otago asks for 169 overall (no band below 162) for undergraduate study and 176 (no band below 169) for postgraduate (Otago)
|
|
GMAT or GRE
|
Aptitude
|
A small number of business and research programmes
|
Not a general requirement; confirm on the programme page
|
Is IELTS General Training accepted?
No. Any English test for New Zealand student visa or admission purposes should be the Academic version. University admission uses the Academic module. Otago’s table, for example, lists only IELTS Academic (Otago).
No. Any English test for New Zealand student visa or admission purposes should be the Academic version. University admission uses the Academic module. Otago’s table, for example, lists only IELTS Academic (Otago).
Academic eligibility to study in New Zealand for Indian students
- Bachelor’s: the bar varies by course. As a guide, the New Zealand Excellence Awards asked undergraduate applicants for 75% across the best four academic subjects in ISC, CBSE (AISSC) or the Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal boards with at least 60% in English. Other state boards needed 80% with 65% in English (StudySpy NZEA listing). Regular admission can be lower than these scholarship-level marks.
- Master’s: a recognised bachelor’s degree, usually with a B or B average equivalent in a relevant subject (same source). Eligibility to study in New Zealand at master’s level also depends on how closely your degree matches the course.
- PhD: a master’s degree or honours degree with research experience and a willing supervisor.
The Right Preparation Leads to Better Scores
University-wise IELTS scores
This table sets out the standard IELTS requirement for New Zealand universities for most programmes. Nursing, teaching, medicine and some law programmes ask for more.
| University | Undergraduate | Postgraduate |
|---|---|---|
|
University of Auckland
|
6.0, no band below 5.5
|
6.5, no band below 6.0
|
|
University of Otago
|
6.0, no band below 5.5
|
6.5, no band below 6.0
|
|
Victoria University of Wellington
|
6.0, no band below 5.5
|
6.5, no band below 6.0
|
|
University of Canterbury
|
6.0, no band below 5.5
|
6.5, no band below 6.0
|
|
Massey University
|
6.0, no band below 5.5
|
6.5, no band below 6.0
|
|
University of Waikato
|
6.0, no band below 5.5
|
6.5, no band below 6.0
|
|
Lincoln University
|
6.0, no band below 5.5
|
6.5, no band below 6.0
|
|
Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
|
6.0, no band below 5.5
|
6.5, no band below 6.0
|
Read the band rule in each IELTS requirement for New Zealand universities carefully. An overall 6.5 with a 5.5 in Writing does not meet a “no band below 6.0” postgraduate rule. This is the most common reason we see Indian applicants receive a conditional offer instead of a full one. Higher-level programmes can go well above the standard. A teaching degree at Wellington, for example, has asked for IELTS 7.0 with 7.0 in every band (UP Education).
Preparation calendar
The IELTS requirement for New Zealand universities is easier to meet with a 12-week plan. This one assumes you start at about 6.0 and target 6.5 with no band below 6.0.
| Week | Focus | Target by end of week |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Diagnostic mock test; learn the four formats
|
Baseline score per band
|
|
2 to 3 |
Listening and Reading under timed conditions
|
Two full sections a day
|
|
4 to 5 |
Writing Task 1 (graphs, processes)
|
One task a day, reviewed
|
|
6 to 7 |
Writing Task 2 (opinion and discussion essays)
|
One essay a day, reviewed
|
|
8 |
Speaking practice with feedback
|
Three recorded mock interviews
|
|
9 |
Full mock test; fix the weakest band
|
Weakest band up by 0.5
|
|
10 |
Second full mock; time management
|
All bands at target in practice
|
|
11 |
Book the test date
|
Confirmed date and centre
|
|
12 |
Light revision; rest before test day
|
Test taken
|
What to do when you score less
A short score does not end your plan. These are the routes we use most for students in Vasai, Virar and Mumbai.
- Retake the full test: If you missed by one band, a focused four-week plan on that band usually fixes it. Ask the university first whether it also accepts the IELTS One Skill Retake.
- Switch to a test that suits you: This is one practical way to study in New Zealand without IELTS. Some students who struggle with handwritten essays do better in computer-based PTE Academic. Check that your university accepts it.
- Take a university English pathway: English for Otago is built for students who are about 0.5 IELTS short. Entry is IELTS 5.5 (no band below 5.0) for the undergraduate route or 6.0 (no band below 5.5) for the postgraduate route. Pass with a C or higher and you move into your degree without re-sitting IELTS (Otago).
- Use a Pathway Student Visa: This is where the English test for New Zealand student visa purposes does matter. One visa can cover up to three courses in a row, such as English then a degree. If your pathway starts with English study, Immigration New Zealand may ask you to show you need no more than 0.5 of an IELTS band to reach your degree requirement and that the English study is completed within 30 weeks (INZ).
- Move to the July intake: This buys four to five months for another attempt at the exams required to study in New Zealand.
- Consider foundation studies: Undergraduate applicants with lower marks or English can start with a foundation programme linked to the university.
3 Takeaways For Exams Required To Study In New Zealand
These points sum up the exams required to study in New Zealand and the eligibility to study in New Zealand for Indian applicants.
The band rule matters as much as the overall score.
Plan for 6.5 with no band below 6.0 if you are applying for a master’s.
The university sets the bar, not the visa office.
Meet the course requirement first. There is no fixed English test for New Zealand student visa approval, but a strong score supports your file.
A short score has fixes.
English pathways, the Pathway Student Visa and the July intake keep your plan alive. Other accepted tests also let some students study in New Zealand without IELTS.
Understand Your Eligibility Before You Apply
FAQs
What IELTS score do I need to study in New Zealand?
Most universities ask for IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5 for a bachelor’s and 6.5 with no band below 6.0 for a master’s. Some courses ask for more. Always check the IELTS score for New Zealand on your exact course page.
Is IELTS mandatory for a New Zealand student visa?
There is no compulsory English test for New Zealand student visa approval under the Fee Paying Student Visa. Your university usually does require one. A good IELTS score for New Zealand also helps show the visa officer that your study plan is genuine.
Can I study in New Zealand with 5.5 bands in IELTS?
Not directly into most degrees. You can join an English pathway such as English for Otago, which accepts IELTS 5.5 with no band below 5.0 for its undergraduate route. Passing it replaces the IELTS score for New Zealand admission at that university.
Is GRE or GMAT required to study in New Zealand?
Usually not. Most bachelor’s and master’s programmes do not ask for GRE or GMAT. A small number of business or research programmes may. For most Indian applicants, the IELTS score for New Zealand matters far more than an aptitude test.
Can I study in New Zealand without IELTS?
Yes, in some cases. Many universities accept PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT or Cambridge C1 Advanced instead and some accept prior study in English. If you have none of these, you will need an IELTS score for New Zealand admission or an approved English pathway.
