Discretionary Entrance
This page explains Discretionary Entrance, and outlines the application requirements, academic requirements, and subject and credit requirements.
If you are applying for Discretionary Entrance, you will be assessed on the basis of your academic background and an adviser’s recommendation.
Discretionary Entrance is based on the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 2 (or higher), and is available to applicants who have gained exceptional results in Year 12 and wish to embark on university study. Applicants must also be selected into the programme for which they have applied.
You must be under 20, be a New Zealand or Australian citizen or permanent resident*, and not be otherwise qualified for entrance to university.
Discretionary Entrance is not available to international students.
*Australian applicants' most recent year of schooling must have been in New Zealand.
You must:
- Display a high level of motivation and maturity.
- Obtain a recommendation from your school principal if you are still at school, or have left very recently.
- Be interviewed by a course adviser from the University’s Schools Partnership Office if you have been away from school for one term or longer.
Note: Applicants who have undertaken Year 13 study beyond 1 June in any year are ineligible to apply in the same year but may be considered for mid-year admission in the following year.
Applicants must:
- Meet the University Entrance standards for literacy and numeracy. These are a minimum of 14 credits at Level 1 or higher in Mathematics or Pāngarau on the National Qualifications Framework, and a minimum of 8 credits at Level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Māori; 4 credits must be in reading and 4 must be in writing. These literacy credits are to be selected from a schedule of approved achievement standards and unit standards.
- Sit a minimum of 4 subjects based on the NZQA list of subjects approved for University Entrance (there are some minor differences in subject names between the approved list and those offered in Level 2 NCEA). The full list is available from the careers adviser at your school, or from the NZQA website.
- Meet the subject requirements of your chosen programme, as listed in the 'Discretionary Entrance: Subject and credit requirements' table below.
- Attain Merit and Excellence grades for the majority of credits across all of your level two subjects.
For entrance to some University of Auckland qualifications, you need to have completed subjects listed in Tables A and B below. Check the subjects required for your proposed programme against the 'Discretionary Entrance: Subject and credit requirements' table below.
Remember, a minimum of four subjects in total is required. Some programmes have no Table A or Table B requirements (eg, Bachelor of Arts)—in that case, you are free to choose any subjects from the NZQA list approved for University Entrance.
| Table A | Table B |
|---|---|
| Classical Studies | Accounting |
| English | Biology |
| Geography | Chemistry |
| History | Economics |
| History of Art | Mathematics |
| Te Reo Māori OR Te Reo Rangatira |
Physics |
| Programme | Credits | Requirements from Table A | Requirements from Table B | Other requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bachelor of Arts (BA) Certificate in Arts (CertArts) |
80 | Nil. | Nil. | Nil. | |
| Bachelor of Business and Information Management (BBIM) | 80 | Minimum 16 credits in each of three subjects (must include Mathematics). | Nil. | ||
| Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) | 80 | Minimum 16 credits in each of three subjects (must include Mathematics). | Nil. | ||
| Bachelor of Dance Studies (BDanceSt) | 80 | Nil. | Nil. |
Applicants may be asked to demonstrate performance skills at an audition. A CV plus interview will be required. |
|
|
Bachelor of Education (Teaching) (BEd(Tchg)) Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) (DipTchg(ECE)) |
80 | Nil. | Nil. |
Interview and referees' reports. Applicants must be capable of meeting the requirements of the New Zealand Teachers Council, including language proficiency. |
|
| Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) | 80 | Nil. | Nil. |
Portfolio. An interview may be required. |
|
| Bachelor of Human Services (BHumServ) | 80 | Nil. | Nil. | Interview, referees’ reports and other checks on suitability are required. | |
| Bachelor of Laws (LLB (Part I)) | 80 | Nil. | Nil. | Students will be selected into Part II on the basis of their results in Part I. | |
| Bachelor of Music (BMus) | 80 | Minimum 16 credits in Music for students wishing to study academic Music. | Nil. |
An audition is required for applicants taking the major in Classical Performance, Jazz Performance, or Popular Music. A statement of musical background/experience is required for applicants taking the major in Composition or Musicology. |
|
| Bachelor of Physical Education (BPE) | 80 | Nil. | Nil. |
Interview and referees' reports. Applicants must be capable of meeting the requirements of the New Zealand Teachers Council, including language proficiency. |
|
| Bachelor of Planning (BPlan) | 80 | Nil. | Nil. | Written statement of intent. | |
| Bachelor of Property (BProp) | 80 | Minimum 16 credits in each of three subjects (must include Mathematics). | Nil. | ||
|
Bachelor of Science (BSc) |
80 |
Nil. Some courses in Computer Science, Biological Sciences, Sport and Exercise Science and the Biomedical Science programme may require a higher standard for selection. |
Nil. | ||
| Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) | 80 | Nil. | Nil. |
Interview and referees’ reports. Applicants must be capable of meeting the requirements of the Social Workers’ Registration Act. |
|
| Bachelor of Technology (BTech) | 80 |
Nil. However, it is strongly recommended that students wanting to enrol for BTech study NCEA Level 3. Some courses in Biological Sciences and Computer Science may require a higher standard for selection. |
Nil. | ||
| Bachelor of Theology (BTheol) | 80 | Nil. | Nil. | Nil. | |
The Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS), Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (BE(Hons)), Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc), Bachelor of Nursing (BNurs) and Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) programmes do not accept Discretionary Entrance applicants.
