International Baccalaureate (IB)
For entry based on a New Zealand secondary school qualification you must first meet the University Entrance (UE) standard. UE is the minimum standard needed to enrol at a New Zealand university.
To learn more about International Baccalaureate UE requirements, visit Universities New Zealand's Other school-leavers qualifications page.
You must also meet the entry requirements for the programme you wish to study. This will be expressed as a ‘rank score’, which we calculate based on your IB score. Some programmes may also require you to have taken specific subjects.
University Entrance standard for admission in 2023
You must have been awarded the full IB Diploma, for which you must achieve a minimum of 24 points.
An IB Diploma completed with the following satisfies the literacy and numeracy requirements for University Entrance:
- English as Language A at either Higher or Standard Level
- Any mathematics subject
Please note: the University will also accept English Language B at Higher Level, with a minimum grade of 5, as satisfying the Literacy requirement for UE.
Important update
To recognise the disruption caused by COVID-19, Universities New Zealand has made the following changes to the International Baccalaureate entrance standard for the 2021 school-leaver cohort.
New requirement (for 2022 school-leaver cohort only):
- IB Diploma students presenting with a total of 24 points including at least 11 points across their three Higher Level subjects will qualify for university entrance. Students would normally require 12 points across their Higher Level subjects to complete the Diploma
Programme entry requirements for 2023
You must meet the admission requirements for your programme(s) of study.
In addition to achieving university entrance, some of our undergraduate programmes require you to have taken specific subjects and gained minimum credits in certain subjects. Some programmes have other requirements such as a portfolio, audition and/or interview.
To find out more about guaranteed entry requirements for your intended programme(s), please visit Find a study option.
How your IB rank score is calculated
Your rank score is the same as your IB score. For example, if you achieve 27 points for IB, your rank score will be 27 points. The maximum rank score is 45.
IB rank scores required for entry for 2023
These are the undergraduate programme rank score requirements for school leavers who have achieved University Entrance. Additional requirements apply where noted against specific programmes. To know about any additional requirements, please visit Find a study option.
If you achieve the University Entrance standard, but your rank score is not high enough to guarantee selection, your application may be considered if places remain available.
Alternative options are available if you do not meet programme entry requirements. For further details, please visit Alternative options if you do not meet entry requirements.
For conjoint programmes, applicants must achieve the greater of the two rank scores for their selected programmes and must meet the entry requirements for both programmes. It's advisable that you also apply for both programmes separately. Not all degree programmes have conjoint options.
Other programmes
| Programme | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Part I | Applicants must be offered a place in another bachelors degree. Students who gain entry to Law Part II can be admitted to the conjoint degree at that stage even if they were not in a conjoint previously. (See Note 7) |
| Bachelor of Medical Imaging (Honours) (BMedImag(Hons)) | Applicants must first complete the required Year 1 courses of the Bachelor of Science (BSc). |
| Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) | Applicants must first complete either:
|
| Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) | Applicants should first complete one of the following:
|
| Bachelor of Optometry (BOptom) | Applicants must first complete one of the following:
|
Notes
1. Applicants from the following groups who achieve University Entrance with a rank score ranging from 24-25 will be admitted to the BA Undergraduate Targeted Admission Scheme (UTAS):
- Māori applicants
- Pacific applicants
- Applicants from a refugee background
- Applicants from a low socio-economic background
- Applicants with declared disabilities
For more information, please visit Undergradiate Targeted Admission Schemes.
2. For more information on the Undergraduate Targeted Admission Scheme for Business School programmes, please visit the Business School's Applications and entry requirements page.
3. School-leaver applicants from the following groups who achieve University Entrance and meet other programme requirements will be admitted to the programmes in the Faculty of Education and Social Work through the Undergraduate Targeted Admission Scheme (UTAS).
- Māori applicants
- Pacific applicants
- Applicants from a refugee background
- Applicants from a low socio-economic background
- Applicants with declared disabilities
4. Subject to places being available in the programme; NCEA students with a lower rank score may be accepted. Students who have achieved the majority Year 13 external modules in both Calculus and Physics may also be considered.
5. SL Physics and SL Mathematics “Analysis and Approaches” may be accepted based on level of grade achieved. SL Mathematics “Applications and interpretation” will not be accepted.
6. The Faculty of Engineering will consider admission for students who demonstrate sufficient ability in Engineering-related and approved study in the Bachelor of Science programme. For more information, please visit Pathways via the Faculty of Science.
7. Applicants for the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Part II must first complete the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Part I. Places in LLB Part II are limited and are allocated based on each applicant's grades in LLB Part I and their non-Law course results. For more information, please visit Applying for LLB Part II.
8. An audition can include evaluations of one or more recorded and/or live elements. For more information, please visit the Entry requirement tabs of the following pages:
9. Māori and Pacific applicants and other equity target groups with an IB rank score greater than or equal to 25 will be admitted to the Bachelor of Science, with the exception of majors in Biomedical Science or Food Science and Nutrition.
10. Applicants from the following groups who achieve University Entrance and have a IB rank score greater than or equal to 27 will be admitted to the Bachelor of Global Studies Undergraduate Targeted Admission Scheme:
- Māori applicants
- Pacific applicants
- Applicants from a refugee background
- Applicants from a low socio-economic background
- Applicants with declared disabilities
For more information, please visit Undergraduate Targeted Admission Schemes.
Applicants with scores lower than 27 will be referred to other programmes, as appropriate.
11. Māori and Pacific applicants and other equity target groups with an IB rank score greater than or equal to 220 29 will be admitted to the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours).
12. Māori and Pacific applicants and other equity target groups with an IB rank score greater than or equal to 260 33 will be admitted to the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) conjoint programme.