Cambridge Assessment International Education (Cambridge International)

For entry based on Cambridge International completed in New Zealand or overseas, 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 Cambridge International 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 AS and A Level results. Some programmes may also require you to have taken specific subjects.

To find out more about guaranteed entry requirements for your intended programme(s), please visit Find a study option.

Important updates

To recognise the disruption caused by Covid-19, Universities New Zealand has made the following change to the Cambridge International entrance standard for the 2022 school-leaver cohort: 

• There are new PART A requirements that apply to the 2022 school-leaver cohort only

The remainder of the UE standard applies as normal, including the Literacy and Numeracy requirements.

Part A

For 2023 entry applicants must obtain:

• 110 points in the NZ CI tariff needed for UE
• A D grade or better in syllabuses from at least two different syllabus groups (excluding Thinking Skills) 
• One E grade or better in a third syllabus group (excluding Thinking Skills) 
  

Additional things to note:

• Students are entitled to an additional 2.5 UE Tariff Points for every 10 points they achieve through assessment in the 2022 school year. Subject to a maximum of 30 points
• A D grade (or better) at AS level will satisfy one of the syllabus requirements of Part A

For the New Zealand Cambridge International score table, please see Universities New Zealand's Other school-leaver qualifications page.

To find a Cambridge School to reach out to, please visit Find a Cambridge school in New Zealand.

Part B

Literacy and Numeracy requirements 

Literacy can be met by

Gaining an E grade or better in one of the following:

• AS English Language
• AS Language and Literature in English
• AS Literature in English.

Or

• Meeting the literacy requirement for University Entrance with NCEA
• Meeting the standard literacy requirement through an alternative approved English test as outlined in the Minimum undergraduate English-language requirements**
  

**This applies to international applicants applying with Cambridge International study outside of New Zealand only. For more information on to meet the Minimum undergraduate English-language requirements, please visit Undergraduate English language requirements.

Numeracy can be met by

• Gaining a D grade (or higher) in IGCSE or GCSE Mathematics
• Passing any mathematics subject at AS level 
• OR Meeting the numeracy requirement for University Entrance with NCEA

You must meet the admission requirements for your programme(s) of study.

In addition to achieving University Entrance, some of our undergraduate programmes have additional requirements. These requirements are specific to the programme and can include one or more of the following:

• Having passed specific subjects
• Having gained a a certain number of credits in specific subjects
• Submission of a portfolio
• An audition requirement
• An interview requirement

To find out more about guaranteed entry requirements for your intended programme(s), please visit Find a study option.

Your rank score is based on the New Zealand Cambridge International score table for up to six subject units at AS level (one subject unit) or A level (two subject units). A maximum of two subject units can be included from any one syllabus group in the table of available syllabus groups, which are broadly equivalent to those in the list of approved subjects for NCEA. If you have studied more than six subject units, the best six scores will be used.

Thinking Skills and the General Paper will be excluded from the rank score calculation. The maximum rank score is 420. The following points are awarded for each syllabus group.

A level:

• A*: 140 points
• A: 120 points
• B: 100 points
• C: 80 points
• D: 60 points
• E: 40 points

AS level:

• A: 60 points
• B: 50 points
• C: 40 points
• D: 30 points
• E: 20 points

Calculate an estimated rank score online

To estimate your rank score, you can use our Rank Score Calculator. To access the Rank Score Calculator, please go to Calculating your estimated rank score.

For an example, visit Example on how your rank score is calculated. 

If you need help with the Rank Score Calculator, visit AskAuckland.

Cambridge International rank scores required for entry for 2023

These are the undergraduate programme admission 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 will be considered, provided 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.

1. Applicants from the following groups who achieve University Entrance with a rank score ranging from 120-149 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

Fore more information, please visit Undergraduate Targeted Admission Schemes.

Applicants from the following groups may be assessed on a case-by-case casis and may be referred to an appropriate foundation programme:

• Equity applicants with rank scores of 119 or below 
• All other applicants with rank scores of 129 or below

Other applicants with UE and Cambridge International rank scores of 130–149 will be considered for conditional admission to the Bachelor of Arts.

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. AS Mathematics and Physics may be accepted based on the level of grade achieved.

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:

• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Dance Studies

9. Māori and Pacific applicants and other equity target groups with a Cambridge International rank score greater than or equal to 130 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 Cambridge International rank score of 190 or higher 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

Fore more information, please visit Undergraduate Targeted Admission Schemes.

Applicants with scores lower than 190 will be referred to other programmes, as appropriate.

11. Māori and Pacific applicants and other equity target groups with a Cambridge International rank score greater than or equal to 260 will be admitted to the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours). 

12. Māori and Pacific applicants and other equity target groups with an Cambridge International rank score greater than or equal to 310 will be admitted to the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) conjoint programmes. 

Phone:

• Within Auckland: 0800 61 62 63 
• From overseas: +64 9 373 7513 

Email:

• admission@auckland.ac.nz