Programme Approval, Recognition, and Accreditation Rules 2026

2. Commencement

These Rules come into force on 19 January 2026.

Part 1 - Programme approval and recognition criteria and applications

4. Criteria for approval of programmes for institutions under section 439 of the Act

The following are the criteria for approval of programmes for institutions:

Criterion 1 - Qualification to which the programme leads

The programme meets both the listing details for the qualification it relates to and the qualification-type description.

Criterion 2 - Title, aims, learning outcomes and coherence

The title, aims, stated learning outcomes, and coherence of the whole programme are suitable for the qualification it relates to.

Criterion 3 - Delivery methods

The delivery methods are adequate and appropriate, given the stated learning outcomes for the programme. Where specific resources are necessary for the programme to be provided, those resources are clearly outlined.

Criterion 4 - Acceptability of the programme and consultation

There is a written summary of the consultation undertaken, the views expressed, and consideration of the views. The consultation and summary must articulate the need for and acceptability of the programme to the relevant communities (including ākonga, whānau, hapū, iwi and where appropriate, hapori Māori) and other key stakeholders (including the qualification developer and any relevant academic, employer, industry, professional and other bodies). Any required endorsement by an ISB under section 367(1)(f) of the Act must have been obtained, and if it has been obtained, information need not be provided by the applicant institution and NZQA will not consider this criterion in assessing the application.

Criterion 5 - Regulations

There are clear, relevant, and appropriate regulations that specify requirements for:

1. admission:
2. credit recognition and transfer:
3. recognition of prior learning:
4. programme length and structure:
5. integration of practical and work-based components:
6. assessment procedures, including authenticity of student work:
7. normal progression within the programme, and completion.

Criterion 6 - Assessment and moderation

Assessment methodology is fair, valid, consistent and appropriate given the stated learning outcomes.

There is an effective system for moderation of assessment materials and decisions.

Criterion 7 - Programme review

The institution:

• assesses the currency and content of the programme
• has adequate and effective processes for the ongoing review of the programme, taking account of the results of any review of the qualification
• has adequate and effective processes for monitoring the quality of outcomes for learners and other stakeholders, and for reviewing programme regulations and content
• updates the programme accordingly.

Criterion 8 - Research required for degrees and post-graduate qualifications

The links between research and the curriculum are clear, adequate, and effective.

2. Where a qualification consists entirely of skill standards, institutions applying for programme approval:

1. do not need to provide information relating to criteria 2, 4, 7, or 8 of rule 4(1):
2. may provide only indicative information for the purposes of criterion 5(g) of rule 4(1):
3. do not need to provide information relating to criterion 5(e) and (g) of rule 4(1).

5. Applications for approval of programmes

1. Applications by institutions (other than universities) for approval of programmes must contain all of the following information:

   1. programme documentation that includes:

      1. a clear statement of the title and aims of the programme;

      2. a clear articulation of the structure, components and length of the programme;

      3. clearly identified links between the programme component learning outcomes and the qualification graduate profile outcomes;

      4. specified learning outcomes for each component of the programme; and

      5. allocation of appropriate levels and credits for each component:

   2. information that demonstrates the programme meets the criteria specified in rule 4(1):

   3. evidence of internal quality assurance approval of the programme by the institution.

2. Applications by institutions (other than universities) for approval of programmes at levels 1 to 6, and under-graduate diplomas at level 7 must also contain:

   1. in the programme documentation, clear identification of any standards used in the programme that are taken from the Directory of Assessment and Skill Standards; and

   2. a copy of any required endorsement of an ISB under section 367(1)(f) and 367(2) of the Act.

3. Applications by universities for programme approval must be made to Universities New Zealand.

6. New Zealand programme recognition

1. An application for recognition of a New Zealand programme under section 438B must contain the following information, and will be assessed against that information:

Criterion 1 - Title and purpose statement

The title identifies the qualification to which the New Zealand programme leads.

There is a suitable purpose statement.

Criterion 2 - Structure, length, coherence and relationship to qualification

The structure (including components and learning outcomes), length and coherence of the whole New Zealand programme are suitable for the qualification it relates to.

Any standards to be used in the New Zealand programme are to be identified.

The New Zealand programme meets both the listing details for the qualification it relates to and the qualification-type description.

Criterion 3 - Delivery methods

The delivery methods must be adequate and appropriate, given the stated learning outcomes for the programme. Where specific resources are necessary for the programme to be provided, those resources are clearly outlined.

Criterion 4 - Collaboration, acceptability and consultation

There is a written summary of the collaborative process and consultation undertaken, the views expressed, and consideration of the views. The consultation and summary must identify the bodies that participated and articulate the need for and acceptability of the programme to the relevant communities (including ākonga, whānau, hapū, iwi and where appropriate, hapori Māori) and other key stakeholders (including the qualification developer, institutions that will be providing the programme, other standard-setting bodies, and any relevant academic, employer, industry, regulatory, professional and other bodies).

Criterion 5 - Regulations

There are clear, relevant, and appropriate regulations that specify requirements for:

• admission
• credit recognition and transfer
• recognition of prior learning
• programme length and structure
• integration of practical and work-based components
• assessment procedures, including authenticity of student work
• normal progression within the programme, and completion
• details for transitioning from an approved programme to the recognised New Zealand programme, for both students and accredited institutions.

Criterion 6 - Assessment and moderation

Assessment methodology is fair, valid, consistent and appropriate given the stated learning outcomes. Any assessment requirements, in addition to those specified in standards used in the programme, are identified.

There is an effective system for moderation of assessment materials and decisions.

Criterion 7 - Review

The approved standard-setting body:

• assesses the currency and content of the programme
• has adequate and effective processes for the ongoing review of the programme, taking account of the results of any review of the qualification
• has adequate and effective processes for monitoring the quality of outcomes for learners and other stakeholders, and for reviewing programme regulations and content
• updates the programme accordingly.

Part 3 - Granting of programme approval, recognition and accreditation

10. Granting of programme approval, recognition and accreditation (other than universities)

1. NZQA will advise applicant institutions (other than universities) if any of the details in the application require further work.
2. NZQA may establish a panel to assess the application.
3. NZQA may carry out a site visit for accreditation applications.
4. Where NZQA is satisfied with the details in the relevant application, NZQA will grant, and advise the applicant institution of:
   1. approval of the programme or recognition of the New Zealand programme:
   2. accreditation to provide the approved programme, the New Zealand programme or part of the programme.
5. Where NZQA is not satisfied with the details in the application, NZQA will not approve the application, and will advise the applicant.
6. NZQA will publish on its website up to date and appropriate details of approved programmes, recognised New Zealand programmes and details of institutions accredited to provide approved programmes, New Zealand programmes or parts of them.

11. Granting of programme approval and granting of accreditation to universities

1. Where satisfied with the content of an application, Universities New Zealand will, under section 453 of the Act and in accordance with any procedures set up for inter­ university course approval and moderation under section 312(a) of the Act, grant the relevant:
   1. programme approval:
   2. accreditation.

Part 5: Maintaining programme approval, recognition and accreditation

13. Requirements to be met to maintain programme approval

1. To continue to maintain a programme approval, institutions (including universities) must ensure:

   1. the criteria specified in rule 4(1) continue to be met; and

   2. regular reviews of the programme are undertaken.

2. To continue to maintain approval for a programme leading to a qualification at levels 1 to 6 or for an under-graduate diploma at level 7, institutions (other than universities) must also ensure that:

   1. relevant information is provided where requested by NZQA for the purposes of reviews of suites of qualifications and of individual qualifications; and

   2. where requested by NZQA, participation and cooperation for the purposes of carrying out those reviews.

3. Where the programme to which the accreditation relates contains standards, institutions must continue to comply with rules made under section 452(1)(c) for the purposes of maintaining the consent to assess for those standards.

14. Requirements to be met to maintain New Zealand programme recognition

1. To continue to maintain New Zealand programme recognition the standard-setting body must:
   1. ensure the criteria specified in rule 6.1 continue to be met:
   2. ensure regular reviews of the programme are undertaken.

15. Requirements to be met to maintain accreditation

1. To continue to maintain accreditation to provide an approved programme, a New Zealand programme, or part of them, institutions (other than universities) must:

   1. ensure the criteria specified in rule 7(1) continue to be met;

   2. provide the programme (or part) as it was approved, including adhering to the programme regulations, unless a specific change has been approved in writing by NZQA; and

   3. comply with the requirements of the Quality Assurance of Tertiary Education Providers Rules made from time to time under section 452(1)(t) of the Act (if the institution is a tertiary education provider).

2. To continue to maintain accreditation to provide an approved programme, a New Zealand programme, or part of them at levels 1 to 6, or for an under-graduate diploma at level 7, institutions (other than universities) must also provide relevant information where requested by NZQA for the purposes of reviews of suites of qualifications and of individual qualifications.

3. To continue to maintain accreditation to provide a programme, New Zealand programme, or part of them, universities must:

   1. ensure the criteria specified within rule 7(1) continue to be met; and

   2. ensure regular reviews of the provision of the programme are undertaken.

4. Where the programme or New Zealand programme to which the accreditation relates contains standards, institutions must continue to comply with rules made under section 452(1)(c) for the purposes of maintaining the consent to assess for those standards.

Part 7: Miscellaneous matters

20. Special reviews

1. Where concerns are raised with or come to the attention of NZQA about a programme approval, New Zealand programme recognition, or accreditation to provide an approved programme or recognised New Zealand programme, NZQA may undertake (as appropriate) a special review of:
   1. the programme approval (other than a university programme approval):
   2. the New Zealand programme recognition held by a standard-setting body:
   3. the accreditation to provide the programme (other than a university accreditation) or the New Zealand programme.
2. Before NZQA undertakes a review described in rule 20.1, NZQA must give reasonable notice to the relevant institution or standard-setting body.
3. The relevant institution or standard-setting body must provide relevant information and otherwise cooperate with NZQA for the purposes of the special review.

21. English language requirements for international students

1. An institution (other than a university) must:
   1. verify, prior to enrolling an international student in a programme (other than an English language programme or a programme taught in a language other than English) for a qualification at level 3 or above, that the student has the necessary English language proficiency as demonstrated through the use of evidence of one of the kinds described in rules 21.2 to 21.4; and
   2. retain a copy of that evidence for at least two years from the date the student is enrolled in that programme.
2. Evidence that the student has:
   1. achieved NCEA level 3 and has met New Zealand university entrance requirements; or
   2. been awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A-level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
   3. been awarded the Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA) or the Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL); or
   4. achieved, within the two years preceding the start date of the programme for a qualification in which the student is enrolled, one of the internationally recognised proficiency test outcomes specified in the Table in Schedule 1 for the level of that qualification.
3. Evidence that the student has:
   1. completed all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in one of the countries listed in rule 21.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
   2. completed at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in one of the countries listed in rule 21.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
   3. been awarded a Bachelor’s degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours Degree, Post-graduate Certificate, Post-graduate Diploma, Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree with English as the language of instruction from a tertiary education provider from one of the countries listed in rule 21.5; or
   4. met the English level and grade specified for the European countries listed in the Table in Schedule 1.
4. Evidence that the student has been granted a Manaāki New Zealand Short Term Training Scholarship offered by the New Zealand government and has:
   1. completed all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
   2. completed at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction.
5. The countries for the purpose of paragraphs (a) - (c) of rule 21.3 are: New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
6. Nothing in this rule 21:
   1. prevents an institution from requiring from a student a higher level of evidence of English proficiency than that set out in this rule 21; or
   2. requires an institution to enrol a particular student who has the relevant evidence of English proficiency set out in this rule 21.

Explanatory note

This note is not part of these Rules but is intended to indicate their general effect.

These Rules set out, in relation to programme approval, recognition and accreditation,-

1. the processes for making applications:
2. requirements for approval, recognition or accreditation to be granted:
3. requirements to maintain approval, recognition and accreditation:
4. where NZQA consent is needed for changes:
5. when and how special reviews may occur:
6. English language proficiency requirements for enrolment in a programme at level 3 and above.

These Rules were re-issued on 19 January 2026 to:

1. adjust terminology to reflect amendments made by the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Act 2025 (eg: the change from WDCs to ISBs):
2. removing references to external evaluation and review following its replacement with self-review and monitoring, and removal of references to consistency reviews as they are discontinued with effect from 1 January 2026:
3. reducing requirements where a programme approval application relates to a qualification consisting entirely of skill standards:
4. remove the sub-contracting rule and programme monitoring (which are now in the Quality Assurance of Tertiary Education Providers Rules made from time to time under section 452(1)(t) of the Act):
5. removing the need for ISB endorsement for Type 2 changes to programmes:
6. language simplification in rule 21 and the Table in Schedule 1.