About University Entrance
University Entrance (UE) is the minimum requirement to go from school to a New Zealand university. Being awarded University Entrance also opens doors to tertiary study in other countries.
Once you have met the requirements for University Entrance, it will appear on your Record of Achievement.
To be awarded UE, you need:
- NCEA Level 3
- 14 credits at Level 3 in each of three approved subjects
- 10 Literacy credits at Level 2 or above, made up of:
- 5 credits in reading
- 5 credits in writing.
- 10 Numeracy credits at Level 1 or above, made up of:
- co-requisite Level 1 Numeracy unit standard 32406 or Te Pāngarau unit standard 32412, or
- certain achievement standards.
Wherever possible, you should continue your mathematical studies beyond this foundational level to keep your future pathways open. University Entrance numeracy requirements are a minimum for entry to university-level study, and some degrees have specific prerequisites from Level 3 Mathematics standards.
More information
List of approved University Entrance subjects
Literacy requirements for University Entrance
Numeracy achievement standards for University Entrance [XLSX, 12 KB]
On this page
New University Entrance numeracy requirements
The University Entrance numeracy requirements have changed.
About the 2024 changes to UE numeracy requirements
Students who met the University Entrance numeracy requirement for 2023 before the end of the 2023 academic year, have met the University Entrance numeracy requirement for the 2024 and 2025 academic years.
The current University Entrance review will inform any future changes.
About the 2023 to 2025 University Entrance requirements review
Credits
Credits can be accumulated over more than one year.
If a unit standard and an achievement standard assess the same learning outcome, only the credits for one of the standards can be counted. In other words, they are 'mutually exclusive'. A list of these exclusions is published each year.
Discretionary entrance
If you are under 20 years of age and do not have University Entrance, you may still be eligible for Discretionary Entrance to attend a New Zealand university.
Universities set their own discretionary entrance requirements. If you are thinking of applying, please speak with the enrolments office of the university you would like to attend.
If you applied for Discretionary Entrance but are not happy with the university’s decision, you may appeal that decision to NZQA.
Reviews of University Entrance requirements
NZQA regularly reviews the list of standards that contribute to University Entrance requirements.
Maintenance happens when new achievement standards are developed or existing standards are reviewed, often on a yearly basis.
Periodic requirements reviews allow the whole list of standards to be considered against current evidence.
See below for information about reviews and proposals.
Read about the 2023–2025 University Entrance requirements review
Read about the 2016-2017 University Entrance requirements review (external link)