Overview
Students applying for admission to the University of Otago must be competent in the use and understanding of written and spoken English. The minimum requirements are described below.
English language requirements are fulfilled if you meet admission criteria in the following categories:
Notes: The University does not accept responsibility for academic failure which can be attributed to a student's lack of competence in English.
Admission to some courses may require higher levels of attainment.
Other evidence of English language proficiency may be considered to satisfy the admission requirements and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
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| Assessment Method | Undergraduate Requirements |
Minimum Language Requirements for Undergraduate students
| NCEA National Certificate in Educational Achievement | 8 Level 2 credits in English (4 in reading, 4 in writing) |
| CIE Cambridge International Examinations | Grade E or better in AS English |
| IB International Baccalaureate | English as Language A1 at either Higher or Standard level |
| NZUEBS New Zealand University Entrance Bursaries and Scholarships | English mark of 46% or higher |
| IELTS International English Language Testing System | 6.0 in academic module (with no individual band below 6.0) |
| TOEFL (paper based) Test of English as a Foreign Language | 550
Test of Written English 4.5 |
| TOEFL (internet based) Test of English as a Foreign Language | 80 (with a Writing score of 20) |
| CPE Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English | Grade C or higher |
| CAE Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English | Grade B or higher |
| APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination | Grade 3 or higher |
| University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd | Successful completion of ‘English for Undergraduate Academic Purposes’ paper |
English language requirements for International undergraduate students are available elsewhere on this website.
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| Assessment Method | Postgraduate Requirements |
Minimum Language Requirements for Postgraduate students
| NCEA National Certificate in Educational Achievement | 8 Level 2 credits in English (4 in reading, 4 in writing) |
| CIE Cambridge International Examinations | Grade E or better in AS English |
| IB International Baccalaureate | English as Language A1 at either Higher or Standard level |
| NZUEBS New Zealand University Entrance Bursaries and Scholarships | English mark of 46% or higher |
| IELTS International English Language Testing System | 6.5 in academic module (with no individual band below 6.0) |
| TOEFL (paper based) Test of English as a Foreign Language | 587
Test of Written English 4.5 |
| TOEFL (internet based) Test of English as a Foreign Language | 95 (with a Writing score of 22) |
| CPE Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English | Grade B or higher |
| CAE Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English | Grade B or higher |
| APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination | Grade 4 or higher |
| University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd | Successful completion of ‘English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes’ paper |
English language requirements for International postgraduate students are available elsewhere on this website.
