If your first language is not English you need to show you meet our English language requirements
We accept a number of International tests and results, and students from some countries may be able to use their previous studies to demonstrate their language level. Check the language results we accept and if you meet the minimum requirements in the table below.
You can submit your application without an English result and provide this at a later date. The English language test must have been taken within two years of the proposed study start date.
Additional tests accepted for 2022 intakes
For applicants who are unable to access the regular English language proficiency tests we accept, the University of Otago is currently accepting these additional tests for applications to studies commencing in semester 1 and semester 2 2022.
IELTS Indicator test
- This is an online version of the regular IELTS test, made available due to COVID-19 testing centre restrictions.
TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition
- This is an online version of the regular TOEFL iBT test, made available due to COVID-19 testing centre restrictions.
Undergraduate English language requirements
| IELTS | IELTS score of 6.0 in the academic module (with no individual band below 5.5) |
| Internet-based TOEFL | Score of 80 (writing 20) The University of Otago TOEFL institution code is: 9483 (Please note we do not accept MyBest TOEFL scores) |
| Paper-based TOEFL | Score of 550 (TWE 4.5) The University of Otago TOEFL institution code is: 9483 |
| Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) | Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169) |
| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) | Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169) |
| CIE | E grade or higher in any one of AS English Language, AS Literature in English or AS Language & Literature in English; OR meeting the NCEA literacy requirements |
| GCE A or AS English Language, Literature in English, Language and Literature in English | Grade C or higher |
| GCE AS level General Paper (English) | Grade C or higher |
| International Baccalaureate | English at Higher or Standard level in Language A: literature, Language A: language and literature, or at Higher Level in Language B |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic | Overall score of 58 with no communicative skills score below 50 |
| LanguageCert | International ESOL: C1 Expert (LRWS) with a pass overall and no less than a pass in each skill |
| University of Otago Language Centre | ‘English for Otago’, English for Undergraduate Academic Purposes (EUAP) – Grade C or higher |
| University of Auckland English Language Academy (ELA) pathway programmes | Successful completion of the English Pathway for Undergraduate Studies (EPUS) with a C Grade |
| University of Auckland Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes (FCertEAP) | Successful completion of the certificate with a C Grade |
| English New Zealand's Accredited Pathway Assessment | English New Zealand’s Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 2 (with no skill lower than Level 1). |
| Denmark | A minimum GPA of 6 in A-level English or a minimum GPA of 9 in B-level English when graduating from Upper Secondary School Diploma |
| Fiji | Year 13 Certificate English score of 50% or higher |
| Germany | B or higher in each of the four components of the University English Language Proficiency test from the English department of the home institution, or B or higher in the old DAAD test, or C1 or B2 overall in the new DAAD test |
| Hong Kong | Level 4 or better in English language in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) |
| India | 70% in English for the All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE) or the Indian School Certificate (CISCE) |
| Malaysia | GCE ‘O’ Level English 1119 – Grade B4 or higher |
| Netherlands | Grade 7 in the VWO-Gymnasium or the VWO-Atheneum A or B |
| NCEA | To gain university admission through NCEA, you must achieve the literary requirements of 10 credits at Level 2 or above in standards from the specified list, with at least 5 credits in Reading and 5 credits in Writing – you cannot use any other English literacy tests to meet English language requirements |
| Norway | Grade of 4.0 or higher in English in the student’s final year of studying high school English in the Vitnemål for videregående opplæring |
| Samoa | A score of B3 (60%) in English A in the University Foundation Certificate of the National University of Samoa |
| Singapore | GCE ‘O’ Level English – Grade C or higher or the General Paper H1 level – Grade C or higher |
| Sweden | A minimum grade of C (VG) in English 5 & 6 (English A & B) in the Slutbetyg/Examensbevis från Gymnasieskolan |
The following programmes require higher levels of achievement than the minimum requirements listed above:
- Bachelor of Social Work: IELTS of 7.0 with no individual band below 7.0.
All applicants to initial teacher education programmes at the University of Otago must meet the language competency requirements of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. The criteria can be found on the Teaching Council website. You may be asked to provide evidence that you meet one of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand language competency criteria when applying for admission to the Bachelor of Teaching (three-year undergraduate degree), or Master of Teaching and Learning (one-year postgraduate degree).
Postgraduate English language requirements
| IELTS | Score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0) |
| Internet-based TOEFL | Score of 95 with a minimum writing score of 22 The University of Otago TOEFL institution code is: 9483 (Please note we do not accept MyBest TOEFL scores) |
| Paper-based TOEFL | score of 587 (TWE 4.5) The University of Otago TOEFL institution code is: 9483 |
| Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) | Minimum of 176 |
| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) | Minimum of 176 |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic | Overall score of 64 with no communicative skills score below 57 |
| LanguageCert | International ESOL: C1 Expert (LRWS) with a high pass overall and no less than a pass in each skill OR C2 Mastery (LRWS) with a pass overall and no less than a pass in each skill |
| University of Otago Language Centre ‘English for Otago’, English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes (EPAP) | Grade C or higher |
| University of Auckland English Language Academy (ELA) pathway programmes | Successful completion of the English Pathway for Postgraduate Studies (EPPS) with a B Grade |
| University of Auckland Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes (FCertEAP) | Successful completion of the certificate with a B Grade |
| English New Zealand's Accredited Pathway Assessment | English New Zealand’s Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 3 (with no skill lower than Level 2). |
Students enrolling in courses leading to the Diploma for Graduates (regardless of content or endorsement) must meet the standard postgraduate English requirements.
The following programmes require higher levels of achievement than the minimum requirements listed above:
- Postgraduate Dentistry, Law, and Surveying courses: Internet-based TOEFL of 102 or better with a minimum of 24 in each section; or Paper-based TOEFL of 600 or better with a TWE (Test of Written English) of 5.0 or better; or IELTS (Academic) of 7.5 overall with a minimum of 7 in each band.
- Master of Social and Community Work (Applied): IELTS 7.0 with no individual band below 7.0.
All applicants to initial teacher education programmes at the University of Otago must meet the language competency requirements of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. The criteria can be found on the Teaching Council website. You may be asked to provide evidence that you meet one of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand language competency criteria when applying for admission to the Bachelor of Teaching (three-year undergraduate degree), or Master of Teaching and Learning (one-year postgraduate degree).
Don’t meet the English language requirements?
The University of Otago Language Centre English for Otago programme offers a pathway for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students to meet the English language requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate study.
Learn more about English for Otago.
Entrance requirements
Language requirements
Take the next step
Read the entrance and language requirements? Find out what step to take next.
