22. English language requirements for international students
An institution (other than a university) must:
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) 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 22.2 to 22.4; and
retain a copy of that evidence for at least two years from the date the student is enrolled in that programme.
Evidence that the student has:
achieved NCEA level 3 and has met New Zealand university entrance requirements; or
been awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A-level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or
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
achieved, within the two years preceding the start date of the programme in which the student is enrolled, one of the internationally recognised proficiency test outcomes specified in the Table in the Appendix for the level of the programme in which the student is enrolling.
Evidence that the student has:
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 22.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
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 22.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or
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 22.5.
Evidence that the student has been granted a Manaāki New Zealand Short Term Training Scholarship offered by the New Zealand government and has:
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
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.
The countries for the purpose of paragraphs (a) - (c) of rule 22.3 are: New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.