English language requirements for bachelor's degrees

There are several ways to show that you meet the English language requirements for an AUT bachelor’s degree, depending on your situation.

On this page

An approved language test

Things to keep in mind:

  • You’ll need to meet your English requirements in a single sitting of your chosen English language proficiency test (see table below) or through an approved alternative
  • Your test results are valid for two years from the date on the test certificate to the time of your application to a programme at AUT
  • There are some AUT bachelor’s degrees with higher English language requirements than those listed below

Test

Required score

IELTS (Academic)1, 2

6.0 overall with all bands 5.5 or higher

TOEFL ibt2

80 overall
15 in reading, 15 listening, 18 speaking, and 20 writing

Pearson Test of English (PTE)2

Overall score of 50 with all other scores no lower than 42

NZCEL

NZCEL 4 (Academic Endorsement)

C1 Advanced

Overall score of 169 and no bands below 162

LanguageCert - International ESOL

C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with a pass overall and no less than a pass in each skill

English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment

Level 2 (with no skill lower than Level 1)

Trinity ISE

ISE II with no less than Distinction in any band

1. IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted at AUT. This means you can retake one skill below the required band to meet the IELTS requirements. Your One Skill Retake must be completed within 60 days of your original IELTS test and must be completed as a "One Skill Retake".
2. IELTS Academic Online, PTE Academic Online and the TOEFL iBT Home Edition are not accepted.

Completing the AUT Academic English (AUT AE) course

You can meet the English language requirements by achieving specific grades in the AUT AE course.

Some AUT programmes don’t accept AUT AE for entry.

The minimum grades required in AUT AE to meet English language requirements for bachelor’s degrees are:

AUT Academic English

B overall with all skills C+ or higher

NCEA level 3, CAIE or IB undertaken in New Zealand

If you’re gaining University Entrance through NCEA, Cambridge Assessment International Examinations (CAIE) or International Baccalaureate (IB) undertaken in New Zealand, you must meet the UE literacy requirements. You can’t replace the UE literacy requirements with an English language test result.

Learn more about University Entrance (UE)

Study in an English-speaking environment

You can use the official results of an academic qualification completed in a country where the main language of instruction and assessment for that qualification was English:

  • Evidence is required that the qualification was taught and assessed in English
  • Must be at an appropriate level

Need help with your English?

If you don’t currently meet the English language requirements for the AUT programme you’re interested in, you can study an English language course at AUT.

Study English at AUT
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