Postgraduate English language requirements

If you're an international applicant, you will need to provide proof of your English proficiency.

If you're a domestic applicant, you will generally meet your English language requirements from your academic background.

For more information, please see Domestic applicants and English language requirements.

English is considered the first language of citizens of: 

• Canada
• Ireland
• Singapore
• The United Kingdom
• The United States of America

You are usually exempt from providing proof of English language proficiency, unless asked to by the University of Auckland.

If you have met the University's academic entry requirement and are waiting on your English language requirement, you may be issued with a conditional offer, subject to meeting the English language requirement.

Please note, there may be other conditions attached to your conditional offer. 

If you have received a conditional offer and are waiting to meet the English language requirements, you may wish to consider applying for entry to a pathway English language course at the University's English Language Academy.

Important things to know: 

• You must meet your English language requirements in one sitting of your chosen English language proficiency test
• Your results are valid for two years from the date on the test certificate to the start of your studies at the University of Auckland
• You can apply for your chosen programme(s) if you have not done your English language proficiency test. You will have to provide your English language proficiency as this is a condition of your application to meet the entry requirements

You can meet postgraduate English language requirements by successfully completing either:

• The Foundation Certificate in English for Academic Purposes (FCertEAP)
• The English Pathway for Postgraduate Studies (EPPS)
  

These ELA grades are considered equivalent to the IELTS bans for admissions purposes: 

• IELTS 7.0: A- in FCertEAP or EPPS
• IELTS 6.5: B- in FCertEAP or EPPS

Please note that enrolment in the ELA programme is at your own expense.

Every programme page on our website specifies an IELTS (Academic) score as the minimum English-language requirement for that programme.

IELTS One Skill Retake is now being accepted by the University of Auckland.

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".

You will need to meet the advertised IELTS scores in order to meet the English Language Requirements for your programme of study.

For more information, visit IELTS One Skill Retake.

We will be able to view and verify your TOEFL result, if you provide your:

• TOEFL registration number
• Date of birth

The TOEFL Institution Code for the University of Auckland is 9481.

The table lists what the University accepts as the equivalent to an IELTS (Academic) overall score of 6.5 with no bands below 6.0. 

Please note that some Education and Social Work programmes require additional evidence of English competency due to professional registration requirements. Some programmes may not accept alternative test results due to professional registration requirements. 

*You must authorise the University to view and verify your PTE scores. See Sending verified Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic results.

If you have successfully completed study in the English medium, you may not have to take a language test. Please see the documents below for approved alternatives to our IELTS requirements.

Phone: 09 923 5025 (within Auckland)
Phone: 0800 61 62 63 (outside Auckland)
Phone: +64 9 373 7513 (from overseas)
Email: admission@auckland.ac.nz