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Discover the latest IELTS band score requirements for New Zealand student visas. Understand the English language proficiency needed for undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
Like other countries, to study in New Zealand, Indian students have to demonstrate their proficiency in the English Language. IELTS is one of the most popular English language tests that students aspiring to study in New Zealand take. There are two versions of IELTS tests; one is Academic, and the other is General. Although some institutions may allow you to study there with IELTS general, most NZ universities and colleges accept IELTS Academics. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that if you are going to take the IELTS exam, choose IELTS Academics.
New Zealand Student Visa IELTS Band Requirements
Explore the IELTS band requirements in New Zealand below. Stay informed with accurate guidelines for your study journey in New Zealand
Which Test Should I Take?
There are two tests available: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. But, the test you choose should be based on what it is you want to do. The Academic test is usually for entry into university. General training is used for migration purposes. The organisation where you plan to work or study sets the requirements. So, before you book your test, it’s good to check which one is right for you. In short, all New Zealand Universities accept Academic IELTS. And, some schools, workplaces and immigration authorities accept General Training IELTS. Have a look at the difference between IELTS Academic and General training.
Do you need an IELTS Academic test?
If you plan to study in higher education or seek professional registration, you might need to take the IELTS Academic test.
IELTS Academic test assesses your English-language proficiency at an academic level to determine whether you are ready to study at an undergraduate or postgraduate level, or work in a professional setting, such as doctor, nurse, teacher or lawyer.
The Academic test looks at your English-language proficiency across the four skill sets, listening, reading, writing and speaking. The Listening and Speaking parts of the test are the same for both Academic and General Training, while the Reading and Writing parts are different.
IELTS for Migration to New Zealand
If you like the opportunity to live, study or work in New Zealand, there are many visa options available to you. There is a study visa, skilled, sponsored work visa and business visa. Some of these may lead to Permanent Residency (PR) in New Zealand.
What Are The Requirements To Migrate To New Zealand?
Students planning to move to New Zealand for study and work purposes must meet the minimum IELTS requirement for New Zealand student visa. The benchmark for IELTS has been set by the New Zealand Government which is mandatory for obtaining visa within the Skilled Migrant, Business, Parent, and Residence from Work categories.
- Under the skilled migrant category, the applicant must score an overall band of at least 6.5 in the IELTS General or Academic module.
- The score for the business category depends upon the type of application that the applicant has applied for. Employees relocating to New Zealand are required to score at least 5 in the IELTS exam; for entrepreneurs, the minimum score required is 4; and investors are required to score at least 3 in the General or Academic module.
- The partner, parents or children aged 16 or above accompanying the applicant are also required to fulfil the minimum IELTS score. They must attain an overall band score of at least 4.
- The applicants who plan to move as a resident in work category are required to attain an overall band score of 5 in IELTS General or IELTS Academic module. The partners accompanying need an overall band of at least 5 in the exam.
IELTS Band Score
The IELTS Band Score is a numerical representation of a test taker’s English language proficiency, ranging from 0 to 9. Each Band Score corresponds to a specific level of language ability, assessing the candidate’s skills in four key areas: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The Band Score indicates the candidate’s competence in these areas, providing a comprehensive evaluation of their language proficiency.
Band Requirements to Study in New Zealand
The New Zealand qualification framework can be divided into 10 levels. Most of the degrees, diplomas and certificates lie between 5 to 10 levels. General IELTS requirements to study in New Zealand are as follows.
| Programs of Study | IELTS Requirements | Minimum Academic Requirements |
| Diploma Programs | 5.5 (with no band less than 5.0) | Pass 12th Grade with 50-60% Minimum |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 6.0 (with no band less than 5.5) | Pass 12th Grade with 60% Minimum |
| Graduate Diploma | 6.0 (with no band less than 5.5) | Bachelor with 55-60% Minimum |
| Post-graduate Diploma | 6.5 (with no band less than 6.0) | Bachelor with minimum of 60% Minimum |
| Master Programs | 6.5 (with no band less than 6.0) | Bachelor with 60% Minimum and 2 years of work experience |
List Of New Zealand Universities With Minimum IELTS Band Requirement
For Diploma programs, the minimum IELTS score is 5.5 overall and no less than 5.5 per section, and undergraduate programs, the minimum IELTS score is 6.0 overall and no less than 5.5 per section. To enroll in a postgraduate program, you need a total score of 6.5 and a minimum of 6.0 per section. But if you decide to pursue a degree in engineering program, Teaching or Education Studies, do note that the minimum score is 7.0 overall and per band.
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology
Toi Ohomai is one of the largest higher education providers in New Zealand. According to the 2019 I-Graduate Survey, Toi Ohomai ranked first globally in Orientation Satisfaction, Welcoming, Pre-Arrival and Information, Counselling Support, and Social Activities. The institute offers a wide range of study programs in numerous fields. To pursue a Certificate or Diploma at Level 6, Diploma, or Bachelor’s Degree at Level 7 or Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma at Level 7, you will need overall 6 bands with no band score lower than 5.5. For a Postgraduate Diploma, Certificate at Level 8 or Master’s Degree at Level 9, you will need to achieve overall 6.5 bands with no band score lower than 6 in IELTS Academic. The institution also offers some certificate at level 4 and diploma courses at level 4 and 5 for which you can apply with overall 5.5 bands with no band score less than 5.
Wellington Institute of Technology
Wellington Institute of Technology, which is also known as WelTec, is an excellent choice for smart, ambitious, and creative students. The institution offers unique programs in Business, English, Construction, Creativity, Engineering, Health & Social Services, Hospitality, Information Technology, and Tourism. IELTS language requirements for a Graduate Diploma, Bachelor, and Level 6 Diploma is overall 6 bands with no module less than 5.5 bands. For a Postgraduate Diploma and Graduate Diploma in Engineering, overall 6.5 bands with no band score less than 6.0 are required. For a Level 5 Diploma, overall 5.5 bands with no module less than 5.0 bands is acceptable.
International Aviation Academy of New Zealand
If you are looking for a career in the aviation industry, the International Aviation Academy of New Zealand can be an excellent choice for you. The aviation academy is located at Christchurch International Airport and is the largest and most experienced flight training organization in New Zealand. The institution takes Indian students with Overall grades of 5.5 and no band score lower than 5 in IELTS.
Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology
NMIT is a Government Institute with campuses in Nelson and Marlborough and offers excellent programs in areas such as Bridging, Business, Computing and Information Technology, Creative Industries, Engineering, Construction & Infrastructure, Languages, Maritime, Nursing, etc., to meet local and international job market needs. For certificates at level 4 and 5, the institution accepts IELTS academics with overall 5.5 with no band score lower than 5. For Certificate or Diploma at Level 6, Diploma or degree at Level 7, or Graduate Certificate or Diploma at Level 7, you will require an academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5. for Post-graduate Diploma or Post-graduate Certificate at Level 8, Bachelor Honours Degree at Level 8, Master’s Degree at Level 9, or Doctoral Degree at Level 10 Academic score of 6.5 with no band score lower than 6 are required.
ICL Graduate Business School
Located at the heart of New Zealand – Auckland, ICL Graduate Business School, is NZQA Category 1 School in New Zealand. The college offers fantastic programs to students seeking a career in business. For a Master of Business Informatics overall, 6.5 bands in IELTS required. Similarly, for Postgraduate Diploma in Business – 6.5 bands, Postgraduate Diploma in Business Informatics – 6.5 bands, Graduate Diploma in Business – 6.0 bands, New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care – 6.0 bands, and Diploma of Information Systems – overall 5.5 bands are required.
List of New Zealand Top universities With the minimum overall IELTS score
| University & College | IELTS Requirements for Diploma | IELTS Requirements for Undergraduate Programs | IELTS Requirements for Postgraduate programs |
| University of Auckland | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Wellington Institute of Technology | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Victoria University of Wellington | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Ara Institute of Canterbury | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| University of Otago | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Aspire2 International | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Massey University | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Auckland Institute of Studies | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| University of Canterbury | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| AUT University | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Eastern Institute of Technology | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Unitec Institute of Technology | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Manukau Institute of Technology | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Otago Polytechnic | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| University of Waikato | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Whitireia New Zealand | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Waikato Institute of Technology | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Open Polytechnic of New Zealand | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
| Southern Institute of Technology | minimum overall score 5.5 (minimum of 5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 per band) | minimum overall score 6.5 (minimum of 6 per band) |
Components of the IELTS Band Score:
- Listening: The Listening component of the IELTS exam assesses a candidate’s ability to comprehend spoken English in various contexts. The Band Score evaluates the accuracy and comprehension of the test taker’s listening skills, including their understanding of conversations, lectures, and audio recordings.
- Reading: The Reading component evaluates a candidate’s ability to comprehend written English texts. It measures their reading speed, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. The Band Score reflects the candidate’s accuracy and efficiency in understanding and analyzing different types of written materials.
- Writing: The Writing component assesses a candidate’s ability to express their thoughts clearly and coherently in written English. The Band Score considers the candidate’s grammatical accuracy, vocabulary usage, organization of ideas, and task response. It evaluates their ability to write essays, reports, and other forms of written communication.
- Speaking: The Speaking component evaluates a candidate’s oral communication skills in English. The Band Score considers the candidate’s fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and coherence in expressing ideas during a face-to-face interview. It assesses their ability to engage in a conversation, provide opinions, and articulate thoughts effectively.
| Related Links | |
| All About IELTS Exam | IELTS Reading Practice Test |
| IELTS Listening Practice Test | IELTS Writing Practice Test |
| IELTS Speaking Practice Test | IELTS Band Score |
FAQs
Is New Zealand IELTS requirement mandatory?
Yes, in order to study in New Zealand, international students, especially, are required to write and score well on the IELTS exam.
Which NZ colleges accept a 5.5 or above New Zealand IELTS band requirement?
There are multiple universities that accept students with a 5.5 and above IELTS score, such as Lincoln University, Massey University, University of Auckland, etc.
What is the New Zealand IELTS band requirement 2023 for a job?
Students require an IELTS score of 6.5 in order to work or live in New Zealand.
