On this page
- New Zealand students
- Preferential Entry Score
- Pre-degree and undergraduate study
- National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA)
- Current secondary school and home-schooled students
- Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
- International Baccalaureate
- Other University Entrance qualifications
- Graduate and postgraduate study
- Australian students
- Adult students
- Other academic or study skills
- Foundation qualifications to meet entry requirements
- How to get help
- Related content
New Zealand students
The standard entry requirements for new domestic students are:
- to be a New Zealand citizen, or hold a residence class visa
- if you're aged under 20, to have a University Entrance qualification such as NCEA Level 3, or equivalent
- to be aged 20 years or more to enter as an adult student
- to have good English skills
- to meet any specific entry requirements for your chosen qualification (you'll find these in the description of the qualification)
- have the right supporting documents, such as identification or New Zealand residence status.
To meet the NCEA Level 3 entrance standard, you can also use:
- 14 Level 3 credits in the NZIM Certificate in Management or the NZIM Certificate in Small Business Management
- a completed Young Enterprise Certificate (YES).
We assess applications on a case-by-case basis and you should let us know about these credits when you apply.
If you don't meet entry requirements
If you're a domestic student under 20 and don't meet the entry requirements, you may apply through Discretionary Entrance.
If you went to school overseas, but are a New Zealand citizen or resident who now lives here, you'll need to give us verified copies of your academic transcripts when you apply.
Preferential Entry Score
If the qualification you want to study has more applicants than places, you'll be given a rank score to qualify for preferential entry. Applicants with higher scores will be given entry until places are filled.
Pre-degree and undergraduate study
New students aged under 20 need a University Entrance qualification from school for admission to:
- pre-degree study (such as the Certificate of University Preparation)
- undergraduate study (such as a bachelor's degree).
If you're over 20, you'll qualify for admission as an adult student, which means you don't always need a University Entrance qualification.
New students need one of the following University Entrance qualifications.
National Certificate in Educational Achievement (NCEA)
You qualify for admission if you have achieved NCEA Level 3 with the following.
Ten credits at Level 2 or above, made up of five credits in reading and five credits in writing
Ten credits at Level 1 or above, made up of:
- specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects, or
- a unit standards package of three numeracy unit standards (numbers 26623, 26626 and 26627 – all three required).
*Students completing UE in 2022 will have the amended NCEA requirements applied. Please refer to the NZQA website for further information.
Current secondary school and home-schooled students
You may also qualify to be admitted if you've:
- only achieved NCEA Level 2 or equivalent
- want to take Massey courses while still at secondary school, or
- are home-schooled without a curriculum recognised by us.
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
You are eligible to be admitted to Massey if you have:
- a minimum of 120* points on the NZ CAIE Tariff at A or AS Level, which are broadly equivalent to approved subjects for NCEA, and
- a D grade or better in syllabuses from at least three different syllabus groups (excluding thinking skills)*.
An 'E' grade or better in any one of:
- AS English Language
- AS General English
- AS Language and Literature in English
- Literature in English.
A 'D' grade or better in:
- IGCSE, or
- GCSE mathematics.
Changes for students completing CIE in 2022
*Students completing CIE in 2022 for University Entrance in 2023 will have the amended CIE entrance standard applied. This is in line with changes made to NCEA. The amended CIE entrance standards are:
- a minimum of 110 points on the NZ CAIE Tariff at A or AS level
- a D grade or better from at least two different syllabus groups (excluding thinking skills) and one E grade or better in another syllabus group.
Students completing CIE in 2022 are entitled to 2.5 additional Tariff points for every 10 points they achieve through assessment in the 2022 school year, subject to a maximum of 30 points.
Literacy and Numeracy requirements remain unchanged.
You qualify for admission if you have been awarded the full International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma (a minimum of 24 points).
Other University Entrance qualifications
We also recognise these University Entrance qualifications:
- Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) – Certificate of Achievement Level 3 Endorsed, High School Advanced Certificate Level 3 Endorsed, or High School Advanced Certificate with Honours, Level 3 Endorsed – which includes at least 4 credits in Level 3 subjects.
- Christian Education New Zealand (CENZ) – Level 3 Certificate
- Federation of Rudolf Steiner Waldorf Schools in New Zealand – NZ certificate of Steiner Education.
Graduate and postgraduate study
Entrance to graduate (such as a graduate diploma) and postgraduate qualifications (such as a master's degree) is usually specific to your chosen area of study, and may include certain conditions.
The best way to find out what these are is to check the entry requirements which are in the description of your qualification.
Find out what requirements you must meet if you're applying for admission to a PhD or professional doctorate.
Generally, postgraduate students need to have at least one relevant:
- Massey University degree with above-average achievement as measured by grade point average (GPA)
- degree from another New Zealand tertiary institution with above-average achievement as measured by GPA
- degree from a recognised tertiary institution overseas, with above-average achievement as measured by GPA.
You could also have relevant practical, professional or scholarly experience equal to that of a graduate (not all graduate and postgraduate qualifications allow entry on this basis).
You'll need to give us verified transcripts from all your previous tertiary study unless you completed your previous degree at Massey.
Australian citizens who live and will study in New Zealand are also classed as domestic students.
The entry requirements for Australian domestic students include:
- Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) score 74 or greater
- Overall Position (OP) score 12 or lower
- Tertiary Education Rank (TER) 74 or greater
- Universities Admission Index (UAI) 74 or greater.
You are an adult student if you are 20 years old or older by the final date enrolment applications are due.
For instance, if our final due date for enrolment applications to study in Semester One is January 22, and you turn 20 on or before that date, you are eligible to enter as an adult student.
As an adult student, you don't need to have an entrance qualification from school to be admitted into a qualification if places are available. However, if places are limited, your past academic, employment history and skills will be taken into consideration.
The following qualifications are recognised by us for adult entry.
University Entrance, Bursaries and Scholarships Examination prior to 2004
From the New Zealand University Entrance, Bursaries and Scholarships Exam (NZUEBS):
- a grade of A, B or C in each of three subjects from the approved list, plus Higher School Certificate
- a New Zealand Bursary at ‘A’ or ‘B’ level
- a combination of NZUEBS A, B or C grades and Level 3 unit standards, from the National Qualifications Framework in subjects on the current NCEA approved list, plus Higher School Certificate.
Bursaries Examination prior to 1993
From the New Zealand Bursaries Exam:
- A grade of A, B, C or D in each of four subjects.
University Entrance prior to 1986
From New Zealand University Entrance:
- An award of New Zealand University Entrance, by examination or accreditation.
Other academic or study skills
To study at university level you'll need good English language skills, though you can also submit written work or exams in te reo Māori.
Some qualifications will ask for other specific skills, which will be outlined in the description of the qualification.
We accept pre-degree certificates from the following universities and tertiary institutions:
- The University of Auckland
- Auckland University of Technology
- The University of Waikato
- Victoria University of Wellington
- University of Canterbury
- Lincoln University
- University of Otago
- Taylors College
- Manukau Institute of Technology
- New Zealand Institute of Management.
Foundation qualifications to meet entry requirements
If you don't have the skills or qualifications you need to be accepted into your chosen study, you can do foundation qualifications.
How to get help
If you need help with your entry requirements, or have questions, contact a Student Recruitment Adviser.
Find out who is a New Zealand citizen or holder of a New Zealand residence class visa. Known as 'domestic students'.
Find out what documents you need to supply when applying for admission.
If we have more applications than places in an undergraduate qualification, we use the Preferential Entry Score system.