Is IELTS required for New Zealand admission and visa, or can it be waived if my bachelor's was in English medium?
In NZ, many universities offer am English Language Proficiency waiver if you have completed your bachelor’s degree in English-medium education, especially if the university is satisfied with your academic background and English usage in previous studies. If your university has accepted you without IELTS , you typically do not need to provide IELTS again for the visa application. .
More expert answers
It depends. In New Zealand, whether you need to submit an English proficiency test (like IELTS or PTE) for your student visa depends on the requirements of your chosen university.
- Many institutions accept a medium of instruction (MOI) certificate if your previous education was in English, but this is decided case by case.
- Immigration New Zealand does not set a universal English test score; the university’s Offer of Place confirms if you meet their language requirements.
Your eligibility for an exemption with an MOI certificate will depend on both the university's and Immigration New Zealand’s current policies.
It depends. Many New Zealand universities may waive the IELTS requirement if you have already completed a degree abroad, but specific conditions apply.
- Medium of Instruction: Your previous degree must have been taught entirely in English.
- Recency of Study: The degree typically needs to have been completed within a certain number of years before your intended start date.
Policies and timeframes vary by university and program.
Do you even need IELTS for NZ?
Which test, what band, or whether you can skip it. Sorted in one free session.
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