What are the criteria to get admission into New Zealand universities? Are there any entrance exams or common requirements for a Master's/Bachelor's?

You will not face a single, centralized entrance exam like the SAT when applying to a New Zealand university. Instead, your application is judged on your English test score, your school or degree percentage, and course specific prerequisites, since each university runs its own online portal.

English Test Scores You Need

Academic Requirements By Degree Level

• Bachelor's: you need Year 12 completion with a 60 to 70 percent aggregate, and specific subjects like Physics or Maths for Engineering or Health Sciences.
• Medicine and dentistry at Auckland or Otago require the UCAT ANZ test; other bachelor's programs skip entrance exams entirely.
• Master's: you need a relevant 3 or 4 year bachelor's degree with roughly 55 to 60 percent or higher; GRE or GMAT is rarely asked for except select MBAs needing 3 to 5 years of work experience.
• Documents to prepare: transcripts, a statement of purpose, two letters of recommendation, an updated CV, and a portfolio if you are applying to architecture, design, or fine arts.

My Advice

Apply for the February intake if you can, since it is the primary cycle with the widest course choice, and start your application 4 to 6 months ahead so your visa has time to process. Get your English test booked first, since a low band score is the most common reason genuinely qualified students get stuck at the shortlisting stage.