Apply as a New Zealand secondary school student
If you are an international student currently studying at a New Zealand secondary school, follow these steps to apply.
If you are an international student currently studying for NCEA, International Baccalaureate (IB), or Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) in New Zealand, you need to apply as an international student.
As a current New Zealand international secondary school student, you can:
- apply now through Puaha, our student portal
- apply before your exam results are available
- gain entrance without meeting Guaranteed Entry Scores.
Start your application Find out more about how to access Pūaha
Note: If you are applying using an approved agent, your agent will submit your application on your behalf.
How to apply online
1. Check that you meet University entry requirements
It's a good idea to check our requirements well before you apply to study, to make sure you’re on track to qualify. Make sure you select New Zealand as your country of study.
To study with us, you’ll need one of the below:
- NCEA students: Attained NCEA Level 3 and University Entrance
- Cambridge (CAIE) students: Attained CAIE University Entrance
- International Baccalaureate (IB) students: Successful completion of the International Baccalaureate Diploma (min. 24 points) and University Entrance
See our Admissions page to find out more about our university entry requirements.
English requirements
If you have gained University Entrance through NCEA, CAIE or IB, this will meet the English requirements. You do not need to provide any further English tests.
2. Apply online
You’ll need a personal email address to start your online application.
- You’ll need to know what you want to study (your degree or other qualification) and when you want to start studying (the year and trimester) before you start your application.
Make sure you read the terms and conditions when you apply.
Start your application Find out more about how to access Pūaha
3. Check your emails
You’ll receive a conditional Offer of Place and an invitation to enrol in your courses.
If your application to study at Victoria University of Wellington is successful, we will send you a conditional Offer of Place. Your Offer will remain conditional until your NCEA, IB, or CAIE results have been released.
With a conditional Offer of Place, you are still able to apply for accommodation, pay your tuition fees, and prepare your documents for your new student visa. We recommend you organise all of these before you receive your unconditional Offer.
4. Accept your Offer of Place
You need to accept, decline, or defer your Offer online before you can select your courses.
5. Prepare to study
You are also able to enrol online in your courses with a conditional Offer. We will send you an invitation to enrol online before the start of your first trimester. It’s a good idea to start thinking about choosing your courses now.
6. We’ll confirm your exam results
- NCEA students: If you have applied for admission with NCEA, you do not need to send us your results. We will verify your results online when they are released in January.
- Cambridge (CAIE) students: If you have applied for admission with CAIE, you need to email us your Cambridge Centre and candidate numbers. We will then verify your results online when they are released in January.
- International Baccalaureate (IB) students: If you have applied for admission with IB, you can request the release of your IB results to us once they are available. Email us when you have done this. Our institution code is: 001649.
7. You’ll receive an unconditional Offer of Place
After your results are released in January and we have confirmed that you meet the entry requirements, you will receive an unconditional Offer of Place to study at Victoria University of Wellington.
8. You’ll apply for your student visa
Now that you have an unconditional Offer, you need to apply for your student visa. Your current student visa will name your secondary school as your place of study. To enrol at the University, you must apply for a new student visa that names Victoria University of Wellington as your place of study and includes your study programme.
9. Prepare to study
Check your email inbox regularly for more information from us about your next steps. Find out what else you need to do to get ready to study.