Special Admission

Special Admission is for people over 20 who do not have a recognised University Entrance qualification but have relevant work and life experience.

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You can apply for Special Admission if you:

  1. are over 20 years of age
  2. are a New Zealand or Australian citizen or permanent resident
  3. do not hold a recognised University Entrance qualification.

Required documentation

  1. A CV (of up to three pages) of your work and life experience to date. This is an opportunity to tell us about your achievements. The Careers and Employment website has tools to help with CV writing.
  2. A one-page personal statement, which must be written by you, explaining your goals and objectives for university study.
  3. Academic transcripts of any secondary or tertiary-level qualifications you have achieved.

We may also ask you to come to our campus to complete an assessment of your English and mathematics skills.

How to apply

  1. Apply online by the deadline.
  2. Submit your CV, personal statement, and academic transcripts.
  3. If required, you may be asked to come to campus to sit follow-up English and mathematics assessments. Assessments will take place in Wellington or Auckland.

Practice assessments and answers

Applicants assessed as being ready for degree-level study will be accepted into their chosen programme. Others will be advised of alternative study options.

How applications are assessed

We will seek evidence of the following:

  • work experience that has prepared you for university study by requiring you to use higher-order thinking skills and high-level written communication and numeracy skills
  • clear goals and objectives for degree-level study
  • qualifications that are relevant to your proposed programme of study
  • demonstrated English and mathematics skills (if we ask you to come in for a follow-up assessment).

Victoria University of Wellington is committed to providing pathways to university for under-represented groups. If you are a Māori or Pasifika applicant and we assess you as degree-ready, you will be admitted to your programme(s) with the following conditions:

  • You must attend study and course planning interviews.
  • You must attend the Māori or Pasifika New Students’ orientation.
  • You must participate in a faculty mentoring programme for Māori and Pasifika students.