Certificate of Attainment in Foundation Studies

This Foundation Studies programme is for international students that have not met the academic entry for undergraduate study. Papers in this programme will teach you skills for successful tertiary study within New Zealand.

The programme includes compulsory English language and electives across a range of study areas. Classes include New Zealand students to encourage international students to improve their English and make New Zealand friends.

English Language Entry Requirements

Standard Foundation Programme

• IELTS (Academic) overall score of 5.5 (with at least 5.0 in the writing band)
  For all other tests that we will accept as part of English language proficiency please visit our Entry Requirements page under the Pathways Options tab.

All other evidence is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Accelerated Foundation Programme

• IELTS (Academic) score of 5.5 (with at least 5.5 in the writing band and no band less than a 5.0)
  For all other tests that we will accept as part of English language proficiency please visit our Entry Requirements page under the Pathways Options tab.

All other evidence is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Academic Entry Requirements

• Have completed secondary school study, equivalent to New Zealand Year 12, or
• Have a completed secondary school qualification from your country of origin

Country of origin

Argentina

• Standard Foundation Programme: Título de Bachiller – grade average of 7.0 (lowest passing grade of 6)
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Título de Bachiller – grade average of 8.0 (lowest passing grade of 6)

Australia

• Standard Foundation Programme: Successful completion of Year 11
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: 70% grade average in Year 11

Bangladesh

• Standard Foundation Programme: Higher School Certificate (HSC) with a 50% GPA
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Higher School Certificate (HSC) with a 70% GPA

Brazil

• Standard Foundation Programme: Certificado de Ensino Médio – grade average of 6.0 (0-10 scale, lowest passing grade of 5)
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Certificado de Ensino Médio – grade average of 7.0 (0-10 scale, lowest passing grade of 5)

Chile

• Standard Foundation Programme: Licencia de Educación / Enseñanza Media – grade average between 5.0 to 5.6
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Licencia de Educación / Enseñanza Media – grade average of 5.7 or higher

China

• Standard Foundation Programme: Completion of Senior Year 2; or
  60% or above in Senior Year 3
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: 70% or above in Senior Year 2; or
  65% or above in Senior Year 3 in four subjects; or
  Gaokao Tier 2 score (either stream)

Colombia

• Standard Foundation Programme: Bachiller Académico – grade average of 3.5/5 or 70/100
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Bachiller Académico – grade average of 4.0/5 or 80/100

Fiji

• Standard Foundation Programme: Fiji School Leaving Certificate – 65% average over four subjects (must include English)
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Fiji School Leaving Certificate – 75% average over four subjects (must include English)

Hong Kong

• Standard Foundation Programme: Form 5, pass in three academic subjects
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: HKDSE – four passes with a minimum of three Level 3 grades

India

• Standard Foundation Programme: All India Senior School Certificate (AISSC) 50%; Higher Secondary School Examination 50%; Indian School Certificate (ISC) 45%
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: All India Senior School Certificate (AISSC) 65%; Higher Secondary School Examination 65%; Indian School Certificate (ISC) 60%

Indonesia

• Standard Foundation Programme: SMA 2 (Year 11) – GPA 7.0 in four academic subjects
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: SMA 2 (Year 11) – GPA 8.0 in four academic subjects

International Qualifications

• Standard Foundation Programme:

  IGCSE / O Levels – C grade average in four relevant academic subjects, or equivalent

  International Baccalaureate – 18 points in six subjects

• Accelerated Foundation Programme:

  IGCSE / O Levels – B grade averages in four relevant academic subjects, or equivalent

  International Baccalaureate – 20 points in six subjects

Iran

• Standard Foundation Programme: Year 11 with 16 out of 20 in academic subjects
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Year 11 with 18 out of 20 in academic subjects

Japan

• Standard Foundation Programme: Kotogakko / Senior High School Year 2 – minimum of 60% in academic subjects (grade 2-3 on a scale of 1-5); or successful completion of Senior High School Year 3
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Kotogakko / Senior High School Year 2 – minimum of 70% in academic subjects (grade 4 on a scale of 1-5); or
  Senior High School Year 3 – minimum of 60% in academic subjects (grade 3 on a scale of 1-5)

Kenya

• Standard Foundation Programme: KCSE with 2 C grades and 2 D grades in relevant subjects
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: KCSE C grades in four relevant subjects

Korea

• Standard Foundation Programme: High School Certificate Year 2 – Rank 2-3
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: High School Certificate Year 2 – Rank 1

Kuwait

• Standard Foundation Programme: Shahadat-al-thanawia-al-a’ama / General Secondary School Certificate with pass
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Shahadat-al-thanawia-al-a’ama / General Secondary School Certificate with 75% average in academic subjects

Macau

• Standard Foundation Programme: Form 5 / Senior Middle 2 – 65% in academic subjects
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Form 5 / Senior Middle 2 – 75% in academic subjects

Malaysia

• Standard Foundation Programme: SPM – minimum four passes (Grade C) in four subjects (forecasted results accepted); or
  UEC – minimum Grade C7 in four subjects (forecasted results accepted)
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: SPM – Grade B average in four subjects (forecasted results accepted); or
  UEC – Grade B4 average in four subjects (forecasted results accepted); or
  STPM – at least one C grade

Mexico

• Standard Foundation Programme: Bachillerato General – grade average of 7.0 (lowest passing grade of 6)
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Bachillerato General – grade average of 7.5 (lowest passing grade of 6)

Myanmar

• Standard Foundation Programme: Successful completion of the Basic Education High School Examination / Matriculation Examination
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Successful completion of the Basic Education High School Examination / Matriculation Examination with 75% overall

Nepal

• Standard Foundation Programme: Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Year 11) with a grade average of 50%
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (Year 11) with a grade average of 60%

New Zealand (international students)

• Standard Foundation Programme: 40 credits at NCEA level 2 with no fewer than 12 credits in each of three university approved subjects, plus numeracy and literacy
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: NCEA level 2 certificate with no fewer than 12 credits in each of three university approved subjects, plus numeracy and literacy

Nigeria

• Standard Foundation Programme: West African School Certificate / NECO – grade C6 or higher in five academic subjects
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: West African School Certificate / NECO – grade C4 or higher in five academic subjects

Oman

• Standard Foundation Programme: General Education Diploma with a 60% average
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: General Education Diploma with a 70% average

Pakistan

• Standard Foundation Programme: Intermediate / Higher Secondary School certificate – average of 50% (Second Division) in academic subjects
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Intermediate / Higher Secondary School certificate – average of 60% (First Division) in academic subjects

Peru

• Standard Foundation Programme: Certificado de Educación Secundaria Común Completa – grade average of 14
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Certificado de Educación Secundaria Común Completa – grade average of 16

Philippines

• Standard Foundation Programme: Year 11 – C grade average (to reflect new K - 12 system)
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Year 11 – B grade average (to reflect new K - 12 system)
  Year 12 – C grade average (to reflect new K - 12 system)

Russia

• Standard Foundation Programme: Attestat o Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education) – minimum of grade 3 in five subjects (compulsory and optional subjects)
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Attestat o Srednem Obrazovanii (Certificate of Secondary Education) – minimum of grade 3 in three subjects (optional subjects) and a minimum of grade 4 in two subjects (compulsory subjects)

Samoa

• Standard Foundation Programme: School Certificate or SPFSC – 65% average
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: School Certificate or SPFSC – 75% average

Saudi Arabia

• Standard Foundation Programme: Tawjihiyah / General Secondary Education Certificate with 60% average in academic subjects
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Tawjihiyah / General Secondary Education Certificate with 75% average in academic subjects

Singapore

• Standard Foundation Programme: Singapore / Cambridge O Levels – minimum C6 grade in four subjects (forecasted results accepted)
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Singapore / Cambridge O Levels – minimum B4 grade in four subjects (forecasted results accepted); or
  attempted Singapore/Cambridge GCE A Levels with at least one H2 pass at C grade

Sri Lanka

• Standard Foundation Programme: Sri Lankan / Cambridge O Levels – C grade average in four subjects (forecasted results accepted)
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Sri Lankan / Cambridge O Levels – B grade average in four subjects (forecasted results accepted)

Taiwan

• Standard Foundation Programme: 70% or above in Senior Year 2; or
  65% or above in Senior Year 3
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: 80% or above in Senior Year 2; or
  75% or above in Senior Year 3

Thailand

• Standard Foundation Programme: Matayom 5 (M5) – GPA 2.5
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Matayom 5 (M5) – GPA 3.0

Turkey

• Standard Foundation Programme: State or Private High School Diploma or the Lise Bitirme Diplomasi or Devlet Lise Diplomasi – 2.5 out of 5 (50%)
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: State or Private High School Diploma or the Lise Bitirme Diplomasi or Devlet Lise Diplomasi – 3.5 out of 5 (70%)

UAE

• Standard Foundation Programme: Tawjihiya / General Secondary School Education Certificate with 65% average in academic subjects
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Tawjihiya / General Secondary School Education Certificate with 75% average in academic subjects

Vietnam

• Standard Foundation Programme: Year 11 – GPA 7.0
• Accelerated Foundation Programme: Year 11 – GPA 8.0

Find out more about the entry requirements for this programme or contact the University of Waikato College if you would like to make an online enquiry.

English language test	Undergraduate, graduate certificates, and graduate diplomas (all courses except those listed below)
IELTS (Academic)	6.0 overall (no band less than 5.5)
iBT (internet-based) TOEFL	80 with a score of 21 in writing
iBT (home-based) TOEFL	80 with a score of 21 in writing
Duolingo English Test (DET)	105
C2 Proficiency (formally known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE))	169 and no bands below 162
Language Cert International ESOL (LRWS)	B2 Communicator with 33-37 score per skill
NCUK English for Academic Purposes	Minimum C grade average with no lower than D in all components. Some programmes have additional entry requirements. For further details, visit our dedicated NCUK information page.
New Zealand Certificate in English Language (NZCEL)	Level 4 (Academic)
Michigan English Test (formally known as Michigan Language Assessment Battery (MELAB))	Minimum score of 54
Pearson PTE Academic	Overall score of 50 with no Band less than 42
Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE)	II with distinction in all four components
University of Waikato College	Successful completion of Level 7 with a B grade in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English (CAAE) programme