For undergraduate qualifications
For admission to an undergraduate qualification at UC, except an undergraduate teaching qualification, your English language test results must meet the following minimum standard:
Topic
English language requirements
06 August 2025
Minimum standards required for English language test results to study at UC.
HOW TO APPLY
Minimum English language test results
You must achieve a satisfactory standard in one sitting within two years of the expected study start date.
Some departments and programmes may require higher results than those listed below. Please check specific course and qualification information for further details.
| Test | Minimum standard |
| C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | Minimum score of 169 with at least 162 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. |
| CCEL EAP | Level 2 with a minimum C+ grade. |
| DET | Minimum total score of 105. |
| FluentIQ | Overall mark of 8/10 with nothing less than a 7 being scored in a single category. |
| IELTS | Academic with an average score of 6.0, with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. |
| ISE | ISE II with distinction in all 4 components. |
| LanguageCert | B2 Communicator (LRWS) overall with High Pass. |
| NZAPA | English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 2 (with no skill lower than Level 1). |
| NZCEL | Level 4 - Academic endorsement. |
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) | PTE with an overall score of 50 and no PTE communicative skills score below 42. |
| TOEFL iBT | Total minimum score of 80, with at least 19 in reading, writing and listening. Please note UC only accepts TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date, not MyBest scores. |
For teaching qualifications
For admission to a teaching qualification at UC your English language test results must meet the following minimum standard:
| Test | Minimum standard |
| C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency or Cambridge English exams | Listening: 185 minimum Reading: 185 minimum Writing: 185 minimum Speaking: 185 minimum Overall mark (in one test): 185 minimum |
| IELTS Academic | Reading: 7.0 Writing: 7.0 Speaking: 7.0 Overall mark (in one test): 7.0 |
| ISE III | Listening: Pass with merit Reading: Pass with merit Writing: Pass with merit Speaking: Pass with merit Overall mark (in one test): Pass with merit |
| LanguageCert - C1 Expert IESOL | Listening: no less than 35/50 LanguageCert has changed the way it reports test results, changing from the language of 'pass/fail' to a numerical score. This change does not change the score required, it is simply a change in language |
| LanguageCert - C2 Mastery IESOL | Listening: no less than 25/50 LanguageCert has changed the way it reports test results, changing from the language of 'pass/fail' to a numerical score. This change does not change the score required, it is simply a change in language. |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic | Listening: 65 Reading: 65 Writing: 65 Speaking: 65 Overall mark (in one test): 65 |
| TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) | Listening: 24 Reading: 24 Writing: 27 Speaking: 23 Overall mark (in one test): 98 minimum |
For postgraduate qualifications
For admission to a postgraduate qualification at UC, your English language test results must meet the following minimum standard:
| Test | Minimum standard |
| C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency | Score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. |
| CCEL EAP | Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade. |
| DET | Minimum total score of 120. |
| FluentIQ | Overall mark of 8/10 with nothing less than a 7 being scored in a single category. |
| IELTS Academic | An average score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. |
| ISE | ISE III with a pass in all 4 components. |
| LanguageCert | C1 Expert IESOL (LRWS) with HIGH PASS. |
| NZAPA | English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 3 (with no skill lower than Level 2). |
| NZCEL | Level 5. |
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) | PTE with an overall score of 58 and no PTE communicative skills score below 50. |
| TOEFL iBT | Total minimum score of 90, minimum score of 19 in reading, writing and listening. Please note UC only accepts TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date, not MyBest scores. |
For UCIC-taught qualifications
For admission to the Certificate in Foundation Studies (CertFounStudies) or the Diploma in University Studies (DipUniSt), your English language test results must meet the following minimum standards:
| Test | Minimum standard |
| Cambridge International A Level Qualification | CertFounStudies: - DipUniSt: Passing grade in one A Level Examination. (Teaching and assessment of this subject must have been conducted in English). |
| CCEL EAP 1 | CertFounStudies: C+ DipUniSt: C+ |
| Duolingo | CertFounStudies: 95 (no band below 80) DipUniSt: 95 (no band below 80) |
| GCE/GCSE/IGCSE "O" level | CertFounStudies: C in one subject DipUniSt: - |
| IELTS (Academic) including IELTS One Skill Retake and online | CertFounStudies: 5.5 (no band below 5.0) DipUniSt: 5.5 (no band below 5.0) |
| International Baccalaureate | CertFounStudies: Standard 5 or Higher 4 DipUniSt: Standard 5 or Higher 4 |
| LanguageCert (online) B2 Communicator International ESOL | CertFounStudies: Written (LRW) PASS and Spoken (S) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill. DipUniSt: Written (LRW) PASS and Spoken (S) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill. |
| NZ NCEA Level 2 and/or 3 | CertFounStudies: 4 credits for Reading and 4 credits for Writing from the UE literacy OR five credits of Level 3 English Language standards. DipUniSt: 4 credits for Reading and 4 credits for Writing from the UE literacy OR five credits of Level 3 English Language standards. |
| NZCEL | CertFounStudies: Level 3 (Applied) DipUniSt: Level 4 (General) |
| Pearson Test of English (Academic) | CertFounStudies: 42 (no band below 36) DipUniSt: 42 (no band below 36) |
| TOEFL iBT/home edition | CertFounStudies: 46 (writing is not below 14) DipUniSt:. 46 (writing is not below 14) |
English language proficiency
More information, including how to provide your test results to UC.
