Foundation Studies Programme

Entry requirements

Table of Contents

Academic requirements

Australia

Qualification: Year 11

  • Standard Plus: 50%
  • Standard: 50%
  • Fast-track: 55% or completion of Year 12 in Australia
Bangladesh

Qualification: HSC

  • Standard Plus: 50%/3.0
  • Standard: 55%/3.0
  • Fast-track: 60%/3.5
Bhutan

Qualification: Year 11

  • Standard Plus: 50%
  • Standard: 55%
  • Fast-track: 60%

 

Qualification: Year 12

  • Fast-track: 50%
Brazil

Qualification: Certificate de Ensino Medio

  • Standard Plus: Satisfactory completion – GPA 5.0-GPA 5.0-GPA 5.0Satisfactory completion-GPA 5.0
  • Standard: GPA 5.5
  • Fast-track: GPA 6
Cambodia

Qualification: Diploma of Upper Secondary Education

  • Standard Plus: D
    Year 2: 80-89%Standard Plus: D
  • Standard: D
  • Fast-track: C
Canada

Qualification: Year 11 Year 2: 80-89%

  • Standard Plus: 55%
  • Standard: 60%
  • Fast-track: 65%
Chile

Qualification: Year 11

  • Standard Plus: 5
  • Standard: 6

 

Qualification: Chilean Higher Secondary Schooling (Licencia de Educacion Media)

  • Fast-track: 4
China

Qualification: Senior High School and Vocational – Year 2

  • Standard Plus: 60%
  • Standard: 65%
  • Fast-track: 70%
 
Qualification: Senior High School and Vocational – Year 3
  • Standard: 60%
  • Fast-track: 65%

 

Note that GPA will be based on the average of all subjects for the study period of high school

Colombia

Qualification: Bachillerator

  • Standard Plus: 6
  • Standard: 6.5
  • Fast-track: 7
Ethiopia

Qualification: Ethiopian General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (EGSECE)

  • Standard Plus: Grade D
  • Standard: Grade C
  • Fast-track: Grade B
Fiji

Qualification: Year 12

Year 2: 80-89% Standard Plus: Top 4 aggregate 160

  • Standard Plus: Top 4 aggregate 160
  • Standard: Top 4 aggregate 180
  • Fast-track: Top 4 aggregate 200
Ecuador

Qualification: Bachillerator Year 2: 80-89%

  • Standard Plus: 6
  • Standard: 7
  • Fast-track: 7.5
Hong Kong
(recognition from any combination of Core and Category A and C electives but excluding Category B (Applied Learning) subjects)

Qualification: Form 5

  • Standard Plus: 3 passes
  • Standard: 3 passes
  • Fast-track: 4 passes

 

Qualification: HKDSE

  • Standard Plus: 2,1,1
  • Standard: 2,1,1
  • Fast-track: 2,2,1
India

Qualification: Year 11

  • Standard Plus: 55%
  • Standard: 55%
  • Fast-track: 60%
 
Qualification: HSC
  • Fast-track: 50%
Indonesia

Qualification: SMA2

  • Standard Plus: 6.0 (60%) in 4 academic subjects
  • Standard:  6.5 (65%) in 4 academic subjects
  • Fast-track: 7.0(70%), in 4 academic subjects
Iran

Qualification: Year 11

  • Standard Plus: 14/20
  • Standard: 14/20
  • Fast-track: 16/20
Japan

Qualification: Kotogakko/ Upper secondary School Certificate – Year 2

  • Standard Plus: Completion of year 2
  • Standard: Grade 2 in academic subjects
  • Fast-track: Grade 3 average in academic subjects
Japan

Qualification: Upper Secondary School Equivalency Exam (The Ministry of Education)

  • Standard Plus: 3Cs
  • Standard: 1Bs and 2Cs
  • Fast-track: 3Bs
Kazakhstan

Qualification: Secondary school leaving certificate

  • Standard Plus: Year 11 GPA 3/5
  • Standard: Year 11 GPA 3/5
  • Fast-track: Year 11 GPA 4/5
Kenya

Qualification: KCSE Year 2: 80-89%

  • Standard Plus: 4Cs
  • Standard: 4C+s
  • Fast-track: 4B-s
Kuwait

Qualification: Shahadat AI-Thanawaya AI-Aama/General Secondary School Certificate Year 2: 80-89%

  • Standard Plus: 60%
  • Standard: 64%
  • Fast-track: 69% or higher
Laos

Qualification: Completion of Baccalaureate Year 2: 80-89%

  • Standard Plus: 5 .5 or 55%
  • Standard: 6.0 or 60%
  • Fast-track: 6.5 or 65%
Macau

Qualification: Form 5/ Senior Middle 2

  • Standard Plus: 55%
  • Standard: 60%
  • Fast-track: 65%
Macau

Qualification: Form 6/ Senior Middle 3

  • Standard: 55%
  • Fast-track: 60%
Malaysia

Qualification: SPM – Forecast/Prelim/Actual

  • Standard Plus: Ds in academic subjects
  • Standard: Cs in academic subjects
  • Fast-track: C* in academic subjects
Malaysia

Qualification: UEC

  • Standard Plus: Max of 40
  • Standard: Max of 35
  • Fast-track: Max of 30
Mexico

Qualification: Bachillerator Year 2: 80-89%

  • Standard Plus: 6/60%
  • Standard: 6.5/65%
  • Fast-track:  7.0/70%
Mongolia

Qualification: Certificate of Complete Secondary Education Year 2: 80-89%

  • Standard Plus: 1Cs and 3 Ds
  • Standard: 2 Cs and 2 Ds
  • Fast-track: 4 Cs
Myanmar
  • Qualification: BEHS/Matriculation Exam
  • Standard Plus: 55%
  • Standard: 60%
  • Fast-track: 65%
Nepal

Qualification: Higher Secondary Education Certificate Year 2: 80-89%

  • Standard Plus: 55%
  • Standard: 60%
  • Fast-track: 65%
New Zealand**

Qualification: NCEA

  • Standard Plus: 30 credits at NCEA from mixed of level 2 or above. With no fewer than 6 credits in each of subjects (combined credits from related subjects) (i.e., math combined credits from related subjects would be stastics, calculus and math, etc.)
  • Standard: 30 credits at NCEA from mixed of level 2 or above. With no fewer than 6 credits in each of subjects (combined credits from related subjects) (i.e., math combined credits from related subjects would be stastics, calculus and math, etc.)
  • Fast-track: 34 credits at NCEA from mixed of level 2 or above. With no fewer than 6 credits in each of subjects (combined credits from related subjects) (i.e., math combined credits from related subjects would be stastics, calculus and math, etc.)
Nigeria

Qualification: SSCE Exams (West African Education Council WAEC) Year 2: 80-89%

  • Standard Plus: D
  • Standard: D
  • Fast-track: C
Pakistan

Qualification: Intermediate/ Higher Secondary School Certificate

  • Standard Plus: 55%
  • Standard: 60%
  • Fast-track: 65%
Peru

Qualification: Certificate of Completed General Secondary Education

  • Standard Plus: 13
  • Standard: 14
  • Fast-track: 15
Philippines

Qualification: High School Diploma

  • Standard Plus: 75
  • Standard: 80
  • Fast-track: 85
Russia

Qualification: Certificate of Secondary Education (Attestat)

  • Standard Plus: Grade 3 in 3 relevant subjects
  • Standard: Grade 3 in 4 relevant subjects
  • Fast-track: Grade 3 in 5 relevant subjects
Saudi Arabia

Qualification: Tawjihiyah/General Secondary Education Certificate Year 2: 80-89%

  • Standard Plus: 65%
  • Standard: 70%
  • Fast-track: 75%
Singapore

Qualification: Singapore O level (or forecast)

  • Standard Plus: Aggregate of 30 or less across 5 academic subjects
  • Standard: Aggregate of 25 or less across 5 academic subjects
  • Fast-track: Aggregate of 20 or less across 5 academic subjects
South Africa

Qualification: Year 11

  • Standard Plus: 60%
  • Standard: 70%
  • Fast-track: 75%
South Korea

Qualification: High School Certificate Year 2

  • Standard Plus: 55% or Rank 8
  • Standard: 60% or rank 7
  • Fast-track: 65% or Rank 7.0

 

Qualification: Korean High school graduation equivalency exam (GED)

  • Fast-track: 60%
Sri Lanka

Qualification: O Level

  • Standard Plus: 2Ds and 2 Cs
  • Standard: 4Cs
  • Fast-track: 2 Bs and 2 Cs
Taiwan

Qualification: Senior Year 2

  • Standard Plus: 60%
  • Standard: 65%
  • Fast-track: 70%
Thailand

Qualification: Matayom 5

  • Standard Plus: 2.2
  • Standard: 2.25
  • Fast-track: 2.5
Turkey

Qualification: Devlet Lise Diplomasi/State High School Diploma Year 2: 80-89%

  • Standard Plus: Grade 2 in 2 academic subjects
  • Standard: Grade 2 in 2 academic subjects
  • Fast-track: Grade 3 in 2 academic subjects
Venezuela

Qualification: Bachiller Year 2: 80-89%

  • Standard Plus: 12 in 4 relevant subjects
  • Standard: 13 in 4 relevant subjects
  • Fast-track: 15 in 4 relevant subjects
Vietnam

Qualification: Year 11

  • Standard Plus: 6.5
  • Standard:7
  • Fast-track: 7.5
UAE

Qualification: Secondary School Certificate Year 12

  • Standard Plus: 65%
  • Standard: 70%
  • Fast-track: 75% or higher
USA

Qualification: Completion of Year 11

  • Standard Plus: D/60-69%/ GPA:1.0
  • Standard: D/60-69%/ GPA:1.0
  • Fast-track: C/70-79%GPA: 2.0

 

Qualification: Year 12/GED

  • Fast-track: D/60-69%/ GPA:1.0/GED Pass
Uzbekistan

Qualification: Year 11

  • Standard Plus: GPA 3/5
  • Standard: GPA 4/5

 

Qualification: Year 12

  • Fast-track: GPA 3/5
Zambia

Qualification:  School Certificate

  • Standard Plus: Grade 7-8
  • Standard: Grade 5-6
  • Fast-track: Grade of 4



 
Country specificFoundation Connect
BangladeshYear 11 : 60%
CambodiaUpper Secondary Schools – Year 2: 80-89%
CanadaUpper Secondary Schools – Year 2: 80-89%
ChileCompletion of Colleges & Lyceums -Year 1 (Year 11) with good grades
EcuadorSecondary Schools – Year 2: 7.6
FijiYear 11: Top 3 plus English aggregate 180
KenyaCompletion of Year 11 with good grades
KuwaitSecondary Education – Year 2: 80%
LaosCompletion of Upper secondary Schools – Year 2: 7/10
MexicoYear 11: 6.0/60%
MongoliaCertificate of Complete Secondary Education: 4xDs
NepalCompletion of Year 11 with good grades
NigeriaCompletion of Upper Secondary School – Year 2 with good grades
Saudi ArabiaSecondary Education – Year 2: 80%
TurkeyUpper Secondary – Year 3: 70/100
VenezuelaLiceos Bolivarianos/Colegios – Year 4:12 in 4 relevant subjects
UAEGeneral Secondary Schools – Year 2: 80%
USACompletion of Year 11 – D/60-69%/ GPA:1.0



 Qualification Standard Plus (12 Months) Standard Plus (8/9 Months) Fast-track (6 Months)
Global Assessment Certificate  – GAC Level 2 2.6 2.6 3
International Baculureate  – IB ** First year of IB diploma Grade 4 in 2 relevant subjects Grade 4 in 3 relevant subjects Grade 4 in 4 relevant subjects
Cambridge International Examinations O level/IGCSE/GCSE ** (forecast / prelim can also be accepted) 1 C grades and 3 D grades in four CIE official subjects. 2C and 2Ds in four CIE official subjects. 1B and 3Cs in four CIE official subjects
Cambridge International Examinations A level ** 40 UCAS points. Local language in AS Level is not accepted. 40 UCAS points. Local language in AS Level is not accepted. 48 UCAS points. Local language in AS Level is not accepted.
UP EducationStandard Plus (12 Months)Standard (8/9 Months)Fast-track (6 Months)
Foundation Preparation ProgrammeGPA – 3 academic subjects >50% Pass TSSGPA – 3 academic subjects >50% Pass TSSGPA – 3 academic subjects >65% Pass TSS

Applications are also assessed on the basis of:

  • Current and previous academic reports
  • Comments on academic reports
  • Attendance rates
  • Medical issues

**Teachers’ comments and attendance rate are considered to determine entry. An interview is applicable if studied in New Zealand.

This information is to be used as a guide only to determine entrance. UP Education reserves the right to change the requirements at any time without prior notice.

Please contact us for more information if the standard of your curriculum is now shown above.

English requirements

Programme optionIELTS
Fast-track 6.0 and no band less than 5.0
Standard

5.5 and no band less than 5.0 

Standard Plus5.0 and no band less than 4.5
Foundation Connect4.5 and no band less than 4.0
IELTS 4.5 IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0
TOEFL Paper Based (pct.) 450 (Writing 3.5 TWE) 500 (Writing 4.0 TWE) 550 (Writing 5.0 TWE) 550 (Writing 5.0 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based (iBT) 30 (Writing 12) 35 (Writing 14) 46 (Writing 14) 60 (Writing 18)
University of Cambridge English Examinations B2 First or B2 First for Schools with a score of 150. No less than 150 in each skill; B2 First or B2 First for Schools with a score of 154. No less than 154 in each skill; B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 162. No less than 154 in each skill; B2 First, or B2 First for schools, or C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169. No less than 162 in each skill;
NZCEL NZ Certificate of English Language Level 2 with an endorsement of General, Workplace or Academic Level 3 with an endorsement of General, Workplace or Academic Level 4 with an Academic endorsement Level 4 with an Academic endorsement
Pearson Test – Academic PToE (Academic) 29-35 PToE (Academic) 36-41 PToE (Academic) 42-49 PToE (Academic) 50-57
City and Guilds IESOL B1 achiever – 43 B2 Communicator – 42 C1 Communicator – 66
Language Certificate B1 achiever – Pass B2 Communicator – High Pass C1 Communicator – Pass
Duolingo English Test 70 – Only accepted for Foundation Connect a high DL-score can be considered as an exception with a spoken interview a high DL-score can be considered as an exception with a spoken interview a high DL-score can be considered as an exception with a spoken interview
Evidence also accepted IELTS 4.5 IELTS 5.0 IELTS 5.5 IELTS 6.0
Cambridge Advanced (CAE) Grade B2 Grade B2 Grade C
Cambridge English Scale Scores 154 162 169
Cambridge English: First Grade B1 Grade C
GCE O-Level, IGCSE, GCSE or Oxford GCSE* # Grade E Grade D Grade C Grade B
GCE A-Level and AS Level* # Grade E Grade E Grade E
Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level (H2 level # Grade E
Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level (H1 level # Grade C
Canadian High School final year report Grade 11(B) Grade 12 (C) Grade 12 (C+) Grade 12 (B)
USA High School-final year report Grade 11 – 70% Grade 11 – 80% Grade 11 – 90% Grade 12 – 80%
IB (English Language A1 or 2 Higher Level) Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5
IB (English Language A1 or 2 Standard Level) Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5
IB (English Language B Higher Level) Grade 4 Grade 4 Grade 5
Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority HKEAA Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 3
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) B1 B1 B2 B2
University of Auckland English Language Academy EAP Introduction EAP 1 EAP 2 or EAP 3 (C+ grade)
Victoria University English Proficiency Programme minimum of one rating of 4 and three ratings of 3 minimum of one rating of 4 and three ratings of 3 minimum of two ratings of 4 and two ratings of 3 minimum of three ratings of 4 and one rating of 3
Languages International Level 1 Level 2
Auckland Institute of Studies Level 4
North Shore Language School Level 3 Level 4
Auckland Edinburgh College Successfully completed Intermediate Level 1 at AEC Successfully completed Intermediate Level 2 at AEC Successfully completed Upper Intermediate Level 1 at AEC
UP English for Future Studies (registered as Intensive General English) 1 2 3 4
NCEA ** 10 Literacy Credits at L2 or higher (5 reading and 5 writing credits) 14 Literacy Credits at L2 or higher (7 reading and 7 writing credits)

*GCE O-Level, IGCSE, GCSE or Oxford GCSE results:Schools can elect to have results presented on a 9-1 scale or an A to G grade

#CIE Relevant subjects:AS/A Level: English Language, Language and Literature in English, Literature in English OR IG Level: English First Language, English Literature

**NCEA Relevant subjects: L2 or higher. We accept credits from: English or English for Academic Purposes

Country specific qualifications

We also accept the following country-specific qualifications. We may require you to have achieved a specific score or mark in an approved English-intensive subject within your qualification.

CountryQualification
AustraliaRecognised Year 12 qualification
CanadaRecognised Canadian High School Diploma
DenmarkStudentereksamen
FijiFiji Year 12 Certificate Examination (7th Form)
FinlandYlioppilastutkinoto, Studentexamen or the Upper Secondary School Certificate.
GermanyAbitur or DAAD
Hong KongHong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)
IndiaIndian School Certificate (ISC) or All-India Senior School Certificate (AISSC) Year 12 qualifications
MalaysiaSTPM
NorwayVitnemal
SamoaFoundation English in Foundation Certificate from National University of Samoa
SingaporeNational University of Singapore (NUS) High School Diploma or a three-year diploma from Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Nanyang Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic
SwedenAvgangsbetyg or Slutbetyg
South AfricaNational Senior Certificate / Senior Certificate / Matriculation
South Pacific CountriesSouth Pacific Form Seven Certificate
The NetherlandsVoorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs (VWO)
TongaTonga National Form Seven Certificate
USASAT, High School Diploma

Other acceptable English evidence

Evidence of secondary study in English by the student:

Completion of at least four years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction.

Schools:

For programmes delivered by a registered school – other acceptable evidence as approved by the Head of Admissions may be used for entry.

Successful completion of a programme at a language or registered school:

UP Education Partner English Language School: Evidence of successfully meeting course assessment and graduation requirements at selected NZ Language Schools (NZQA Category One PTEs) who have an agreement with UP Education

The UP English Language Test (UPELT) has been developed to help provide prospective students with obtaining their English language scores prior to enrolment.