Study in New Zealand After 12th: Courses, Eligibility and Costs

Last reviewed: 10 November 2026. Entry requirements below are taken from each university's or polytechnic's own pages for 2027 entry. Some pages show no date, so confirm the current rule with the provider before you apply.

Yes, you can study in New Zealand after Class 12. Most Indian students enter through one of three routes: a bachelor's degree if your Class 12 marks meet the university's minimum, a foundation programme if they do not, or a Level 4 or Level 5 certificate or diploma at a polytechnic. This guide sets out the entry marks, English scores and costs that the providers publish, and flags what we could not confirm.

Can You Study in New Zealand After 12th?

You can, if you meet the entry requirements of your chosen programme and a New Zealand student visa is granted. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) decides every visa individually, and no provider can promise one. Your Class 12 board, overall percentage and English marks decide which route is open to you, and the board matters more than many students expect.

Which New Zealand Qualification Levels Can You Start At?

The New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF) has ten levels, according to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA):

• Levels 1 to 4: certificates.
• Levels 5 and 6: certificates and diplomas.
• Level 7: diplomas, bachelor's degrees, graduate certificates and graduate diplomas.
• Level 8: bachelor honours degrees, postgraduate certificates and postgraduate diplomas.
• Level 9: master's degrees. Level 10: doctoral degrees.

After Class 12, you would usually start at Level 4, 5 or 7. If you are comparing shorter options, see our guide to one-year diploma courses in New Zealand.

Entry Requirements for Indian Class 12 Students

The marks differ by provider, by board and by programme. These are the figures each provider publishes.

University of Auckland

• ISC, All India Senior School Certificate, and Grade 12 from the Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal boards: an overall average of 75% with at least 70% in English.
• All other Higher Secondary State Boards: an overall average of 80% with at least 75% in English. Scores are based on your best four academic subjects, excluding local languages and non-academic subjects.
• Programme minimums are higher. For ISC or All India Senior School Certificate applicants, Bachelor of Arts is 75, Bachelor of Commerce 81, most Bachelor of Science majors 80, and Bachelor of Nursing 82 including English and one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics. Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) needs 85% overall with at least 85% in Physics and Mathematics. Other state boards need higher scores for each programme.
• Medicine, Optometry, Pharmacy and Medical Imaging (Honours) have no direct entry from secondary qualifications.
• The document does not name CBSE, and Kerala is not one of the three named state boards, so the "other state boards" line appears to apply to Kerala boards. Confirm this with the university.

Massey University

• ISC or All India Senior School Certificate: an overall average of 75% with at least 60% in English.
• State Board Higher Secondary: accepted only for Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, with an overall average of 85%, at least four academic subjects and at least 70% in English.
• Massey's page does not mention CBSE or Kerala. If your board is not listed, it asks you to email admission@massey.ac.nz.

University of Otago

• CBSE (All India Senior School Certificate), ISC, or Grade 12 English from the Maharashtra, Karnataka or West Bengal boards: 70% in English. Grade 12 English from all other state boards: 85% in English.
• Your qualification must have been completed no more than two years before you start at Otago. This can be extended to five years case by case. The page we read gives the English minimum, so check the programme page for overall marks.

University of Canterbury

• International Pathway for Engineering, an accelerated route into the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours that can be completed in as little as 3.25 years instead of 4: for India, 12 years of schooling, an 85% overall average in ISC or All India Senior School Certificate, and at least 60% in English.

Wintec (polytechnic)

• Certificate (Level 4): Secondary School Certificate or Standard 10.
• Diploma (Level 5), academic: an overall average of 50% in the Higher Secondary School Examination from a state board, CBSE or ICSE.
• Degree level: an overall average of 65% or higher in the Higher Secondary School Examination.
• Wintec's page shows no update date, so treat these as indicative and confirm with the provider.

English Requirements After 12th

• University of Auckland (undergraduate): IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5. PTE Academic 50 overall with no communicative score below 42. TOEFL iBT 80 with a writing score of 21 on the 120-point scale, or 4.0 overall and 4.0 in writing on the 6-point scale that replaced it in January 2026. Each programme page may set its own IELTS minimum.
• Massey University (undergraduate): IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each band. Test results are valid for two years.
• Wintec: IELTS 6.0 with at least 5.5 in all bands for Levels 5 to 7, and IELTS 5.5 with at least 5.0 in all bands for Level 4 and below.

What If Your Class 12 Marks Are Below the Requirement?

A foundation programme is the usual option. Two examples:

• University of Auckland Certificate in Foundation Studies, taught by Auckland International College: it usually takes a year, with accelerated 8-month programmes for qualified students. It can give guaranteed entry to an undergraduate degree if you reach the required foundation average, IELTS 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5, and any programme-specific requirements. The page does not state the entry requirements for the foundation programme itself.
• Massey Foundation Certificate (International) and Foundation Certificate (International Accelerated): passing meets Massey's admission requirements for an undergraduate degree, certificate or diploma, but it does not guarantee entry to selected-entry degrees. The page does not state the duration.

What Does It Cost to Study in New Zealand After 12th?

All figures are in New Zealand dollars (NZD). They are published estimates, not quotes, and your exact fee depends on the courses you take.

Tuition for one year of full-time study, 2027

• University of Auckland (120 points): Bachelor of Arts (except performance and science-based courses) NZD 42,236.40; Bachelor of Commerce NZD 51,020.40; Bachelor of Science NZD 49,581.60 to 60,909.60; Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) NZD 60,909.60; Bachelor of Nursing NZD 44,959.10; Bachelor of Health Sciences NZD 44,959.20. The Student Services Fee is estimated at NZD 1,158 for full-time study.
• Massey University (120 credits): Bachelor of Business NZD 39,230; Bachelor of Science NZD 35,250 to 43,570.
• Wintec and other polytechnic fees: we have not verified them, so check the programme page.

Living costs and funds for the visa

INZ asks you to show NZD 20,000 for each year of tertiary study of one year or more, or NZD 1,667 for each month if your course is shorter than a year. This is separate from tuition. INZ also expects tuition for the first year (or the whole programme if shorter) and a ticket out of New Zealand. Our guide to NZ student visa proof of funds for Indian students explains the evidence in detail, and the cost of studying in New Zealand for Indian students guide covers budgets. For funding, see scholarships in New Zealand for Indian students.

If You Will Be Under 18 When You Start

Many Class 12 students are 17. The University of Auckland says students who will be under 18 on the first day of semester must contact the university and return its forms before applying for the visa. They must live in approved accommodation, either a university hall of residence or with a parent or designated caregiver who is a relative or close family friend, and meet a student adviser regularly. Other providers have their own rules, so ask early.

Step by Step: How to Apply After 12th

• Step 1: Check your board and marks against the requirements above, including the English-subject minimum.
• Step 2: Book your English test if the provider needs one, and note that results are valid for two years.
• Step 3: Shortlist programmes and confirm each one's entry marks, because programme minimums can be higher than the general ones.
• Step 4: Choose an intake. Our guide to New Zealand intakes for Indian students lists 2027 deadlines.
• Step 5: Apply and collect your offer of place.
• Step 6: Prepare your funds evidence, then apply for the student visa. INZ recommends applying at least three months before your course begins. See our guide on how to apply for a New Zealand student visa from India.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming CBSE, ISC and state boards are treated the same. They are not.
• Ignoring the English-subject minimum, which can be lower or higher than your overall average.
• Applying for programmes with no direct secondary entry, such as Medicine or Pharmacy at Auckland.
• Using a requirement from an old page. Check that the page is for 2027 entry.
• Planning only for tuition and forgetting living-cost funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I study in New Zealand after 12th?

Yes. You can apply to a bachelor's degree, a foundation programme or a Level 4 or 5 certificate or diploma if you meet the provider's entry requirements and get a student visa.

What percentage is needed to study in New Zealand after 12th?

It varies. For ISC or All India Senior School Certificate, Auckland asks for 75% overall with 70% in English, and Massey asks for 75% overall with 60% in English. Wintec's degree level asks for 65%, and its academic diploma asks for 50%.

Is IELTS compulsory after 12th?

Providers set their own English rules. Auckland and Massey ask for IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5, or an accepted equivalent test.

Can CBSE students apply to New Zealand universities?

Otago names CBSE, and Wintec accepts CBSE results for diplomas. Auckland and Massey do not name CBSE on the pages we read, so confirm with them.

Are Kerala state board marks accepted?

Massey accepts state boards only from six listed states, and Kerala is not among them, so ask the university. At Auckland, Kerala boards appear to fall under the other state boards line. Confirm this with the university.

Is a foundation programme compulsory?

No. It is an option if your marks or English do not meet the requirement for direct entry.

How much does a bachelor's degree cost in New Zealand for international students?

2027 estimates are NZD 35,250 to 43,570 a year for Massey's Bachelor of Science and NZD 42,236.40 to 60,909.60 a year for Auckland's main degrees, plus living costs.

Can I apply if I am under 18?

Yes, but extra rules apply. At Auckland you must contact the university, return its forms before applying for a visa and live in approved accommodation.

Conclusion: Choose Your Route After 12th with Care

Studying in New Zealand after Class 12 comes down to your board, your marks and English score, and the route that fits them. Check each provider's current page, and keep funds and visa timing in view. For help comparing options, contact Derrick Jones Management for a free consultation, or read about studying in New Zealand. We cannot promise admission or visa approval.

Sources: University of Auckland, 2027 undergraduate programme-specific entry requirements (overseas secondary school applicants), English language requirements, foundation programmes, undergraduate international fees and under-18 international students; Massey University, entry requirements for international students, foundation courses and tuition fees; University of Otago, entrance requirements; University of Canterbury, International Pathway for Engineering; Wintec, international academic entry requirements; NZQA, New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework; Immigration New Zealand, student fund requirements and Apply early and be ready (17 September 2026). Accessed 10 November 2026.