Entry pathways#
There are a number of options for your child to achieve a formal qualification. Some universities also have entry pathways specifically for homeschooled students.
Tertiary institutions and programmes have different student admission requirements. For more information, you should contact tertiary providers directly.
Your child may be able to sit some National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) assessments.
Tertiary education provider or vocational pathway
NCEA assessments could be completed at a tertiary education provider, or a vocational pathway such as workplace training.
Start tertiary or workplace learning while at school – Careers New Zealand
Supporting young people to achieve NCEA – Youth Guarantee
Secondary school
Your child may also be able to sit NCEA assessments at a secondary school. You will need to contact the school directly and ask if they will be a 'link school'. There is no obligation for a school to be a link school.
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) website has more information about sitting NCEA at a link school.
Internal and external assessment of homeschool students – NZQA
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu
If your child is aged 16 to 19, they can also enrol with Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu for free to sit NCEA.
Your child can sit Cambridge International exams at approved schools in October to November as a private candidate.
Not all syllabuses are available to home-educated students. You will need to contact the school of your choice and organise the exams through them and pay a fee if your child is accepted.
Your child can enter university if they have Christian Education New Zealand (CENZ) Level 3 certificate or CENZ Level 3 certificate with Honours.
Your child can enter university if they have an Accelerated Christian Education Certificate of Achievement and High School Advanced Certificate Level 3 or Certificate Level 3 with Honours.
Some universities have entry pathways specifically for homeschooled students.
The University of Canterbury and Massey University have information on their website about entry requirements for homeschool students.
Secondary school and homeschool students – Massey University
- Parents and caregivers
