Appendix 4: New Zealand Educational Information

This appendix provides an explanation of the terminology used in relation to the New Zealand Schooling system. It also lists commonly used abbreviations for New Zealand qualifications.

1. New Zealand Schooling Terminology

New Zealand students generally begin school at the age of five. The following table lists the class and school names that students attend at different ages.

SCHOOL

CLASS

AGE

PRIMARY

J1

5

 

J2

6

 

Standard 1

7

 

Standard 2

8

 

Standard 3

9

 

Standard 4

10

INTERMEDIATE

Form 1

11

 

Form 2

12

secondary

Form 3

13

(also called College)

Form 4

14

 

Form 5

15

 

Form 6

16

 

Form 7

17

 

After secondary school students may complete Tertiary qualifications at a University (also known as varsity), a Polytechnic, Technical Institute or Teachers' College.

New Zealand Qualifications

The following lists provide commonly used abbreviations for New Zealand qualifications. The approximate age of students completing school qualifications is also noted.

School Qualifications:

SC – School Certificate (national qualification examined around age 15)

UE – University Entrance Examination (national qualification examined around age 16)

SFC - 6th form Certificate (internally assessed national qualification at age 16)

7th Form Cert – 7th form Certificate (internally assessed national qualification at
age 16)

Bursary, Scholarship (national qualifications sat at age 17)

HSC - Higher School Certificate

University Qualifications:

Undergraduate:

BA/MA BSc/MSc

BMus/Mmus BSocSc

LLB Dip Tchg/ TTC

NZ Library Certificate - NZ Lib Cert/ Lib Dip

Postgraduate degrees:

Hons – Honours degree MBusStud - Master Business Studies

PhD – Doctor of Philosophy degree

General: – Dip for diploma, Cert for Certificate