TOEFL Accepting Universities in New Zealand in 2026

Almost all universities in New Zealand accept TOEFL scores for admission. The average TOEFL score requirement for universities in New Zealand is 4.0 to 4.5 (80-90).

In this guide, you will find a list of top universities in New Zealand that accept TOEFL, along with their programme-specific requirements.

Key Highlights:

• The average TOEFL cut-off for bachelor’s programmes in New Zealand is 4.0 (80). 
• The average TOEFL cut-off for master’s and doctoral programmes in New Zealand is 4.5 (90).
• Top universities in New Zealand have higher TOEFL cut-offs for nursing, law, and teaching programmes, with scores 8–22 points higher than standard programmes.
• Law programmes at the University of Otago have the highest TOEFL cut-off at 102 among top-ranked universities in New Zealand.

Understanding TOEFL Requirements for New Zealand

New Zealand universities generally set their TOEFL cut-offs by level of study (bachelor’s or master’s) rather than by individual programmes. So you will see uniform TOEFL scores across the top universities in New Zealand.

Here are program-specific TOEFL score requirements at universities in New Zealand.

Undergraduate Programmes (Bachelor's)

Here are the minimum TOEFL score requirements for undergraduate or bachelor’s programmes in New Zealand.

• Minimum TOEFL score: 4.0 (80)
• Section-specific requirements: You need at least 21 (4.5) in the TOEFL Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking sections.
• Professional-Registration Exceptions: Degrees that lead to a licence to practise, such as teaching, nursing, and social work, need an overall TOEFL score of 5.0 (95-98).

Master's Programmes

Here are the minimum TOEFL score requirements for master’s programmes in New Zealand.

• Minimum TOEFL score: 4.5 (90)
• Section-specific requirements: You need to score at least 19-22 (4-4.5) in TOEFL Writing section.

• Higher-Requirement Programmes: Postgraduate programmes in law, teaching, and nursing generally require a TOEFL score of 5.0 (98-102).

Doctoral Programmes (PhD)

For most doctoral programmes in New Zealand, you generally need to meet the TOEFL requirements of 4.5 (90) set for the specific university’s master’s programmes. The University of Auckland has a waiver policy where your supervisor can request a waiver if you have a TOEFL score of 88, and you meet the minimum requirement in the TOEFL Writing section.

TOEFL Accepting Universities in New Zealand

The table below includes some of the top TOEFL-accepting universities in New Zealand.

Top TOEFL Accepting Universities in New Zealand

The top TOEFL-accepting universities in New Zealand place particular emphasis on writing skills, with most universities requiring at least 19-21 in the TOEFL Writing section for admission.

Below is the list of top-ranked universities in New Zealand with their TOEFL score requirements.

Let's learn more about the top TOEFL-accepting universities in New Zealand in detail.

1. University of Auckland

The University of Auckland requires a TOEFL score of 4.0 (80) overall with a 4.5 (21) in Writing for undergraduate programmes, and 4.5 (90) overall with a 4.5 (21) in Writing for most postgraduate programmes. Regardless of your TOEFL score, you need to meet the Auckland English Language requirement with an overall score of 90 and no bands below 21 for postgraduate programmes.

2. University of Otago

The University of Otago requires a minimum TOEFL score of 4.0 (80) for undergraduate programmes and 4.5 (90) for postgraduate programmes, with a minimum TOEFL writing score of 4.5 (21) across all study levels. Law programmes (LLM, PhD) have the highest TOEFL requirement: 102 (5.0) overall with a minimum score of 24 (5.0) in each section.

Dentistry programmes require a minimum score of 24 (5.0) in each TOEFL section, while Social Work programmes require 95 (5.0) overall with a Writing score of 4.5 (22).

3. Victoria University of Wellington

Victoria University of Wellington keeps to the same TOEFL requirements as other universities: 4.0 (80) overall for undergraduate entry and 4.5 (90) for postgraduate entry, with a writing score of 4.0 (20). Teaching and nursing programmes require at least 5.0 (98) with a minimum score of 24 (5.0) in Listening and Reading, 27 (5.5) in Writing, and 23 (4.5) in Speaking. Law programmes require an overall TOEFL score of at least 100.

4. Massey University

The standard TOEFL score requirement for most undergraduate programmes at Massey University is 4.0 (80), with a minimum score of 4.0 (19) in the TOEFL Writing section. Postgraduate programmes require an overall TOEFL score of at least 4.5 (90) with 20 (4.0) in Writing.

5. University of Waikato

The University of Waikato requires a minimum TOEFL score of 4.0 (80) for undergraduate programmes, and 4.5 (90) for postgraduate programmes, with a minimum writing score of 4.5 (21) at both levels. Teaching and nursing programmes require a TOEFL score of at least 5.0 (98), and LLB requires at least 4.5 (90).

6. University of Canterbury

The University of Canterbury requires a TOEFL score of 4.0 (80) for undergraduate programmes and 4.5(90) for postgraduate programmes, with a minimum TOEFL score of 19 in each section. For teaching programmes, you need an overall (5.5) 98 with at least 24 (5.0) in Listening and Reading, 27 (5.5) in Writing, and 23 (4.5) in Speaking.

From the Desk of Yocket

Most universities in New Zealand have fairly similar TOEFL score requirements, but the difference often lies in sectional cut-offs, especially for Writing. A TOEFL score of 90 may look competitive on paper, but a lower Writing score can still make you ineligible for admission. Understand programme-specific requirements carefully to set your target score before the exam. 

Yocket Prep helps you reach your target score with personalised practice tests and section-wise feedback. And once you have your scores, Yocket's counsellors are ready to help you shortlist universities, build your application, and navigate the visa process from start to finish.