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.
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