To prepare for study in New Zealand university, you need to develop your language skills for more than just fulfilling the admission requirements of your university course. The aims of Languages International’s English for University (EU) course are to improve your English so that you can start your course feeling confident and comfortable, and give yourself the best chance of success; and at the same time, to help you fulfill admission requirements through the English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment (APA), without having to sit any other English exams.

Course organisation

The EU courses are organised around practical assignments, doing research, giving presentations, and writing long essays and reports on various topics. The EU courses run at 2 levels, Intermediate and Higher. Have a look at a sample timetable for one week of the EU Higher course. You need to complete EU Higher to access the APA, your pathway to university study.

EU Higher course requirements

• Your English level must be strong intermediate or upper intermediate (equivalent to IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL iBT 46 / PTE 45) to enter EU Higher. You can take our online pre-test and we will assess your English level. If your level is not high enough for EU Higher, you can join the EU Intermediate course or the General English course at Languages International to prepare for EU Higher.
• To be considered for the APA:
  • You have to attend the EU Higher course for all 12 weeks of the course, starting from one of the advertised start dates. You have to attend at least 90% of all classes.
  • You have to complete all the tests and assignments that are included in the EU Higher course. Your teacher will give you a schedule of these at the beginning of the course.
• To fulfil English language admission requirements for university, using the APA, you have to pass EU Higher at the right level. We grade overall performance in EU Higher at 3 levels:
  • Core, equivalent to IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL iBT 46 / PTE 45
  • Competent, equivalent to IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL iBT 60 / PTE 52
  • Strong, equivalent to IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 79 / PTE 59

Note that it is the student’s responsibility to check both the English and academic admission requirements of the university course that s/he wants to enter.

EU or IELTS?

What are the differences between EU Higher, including the APA, and international English exams like IELTS, TOEFL and PTE?