Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 31 October 2026
Wellington PTE minimums by programme
From the standard undergraduate, standard postgraduate and higher requirements pages.
| Programme or band | PTE overall | Minimum per skill |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degrees | 50 | Communication score 42 or higher |
| Postgraduate (Honours year and above) | 58 | Communication score 50 or higher |
| Master of Laws | 65 | No communicative skill below 58 |
| PhD in Linguistics / Applied Linguistics | 76 | No communicative skill below 70 |
Test rules and the IELTS level
The standard pages list PTE (Pearson Test of English) without a note on online testing, while they do name IELTS Online and the TOEFL iBT Home Edition as accepted. They give no PTE validity period or institution code, so confirm both with admissions before you send results.
Pearson's own PTE Core FAQ describes PTE Core as a general English test that is initially suitable only for work and migration routes to Canada, and says PTE Academic is the test accepted for university study.
For comparison, the same pages set IELTS Academic at 6.0 with no band below 5.5 for bachelor's study and 6.5 with no band below 6.0 for postgraduate study. The higher page asks IELTS 7.0 with no band below 6.5 for the LLM.
Know your target? Check where you stand
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If your PTE score falls short
Wellington's own English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course counts instead of a test. The standard pages ask for final scores of 4, 4, 4, 3 for undergraduate entry and 4, 4, 5, 5 for postgraduate entry, and the higher page asks Reading 5, Writing 5, Speaking 5 and Listening 4 for the LLM.
Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your Victoria University of Wellington programme page and in your offer letter, so check it there before you book a test.
Frequently asked questions
What PTE score does Victoria University of Wellington need?+
50 with no Communication score below 42 for bachelor's degrees, and 58 with none below 50 for postgraduate study.
What PTE do I need for the LLM at Wellington?+
65 overall with no communicative skill below 58, alongside IELTS 7.0 with no band below 6.5.
Does Wellington accept PTE for a PhD in Linguistics?+
Yes, at 76 overall with no communicative skill below 70.
Can I use Wellington's EAP course instead of PTE?+
Yes. Final scores of 4, 4, 4, 3 meet the undergraduate standard and 4, 4, 5, 5 the postgraduate standard.
Keep reading
Related
- Victoria University of Wellington IELTS requirement
- Massey University PTE requirement
- PTE for New Zealand compared
- Free PTE mock test with AI scoring
- All 3605 guides
Guide updated on 31 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
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