A student holding a course handbook stands on a lakeside path at the University of Waikato campus in Hamilton, New Zealand, looking toward a classmate.

University of Waikato for International Students: Entry, Fees and Intakes

October 31, 2026•5 min read

TL;DR: The University of Waikato teaches international students on two campuses in New Zealand: a 65-hectare lakeside campus in Hamilton and a city-centre campus in Tauranga. Bachelor's entry asks for IELTS 6.0 and postgraduate entry IELTS 6.5. Indicative 2027 fees start at NZD 34,020 a year for a bachelor's degree. The A Trimester starts on 1 March 2027 and the B Trimester on 12 July 2027.

Can you get in, what will it cost, when can you start and is there a scholarship? This guide answers each from Waikato's own pages, then sets out the steps to a March start. For a view on your own profile, Check your eligibility with Prosper.

What does the University of Waikato offer international students?

The University of Waikato offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral study across arts, business, computer science, education, engineering, health, law and science. Its international guide places it =281st in the 2026 QS World University Rankings. Many Tauranga programmes match Hamilton's, and some, such as the Bachelor of Science in Marine Science, are highlighted there.

What you are comparing	Hamilton campus	Tauranga campus
Setting	65 hectares of park-like grounds and lakes in Hamilton, a city on the Waikato River	The heart of Tauranga city centre, on Durham Street
Programmes	The main campus for degrees across every faculty	Degrees, diplomas and certificates, with smaller class sizes
Housing	University accommodation on campus	Student accommodation across the road, with an ensuite for each student

University of Waikato fees for international students

Indicative 2027 fees per year, in NZD including GST:

Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Sciences: NZD 34,020 to NZD 44,342, depending on the major
Bachelor of Business: NZD 40,165
Bachelor of Laws: NZD 42,173
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours: NZD 50,762
Master of Business (120 points): NZD 43,239; (180 points): NZD 64,859
Eligible new full-time international PhD students pay domestic fees of NZD 8,021 to NZD 8,519

You also pay the Student Services Levy and Studentsafe medical insurance. To compare Waikato with other universities, see New Zealand tuition fees for international students.

University of Waikato scholarships

The main award is the Vice-Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship. Its 2027 regulations give up to NZD 15,000 towards undergraduate tuition and up to NZD 10,000 for postgraduate study. You need an offer of place and a B+ equivalent in your entry qualification. For an A Trimester offer, applications from outside New Zealand must arrive by 30 November.

There are versions for China, India, the Pacific and South-East Asia, and one for the rest of the world, with no separate South Asia award beyond India. Students moving from University of Waikato College into a degree can also receive the NZD 2,500 International Pathway Scholarship, with no application needed.

Check your eligibility ›

University of Waikato entry requirements

Bachelor's entry needs a recognised school qualification or one year of successful university study. For a taught master's you need a recognised bachelor's degree with a B- to B+ average, depending on the programme.

English scores:

Bachelor's: IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80 with writing 21, or PTE Academic 50 with no skill below 42
Postgraduate: IELTS Academic 6.5 with no band below 6.0, TOEFL iBT 90 with writing 21, or PTE Academic 58 with no skill below 50

Teaching and nursing ask for more. See New Zealand English language requirements and New Zealand university entry requirements.

University of Waikato intakes and application steps

In 2027 the A Trimester runs from 1 March to 4 June and the B Trimester from 12 July to 15 October. Many students call the A Trimester the February intake. Allow at least 12 to 15 weeks from application to visa decision. The steps to a March start, in order:

Choose your programme and campus.
Apply online. Waikato processes international applications all year.
Receive an offer of place, full or conditional.
Apply for the Vice-Chancellor's scholarship in MyWaikato by 30 November.
Accept the offer in MyWaikato.
Pay your first year's tuition, before lodging your visa or after Immigration New Zealand gives approval in principle.
Apply for your student visa with the fee receipt. See New Zealand student visa requirements.
Arrive in New Zealand before the trimester starts on 1 March 2027, show your visa and complete enrolment.

If your file will not be complete in time, the New Zealand July intake is the calmer choice.

University of Waikato College: the pathway route

University of Waikato College prepares students who are not yet ready for direct entry. Its Foundation Studies, International Diplomas in Business and Computer Science, and Pre-Masters diploma each progress to a choice of Waikato degrees. Indicative 2027 fees are NZD 29,496 for standard Foundation Studies, NZD 34,832 for the International Diploma (Business) and NZD 32,176 for the Pre-Masters. Foundation and diploma entry asks for IELTS 5.5 with no band below 5.0; the Pre-Masters asks for IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5.

Applying from Sri Lanka

Waikato lists the Sri Lankan GCE Advanced Level with at least three C grades for bachelor's entry. Some Sri Lankan universities have Guaranteed Credit Agreements with Waikato, so select yours on the form if listed. Prosper can apply to the University of Waikato and University of Waikato College for you and prepare your scholarship request. Before your visa, read IOM document verification in Colombo and the New Zealand February intake from Sri Lanka.

Frequently asked questions

What IELTS score does the University of Waikato need?

The University of Waikato asks for IELTS Academic 6.0 with no band below 5.5 for a bachelor's degree. Postgraduate study needs 6.5 with no band below 6.0.

When is the University of Waikato February intake?

The University of Waikato's first intake of the year is the A Trimester, which starts on 1 March 2027. Scholarship applications from outside New Zealand for that intake must arrive by 30 November.

Does the University of Waikato have a campus in Tauranga?

Yes. The University of Waikato's Tauranga campus sits on Durham Street in the city centre, and a university shuttle links it with Hamilton during teaching periods.

Can I work after studying at the University of Waikato?

A University of Waikato degree can lead to a post-study work visa if it meets Immigration New Zealand's rules. Our guide to the New Zealand post study work visa explains which qualifications count.

PS: The scholarship needs an offer of place before 30 November for a March start. To see whether your results fit Hamilton, Tauranga or the College route, Check your eligibility with Prosper.

Check your eligibility ›

References

International Tuition Fees and Costs, University of Waikato, https://www.waikato.ac.nz/int/study/fees-costs/international-tuition-costs/ (checked 31/10/2026)
Entry requirements for international students, University of Waikato, https://www.waikato.ac.nz/study/apply/international/entry-requirements-for-international-students/ (checked 31/10/2026)
Vice-Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship, University of Waikato, https://www.waikato.ac.nz/int/study/scholarships/find-a-scholarship/vice-chancellors-international-excellence-scholarship/ (checked 31/10/2026)
Vice-Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship regulations 2027, University of Waikato, https://www.waikato.ac.nz/assets/Uploads/VCIES-2027-Other.pdf (checked 31/10/2026)
University of Waikato College International Pathway Scholarship, University of Waikato, https://www.waikato.ac.nz/study/scholarships/find-a-scholarship/university-of-waikato-international-college-scholarship/ (checked 31/10/2026)
Teaching and assessment periods, University of Waikato, https://www.waikato.ac.nz/about/calendar/important-dates/teaching-and-assessment-periods/ (checked 31/10/2026)
Apply as an International Student, University of Waikato, https://www.waikato.ac.nz/study/apply/international/ (checked 31/10/2026)
Tauranga Campus in the City Centre, University of Waikato, https://www.waikato.ac.nz/about/campus/tauranga/ (checked 31/10/2026)
International Student Guide 2026-2027, University of Waikato, https://www.waikato.ac.nz/assets/Uploads/Study-with-us/Prospectus/International-Student-Guide-2026-2027.pdf (checked 31/10/2026)
Fees, University of Waikato College, https://college.waikato.ac.nz/admissions/fees/ (checked 31/10/2026)
Entry Requirements, University of Waikato College, https://college.waikato.ac.nz/admissions/entry-requirements/ (checked 31/10/2026)
International Programmes, University of Waikato College, https://college.waikato.ac.nz/international-programmes/ (checked 31/10/2026)
Study as an International Student, University of Waikato, https://www.waikato.ac.nz/int/study/international/ (checked 31/10/2026)

Sandeepani Wickramasinghe|Director|

Sandeepani Wickramasinghe is the co-founder of Prosper Global Education. She studied at Curtin University in Australia, completing a Bachelor of Information Technology, and built a decade-long operational career in Sri Lanka — first as a Project Manager at the Ministry of Defence, one of the country's most process-disciplined institutions, and then as a Production Manager at MAS Holdings, recognised globally for engineering-grade operations standards. In 2023 she co-founded Prosper Global Education with Lasantha Jayawardena to help ambitious Sri Lankan students and working professionals study abroad with precision rather than volume — applying to two or three carefully matched universities instead of ten or twenty. Sandeepani leads admissions and the daily review that decides which applications go out. She writes from the operations side of the journey: the side that turns a student's profile into an offer letter. Based in Colombo.

Back to Blog