Home›Programmes›Language & Culture›New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 5) (Academic)

New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 5) (Academic)

Level 5

Need Some Advice?Apply Now
button for easy access to information about this qualification

Learn to communicate with fluency and flexibility with the UCOL New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 5).

A student smiling on the street
Quick info

Level: 5

Locations: UCOL Manawatū in Palmerston North

Duration: 19 weeks full-time
(See Course Hours & Duration for details)

Dates:
17 Feb 2025 - 27 Jun 2025
21 Jul 2025 - 28 Nov 2025


Domestic Fees: *
$3,419.00

Scholarship info

Find out if you're eligible for fees-free study

International Fees:*
$9,307.00

Additional Fees
Compulsory course costs may apply.

* Fees are indicative only, and are inclusive of the student services levy and GST (goods and services tax). The fee shown is for one year of study.

Need Some Advice?Apply Now

You'll study reading, writing, listening and speaking at an advanced level to support you to communicate with fluency and flexibility in professional and academic contexts.

Education pathways

This Certificate builds on the UCOL other English language programmes, including:

This programme uses blended delivery – combining in-person and online learning.

Image above courtesy of The Brand Lab - Education New Zealand.

 Course Hours & Duration

This programme runs for 19 weeks each year, including 2 holiday weeks for two years.

Per week, your learning will include approximately:

Class Time - 20 hrs
Lectures, tutorials, and/or online recordings, practicals and builds, timetable set by your lecturer.

Study Time - 14 hrs
Study in your own time.

 Career & Study Outcomes

Successful graduates of the UCOL New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 5) (Academic) can:

  • Understand the main ideas of complex spoken conversations.
  • Speak with fluency and spontaneity to communicate information, ideas and thoughts in extended conversations.
  • Use communication and language skills to confidently participate in discussions.
  • Read and understand complex texts.
  • Summarise and synthesise information.
  • Write relevant, extended, well-crafted, logically structured information that is targeted at your audience, incorporates, evaluates and applies information and arguments from a range of sources.

New Zealand Certificate in English Language Level 5 (NZCEL L5) and Bachelor of Nursing

The Level 5 programme has been added to the UCOL already popular suite of English Language programmes.  

Successful completion of the New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 5) meets the English Language entry requirements for the UCOL Bachelor of Nursing and gives students the opportunity to be fully immersed in the English Language in New Zealand, making them more prepared for their studies and placements. 

New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 5) is equivalent to IELTS 6.5, with no band score lower than 6.0.  This allows students entry into Post-graduate Diplomas and certificates (Level 8), Bachelors and Honours Degrees (Level 8), as well as Master's Degrees (Level 9), and Doctoral Degrees (Level 10).  

 Course Information

Note: As a subsidiary of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, UCOL is committed to providing the best learning outcome for you. As part of this, all programmes are currently being reviewed to make them portable, consistent, and closely aligned with the needs of the industry. When published, this course information is correct, but the courses offered may change over time. If you have any questions call an Enrolment Advisor on 0800 468 265.

This programme consists of 60 credits. The courses include;

Reading Level 5 (15 Credits)
You will understand in detail a range of lengthy, complex written texts of academic relevance, and understand precise and lower-frequency vocabulary.

Writing Level 5 (15 Credits)
You will be able to use a wide range of appropriate vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions, with no significant inaccuracies. Students will be able to write with a high degree of accuracy across a range of sophisticated grammatical structures.

Listening Level 5 (15 Credits)
You will understand extended speech of academic or professional relevance which may include a range of idiomatic expressions and a range of accents and dialects when delivered at natural speed.

Speaking Level 5 (15 Credits)
You will be able to speak with fluency and spontaneity to communicate information, ideas and thoughts in extended discourse in formal and informal academic settings that are both familiar and unfamiliar.

 Learning Facilities

All learners have access to the full range of the UCOL on-site facilities such as the library, learning hubs, study areas, and computer labs.

 Domestic Entry Requirements

New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 4) (Academic) 

OR,

equivalent skills and knowledge such as IELTS 6.0. IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form (i.e. combining scores from more than one test is not permissible).

For all learners already in New Zealand, a diagnostic test may be used to identify the Level at which learners should begin studying.

 

For more information about NCEA Credits see the UCOL Te Pūkenga NCEA explained page.

 International Entry Requirements

New Zealand Certificate in English Language (Level 4) (Academic)

OR,

equivalent skills such as IELTS 6.0. IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form (i.e. combining scores from more than one test is not permissible).

For all learners already in New Zealand, a diagnostic test may be used to identify the Level at which learners should begin studying.

 Advice & Guidance

All learners are encouraged to access support and guidance to improve study, research and academic skills.

ILN Refugee English funding
Note that a learner may only be re-enrolled in an ILN Refugee English funded provision for a period of three years. That is, enrolments/re-enrolments of an individual learner (in the same or different qualifications) may be non-consecutive, and the sum total duration of those enrolments/re-enrolments may be up to 36 months).

Recognition of prior learning

Applications for Recognition of Prior Learning, including Cross Credit, Credit Transfer and Assessment of Prior Learning may be made on the Recognition of Prior Learning Form where a learner believes all learning outcomes for a course have already been met. Applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the UCOL Academic Statute and other relevant policies and procedures.

Application checklist
It will make the process easier if you prepare the following before you apply:

  • National Student Number (NSN) (If you don't have a NSN, you may request one from NZQA, or you can supply a verified copy of your birth certificate, passport or Whakapapa statement.)
  • Evidence of your highest level of academic achievement (and evidence of prior learning, if applicable)
  • Evidence that you meet the entry requirements of the programme
  • If you're 24 years or younger, you may be eligible to enrol in one of our free Youth Transition programmes.

Note that you will need to provide any verified documents in person, via post or email (not via the online application form).

 Accreditation

The programme is approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority under the provisions of the Education and Training Act 2020, and Universal College of Learning, a business division of Te Pūkenga is accredited to teach it.

Top