Qualifications exempt from assessment

Germany qualifications: do you need an NZQA assessment?

Immigration New Zealand lists 7 qualifications from Germany that do not need an IQA at NZQF levels 4 to 10, awarded by 66 listed institutions.

If your qualification is on this list, was awarded by a listed institution within the listed years, and is not excluded by the notes, Immigration New Zealand accepts its level without an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from NZQA.

All of the conditions below have to be met together. Meeting one of them is not enough, and this is where most people go wrong: the qualification and the awarding institution are two separate checks.

When is a qualification from Germany exempt?

Immigration New Zealand exempts a qualification from assessment only when every one of these conditions is met. Meeting some of them is not enough.

the qualification is listed in the Academic Qualifications Table
the awarding institution is listed in the Awarding Institutions Table
the qualification abbreviation is listed in the right-hand column in the Awarding Institutions Table
the qualification was awarded from or within the year range listed in the right-hand column in the Awarding Institutions Table
the qualification is not excluded by the notes listed under the Academic Qualifications Table

If any condition fails, you need an International Qualification Assessment from NZQA before you claim points for the qualification. Our guide to the IQA and NZQA assessment explains that process, and the SMC points system explainer covers what a qualification is worth once its level is confirmed.

Academic Qualifications: exempt qualifications

The NZQF level is the New Zealand framework level Immigration New Zealand accepts for the qualification. It is not a points score.

Qualification	Abbrev.	NZQF level
Diplom / Diplom eines Wissenschaftszweiges / Diplomen eines Wissenschaftszweiges The qualification title must include ‘Diplom’ or ‘Diplomen’, and will include a subject specialty. For example: Diplom-mathematiker, or Diplomwirtschaftler.	EDip	7
Diplom The award certificate may include the heading of ‘Diplom’, ‘Diplomurkunde’, or ‘Verleiht’. The qualification title ‘Diplom’ will include a subject specialty. For example: Diplom-Physiker, or Diplom-Physiker Univ.	UDip	8
Magister Artium	Mag	8
Doktor / Doktor eines Wissenschaftzweiges The qualification title ‘Doktor’ will include a subject specialty. For example: Doktor-Ingenieur (Dr.-Ing), or Doktor der Naturwissenschaften (Dr.rer.nat).	EDok	9
Doktor der / Doktorin der / Doktors The award certificate may include the heading of ‘Promotionsurkunde.’ The qualification title will include the title ‘Doktor’, ‘Doktors’ or Doktorin’ and a subject specialty. For example: Doktors der Ingenieurwissenschaften (Dr.-Ing.) Doktorin der Naturwissenschaften (Dr.rer.nat.).	UDok	10

Notes on this table

* Abbreviations used are for the purposes of this list only.
Note: - Award certificates must be provided in their original language. Some universities may award qualification certificates in Latin, in which case, a translated copy from the university or an approved English translation must also be provided. The following must be referred to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment: - All honorary degrees - All listed qualifications where study was completed at any institution outside of the country, including any overseas campuses of any listed awarding institution - All listed qualifications that contain cross-credited courses or papers - All qualifications awarded after 2017

Academic Qualifications: awarding institutions

Your qualification is only exempt if it was awarded by one of these institutions, the abbreviation appears against that institution, and the award year falls in the range shown.

Institution	Qualifications and years
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau	UDip and Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (Hochschule für Architektur und Bauwesen 1983–1997)	EDip and EDok: 1983–1991 UDip: 1992–2010 Mag: 1998–2010 UDok: 1992
Bergische Universität Wuppertal (Universität Gesamthochschule Wuppertal 1983–2003)	Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983
Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus-Senftenberg (Brandenburgische Technische Universität Cottbus 1993–2013)	UDip: 1993–2010 UDok: 1993
Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg (Universität Oldenburg 1983–1991)	UDip: 1983–2010 Mag: 1989–2010 UDok: 1983
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel	UDip: 1983–2012 Mag: 1983–2007 UDok: 1983
Deutsche Universität für Verwaltungswissenschaften Speyer (Deutsche Hochschule für Verwaltungswissenschaften Speyer 1993–1997, Hochschule fur Verwaltungswissenschaften 1983–1993)	Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983
Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln	UDok: 2007
Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen	UDip and Mag: 1983–2012 UDok: 1983
Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald	EDip and EDok: 1983–1991 UDip and UDok: 1992 Mag: 1995–2011
Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder)	UDip and Mag: 2000–2010 UDok: 2000
FernUniversität in Hagen	Mag: 2003–2010 UDok: 2003
Freie Universität Berlin	UDip and Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg	UDip and Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena	EDip and EDok: 1983–1991 UDip: 1992–2012 UDok: 1992
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen	UDip and Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1981
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover (Universität Hannover 1983–2006)	UDip and Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983
Heinrich Heine Universität Düsseldorf (Universität Düsseldorf 1983–1988)	UDip and Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983
Hochschule für Verkehrswesen Frederich List Dresden	EDip and EDok: 1983–1992
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin	EDip and EDok: 1983–1991 UDip: 1992–2013 UDok: 1992
Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main	UDip and Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983
Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz	UDip and UDok: 1983 Mag: 1983–2012
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg / Bayerische Julius‑Maximilians-Universität Würzburg	UDip: 1983–2011 Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983
Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen	UDip and Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983
Das Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)	UDok: 2009
Leuphana Universität Lüneburg (Universität Lüneburg 1990–2007)	UDip: 1990–2010 Mag: 1993–2010 UDok: 1990
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München / Universitate Ludovico‑Maximilianea Monacensi	UDip and Mag: 1983–2012 UDok: 1983
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg	EDip and EDok: 1983–1991 UDip: 1992–2010 UDok: 1992
Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg / University of Bamberg	UDip and Mag: 1986–2010 UDok: 1986
Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg	UDip and Mag: 1993–2010 UDok: 1993
Philipps-Universität Marburg	UDip and Mag: 1983–2013 UDok: 1983
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen / RWTH Aachen University	UDip and Mag: 1983–2012 UDok: 1983
Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn / Universität Bonn	UDip: 1983–2012 Mag: 1986–2010 UDok: 1983
Ruhr-Universität Bochum	UDip and Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg / Universitate Ruperto- Carola	UDip: 1983–2016 Mag and UDok: 1983
Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover (University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation)	UDok: 1986
Stiftung Universität Hildesheim (Universität Hildesheim 2000–2002)	UDok: 2000
Technische Hochschule Leipzig	EDip and EDok: 1983–1992
Technische Hochschule Leuna Mersburg	EDip and EDok: 1983–1992
Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (Bergakademie Freiberg 1983–1993)	EDip and EDok: 1983–1991 UDip: 1992–2014 UDok: 1992
Die Technische Universität Berlin	UDip: 1992–2014 UDok: 1983 Mag: 1983–2010
Die Technische Universität Braunschweig	UDip and Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983
Technische Universität Chemnitz (Die Technische Universität Chemnitz-Zwickau 1992–1997, Technical Universität Karl Marx Stadt 1989–1992, Technische Hochschule Karl Marx Stadt 1983–1989)	EDip and EDok: 1983–1991 UDip: 1992–2010 Mag: 1996–2010 UDok: 1992
Technische Universität Clausthal (TU Clausthal)	UDip: 1983–2012 UDok: 1983
Technische Universität Darmstadt (Technische Hochschule Darmstadt 1981–1997)	UDip: 1983–2010 Mag: 1991–2010 UDok: 1983
Technische Universität Dortmund (Universität Dortmund 1983–2007)	UDip: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983
Technische Universität Dresden (Technische Hochschule Dresden 1981–1991)	EDip and EDok: 1983–1991 UDip: 1992–2014 UDok: 1992 Mag: 1993–2010
Technische Universität Hamburg - Harburg (TUHH)	UDip: 1990–2007 UDok: 1990
Technische Universität Ilmenau (Technische Hochschule Ilmenau 1983–1992)	EDip and EDok: 1983–1991 UDip: 1992–2012 UDok: 1992
Technische Universität Kaiserslautern (Universität Kaiserslautern 1983–2003)	UDip: 1983–2014 UDok: 1983 Mag: 1983–2010
Technische Universität München / Die Technische Universität München	UDok: 1986
Ulm University / Universität Ulm	UDip: 1983–2012 UDok: 1983
Westfälische Wilhelms - Universität Münster	UDip and Mag: 1983–2010 UDok: 1983

Source: Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual . Synced 13 September 2026.

Craft and Trade Qualifications: exempt qualifications

The NZQF level is the New Zealand framework level Immigration New Zealand accepts for the qualification. It is not a points score.

Qualification	Abbrev.	NZQF level
Abschlußzeugnis / Abschlusszeugnis (Leaving certificate / Certificate of completion) Abschlußzeugnis / Abschlusszeugnis der Berufsschule (Certificate of a vocational school) Berufsschulabschluß / Berufsschulabschluss (Vocational school degree)	—	4

Notes on this table

Note: Award certificates must be provided in their original language. The following must be referred to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment: - All honorary degrees - All listed qualifications where study was completed at any institution outside of the country, including any overseas campuses of any listed awarding institution - All listed qualifications in Table A that contain cross-credited courses or papers - All qualifications awarded after 2018
* An official stamp on the apprenticeship documents will state the chamber name and the German State of jurisdiction. The apprenticeship documents will always state the crafts/trade that the apprenticeship was completed in.

Source: Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual . Synced 13 September 2026.

Technical Vocational Qualifications: exempt qualifications

The NZQF level is the New Zealand framework level Immigration New Zealand accepts for the qualification. It is not a points score.

Qualification	Abbrev.	NZQF level
Diplom Ingenieur (Berufsakademie) / Diplom Ingenieur (BA) / DIPL.‑Ingenieur (BA). The awarding certificate will generally include the heading of ‘Diplomurkunde’ or ‘Diplom-Urkunde’.	—	6

Notes on this table

Note: - Award certificates must be provided in their original language. The following must be referred to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment: - All listed qualifications where study was completed at any institution outside of the country, including any overseas campuses of any listed awarding institution - All listed qualifications that contain cross-credited courses or papers

Technical Vocational Qualifications: awarding institutions

Your qualification is only exempt if it was awarded by one of these institutions, the abbreviation appears against that institution, and the award year falls in the range shown.

Institution	Qualifications and years
Berufsakademie Eisenach - Staatliche Studienakademie Thüringen, Eisenach	2002–2008
Berufsakademie Heidenheim, Heidenheim	1982–2008
Berufsakademie Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe	1982–2008
Berufsakademie Lörrach, Lörrach	1984–2008
Berufsakademie Mannheim, Mannheim	1982–2008
Berufsakademie Mosbach, Mosbach	1984–2008
Berufsakademie Ravensburg, Ravensburg	2005–2008
Berufsakademie Sachsen Staatliche Studienakademie Bautzen, Bautzen	1999–2009
Berufsakademie Sachsen Staatliche Studienakademie Dresden, Dresden	1999–2009
Berufsakademie Sachsen Staatliche Studienakademie Glauchau, Glauchau	1999–2009
Berufsakademie Sachsen Staatliche Studienakademie Leipzig, Leipzig	1999–2011
Berufsakademie Sachsen Staatliche Studienakademie Riesa, Riesa	1999–2012
Berufsakademie Stuttgart - Staatliche Studienakademie, Stuttgart	1982–2008

Source: Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual . Synced 13 September 2026.

Not sure how yours reads?

Matching an award certificate against this list is fiddlier than it looks: institutions get renamed, award years narrow the exemption, and the notes can rule a qualification out. Talk it through with us and we will listen to your situation and match you with the right IAA-licensed adviser.

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This page reproduces Immigration New Zealand's published List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment and is general information, not immigration advice. INZ revises the list, so check the linked source page before you rely on it. ProVisas is a licensed New Zealand immigration advisory firm (IAA Licence 201301110).