Qualifications exempt from assessment
Immigration New Zealand lists 16 qualifications from Malaysia that do not need an IQA at NZQF levels 7 to 9, awarded by 15 listed institutions. A further 3 are named specifically as still requiring assessment by NZQA.
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.
Immigration New Zealand exempts a qualification from assessment only when every one of these conditions is met. Meeting some of them is not enough.
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.
These appear on INZ's list specifically to say they are not exempt. They require assessment by NZQA even when the awarding institution is listed below.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sarjana Muda** / Bacelor** (Bachelor) with the exception of the specialities listed below. Sarjana Muda** Dengan Kepujian (Bachelor with Honours) with the exception of the specialities listed below. | B | 7 |
| Sarjana Muda Doktor Perubatan dan Pembedahan (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) | BM | 7 |
| Sarjana Muda Kejuruteraan (Bachelor of Engineering) Sarjana Muda Kejuruteraan dengan Kepujian (Bachelor of Engineering with Honours) | BE | 7 |
| Sarjana Muda Pembedahan Pergigian (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) | BDS | 7 |
| Sarjana Muda Undang-undang (Bachelor of Law) Sarjana Muda Undang-undang dengan Kepujian (Bachelor of Law with Honours) | LLB | 7 |
| Sarjana Muda Pendidkan / Bacelor Pendidkan (Bachelor of Education) | — | Requires NZQA assessment |
| Bacelor Pendidkan dengan Kepujian / Sarjana Muda Pendidkan dengan Kepujian (Bachelor of Education with Honours) | — | Requires NZQA assessment |
| Sarjana Muda Sains dengan Pendidikan (Bachelor of Science with Education) | — | Requires NZQA assessment |
| Doktor Pembedahan Pergigian (Doctor of Dental Surgery) | DDS | 7 |
| Doktor Pergigian (Doctor of Dental Medicine) | DDM | 7 |
| Doktor Perubatan (Doctor of Medicine) | MD | 7 |
| Sarjana Ilmu Wahyu dan Warisan Islam (Master of Revealed Knowledge and Heritage in Qur’an and Sunnah Studies) by Research*** | MRKH | 9 |
| Sarjana Pengajian Islam (Master of Islamic Studies) by Research*** | MIS | 9 |
| Sarjana Sains (Master of Science) by Research *** | MA | 9 |
| Sarjana Falsafah (Master of Philosophy)*** | MP | 9 |
| Sarjana Sastera (Master of Arts) by Research*** | MS | 9 |
Notes on this table
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 |
|---|---|
| Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia / International Islamic University Malaysia | B and LLB: 2000–2011 BM: 2002–2011 BE: 2009 MRKH: 2000 |
| Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia / National University of Malaysia | B and LLB: 1992–2011 DDM: 2002–2011 BE: 2009 MIS: 1992 MA and MS: 1990 |
| Universiti Malaya / University of Malaya | B, BM, BDS and LLB: 1990–2011 BE: 2009 |
| Universiti Malaysia Kelantan | MA and MS: 2011 |
| Universiti Malaysia Pahang | BE: 2014 MS: 2011 |
| Universiti Malaysia Perlis | BE: 2010 MS: 2011 |
| Universiti Malaysia Sabah | B: 2004–2011 MD: 2009–2011 BE: 2009 MA: 2004 |
| Universiti Malaysia Sarawak | B and MD: 2004–2011 BE: 2009 MS: 2004 MA: 2011 |
| University Pendidikan Sultan Idris | MA and MS: 2011 |
| Universiti Putra Malaysia / Putra University, Malaysia (Universiti Pertanian Malaysia / University of Agriculture, Malaysia 1992–1997) | B: 1992–2011 MD: 2001–2011 BE: 2009 MS: 1992 MA: 1996 |
| Universiti Sains Malaysia / University of Science Malaysia | B and MD: 1995–2011 DDS: 2004–2011 BE: 2009 MS and MA: 1995 |
| Universiti Teknologi Malaysia / University of Technology Malaysia | B: 1995–2011 BE: 2009 MP: 2011 |
| Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Melaka | BE: 2009 MS: 2011 |
| Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor | B and LLB: 2006–2011 BE: 2009 MS and MA: 2006 |
| Universiti Utara Malaysia / Northern University of Malaysia, Sintok, Kedah | B: 2005–2011 LLB: 2008–2011 MS and MA: 2005 |
Source: Immigration New Zealand Operational Manual . Synced 13 September 2026.
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.
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).