Qualifications exempt from assessment
Immigration New Zealand lists 13 qualifications from the Philippines that do not need an IQA at NZQF levels 7 to 8, awarded by 53 listed institutions. A further 5 are named specifically as still requiring assessment by NZQA.
The Philippines list covers 13 qualifications across 53 awarding institutions. Most bachelor's degrees on it sit at NZQF level 7, with a smaller group at level 8.
Philippine institutions change names and merge often, and INZ records previous names with the dates they changed. If your certificate carries an older name for your university, check the bracketed history in the institution row rather than assuming it is absent.
What catches people out
Teaching and education degrees are excluded. Bachelor of Arts (Teaching or Education), Bachelor of Science (Teaching or Education) and Bachelor of Science in Engineering all require assessment by NZQA, so they need an IQA even when the awarding institution is listed.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts (a speciality may be stated) Except the degrees listed below | BA | 7 |
| Bachelor of Arts (Teaching or Education) | — | Requires NZQA assessment |
| Bachelor of Laws | LLB | 7 |
| Bachelor of Science (a speciality may be stated) Except the degrees listed below | BS | 7 |
| Bachelor of Science in Engineering (a speciality may be stated) | — | Requires NZQA assessment |
| Bachelor of Science (Teaching or Education) | — | Requires NZQA assessment |
| Doctor of Dental Medicine | DDM | 7 |
| Doctor of Medicine (Doktor sa Medisina) | MD | 7 |
| Doctor of Optometry | DO | 7 |
| Master of Arts (a speciality may be stated) Except the degrees listed below | MA | 8 |
| Master of Arts (Teaching or Education) | — | Requires NZQA assessment |
| Master of Science (a speciality may be stated) Except the degrees listed below | MS | 8 |
| Master of Science (Teaching or Education) | — | Requires NZQA assessment |
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 |
|---|---|
| Adamson University, Manila | BA, LLB, BS, MA, MS: 2010 |
| Adventist University of the Philippines, Silang, Cavite | BA, BS, DDM, and MS: 2003 MA: 2014 |
| Angeles University Foundation (Angeles University 1996–2004), Angeles City, Pampanga | BA and MD: 1996 BS: 2001 MS: 2009 |
| Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City, Davao del Sur | BA and LLB: 1982 BS: 2001 MA and MS: 2001 |
| Ateneo de Manila University / Athenaei Manilani Curatores, Quezon City, Metro Manila | BA: 1982 BS: 1997 MA and MS: 2001 |
| Ateneo de Naga University, Naga City, Camarines Sur | BA, BS and MA: 2001 MS: 2008 |
| Ateneo de Zamboanga, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur | BA, BS, MA, and MS: 2001 MD: 2004 |
| Baliuag University, Baliuag, Bulacan | BA and BS: 2001 MS: 2015 |
| Cebu Doctor’s University, Cebu City, Cebu | BA, BS, DDM, MD and MA: 2010 |
| Central Luzon State University, Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija | BS and MS: 2007 |
| Central Philippine University, Iloilo City, Iloilo | BA: 1985 LLB: 1982–2009 BS, MA and MS: 2001 |
| Centro Escolar University - Manila, Manila | BA: 1991 BS, MA and MS: 2001 DDM and DO: 1988 |
| De La Salle University - Dasmariñas, Dasmariñas, Cavite | BA, BS, MA and MS: 2003 |
| De La Salle University - Manila, Manila | BA: 1985 BS: 2000 MA and MS: 2001 |
| Far Eastern University, Nicanor Reyes Street, Manila | BA, LLB, BS, and MA: 2012 |
| Holy Angel University, Angeles City, Pampanga | BA, BS and MS: 2003 |
| Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City, Bohol | BA, LLB, and BS: 2002 MA: 2010 |
| Jose Rizal University, Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City | BA and BS: 2009 |
| Liceo de Cagayan University, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental | BA, LLB, and BS: 2009 |
| Lyceum of the Philippines University, Manila | BA, BS and MA: 2009 |
| Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Lucena City, Quezon | BA: 1996 LLB: 1997 BS: 2001 MS: 2005 |
| Notre Dame of Marbel University, Koronadal City, South Cotabato | BA: 1992 BS and MS: 2001 |
| Philippine Christian University, Manila | BA and BS: 1982 LLB: 2001 |
| Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Benguet | BA, BS, MA and MS: 2001 LLB and MD: 1982 |
| Saint Mary’s University, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya | BA and BS: 1994 LLB, MA and MS: 2001 |
| Silliman University, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental | BA: 1982 LLB: 1982 - 2010 BS, MA and MS: 2001 |
| St. Paul University Dumaguete, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental | BA, BS, MA, and MS: 2004 |
| St. Paul University Philippines (St. Paul University, 1997–2004), Tuguegarao, Cagayan | BA: 1997 BS, MD and MA: 2001 MS: 2007 |
| The Philippine Women's University, Manila | BA, BS, MA and MS: 2003 |
| Trinity University of Asia, Quezon City | BA and BS: 2009 |
| University of Baguio, Baguio City, Benguet | BA, BS and DDM: 2001 DO: 2001-2010 |
| University of Batangas, Batangas City, Batangas | BA, BS and MS: 2010 |
| University of La Salette, Santiago City, Isabela | BA and BS: 1998 MS: 2001–2008 |
| University of Luzon, Dagupan City, Pangasinan | BA and BS: 2003 MS: 2012 |
| University of Mindanao, Davao City, Davao del Sur | BA and BS: 2009 LLB: 1999 |
| University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental | BA and LLB: 1995 BS: 2001 |
| University of Perpetual Help System, Laguna, Biñan, Laguna | BA, LLB, BS, and DDM: 2012 |
| University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Cebu | BA, BS, MA and MS: 2001 LLB: 1982 |
| University of San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu City, Cebu | BA: 1997 LLB and BS: 1984 MA: 2001 |
| University of Santo Tomas, Sampaloc, Manila | BA: 1998 LLB and MD: 1982 BS: 2001 MA and MS: 2000 |
| University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental | BA: 1988 LLB: 1997–2010 BS: 2001 MD: 2007 |
| University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan | BA and BS: 2002 |
| University of the Cordilleras, Baguio City, Benguet | BA: 2003 LLB, BS, and MS: 2010 |
| University of the East / Pamantasan ng Silangan, Manila | BA: 1998 LLB: 1998–2013 BS: 2001 DDM: 1999 MS: 2001 |
| University of the Immaculate Conception, Davao City, Davao del Sur | BA: 1992 BS: 2001 MS: 2001–2008 |
| University of the Philippines / Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Baguio, Baguio City, Benguet | BA and BS: 2003 |
| University of the Philippines / Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Diliman, Diliman, Quezon City | BA, BS, MA and MS: 1985 LLB: 1985–2007 |
| University of the Philippines / Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Los Baños, Laguna | BA, BS, MA and MS: 1982 |
| University of the Philippines / Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Manila, Manila | BA, BS, DDM, MD and MS: 1982 |
| University of the Philippines / Unibersidad ng Pilipinas - Mindanao, Davao City, Davao del Sur | BA and BS: 1995 |
| University of the Visayas, Cebu City, Cebu | BA, LLB, BS, DDM, MD, and MS: 2010 |
| Wesleyan University - Philippines, Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija | BA: 1997 BS: 2003 |
| Xavier University / Pamantasan ng Xavier - Ateneo de Cagayan, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental | BA: 1982 LLB: 1989 MD: 1992 BS, MA and MS: 2001 |
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).