Qualifications exempt from assessment

Sri Lanka qualifications: do you need an NZQA assessment?

Immigration New Zealand lists 19 qualifications from Sri Lanka that do not need an IQA at NZQF levels 7 to 10, awarded by 10 listed institutions. A further 3 are named specifically as still requiring assessment by NZQA.

Sri Lanka's list runs to 19 qualifications across 10 awarding institutions, covering NZQF levels 7 to 10. The institution list is short, so the first thing to check is whether your university is on it at all.

What catches people out

Two categories are excluded outright: any external degree, and any bachelor's recorded as Pass or Pass Class rather than a named class of honours. Both require assessment by NZQA.

When is a qualification from Sri Lanka 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.

Qualifications from Sri Lanka on the list

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 Applied Science with Honours	BASH	7
Bachelor of Arts ‘Special’ (specialty may be stated)**	BAS	7
Bachelor of Business Administration ‘Special’**	BBA	7
Bachelor of Commerce ‘Special’**	BCS	7
Bachelor of Dental Surgery**	BDS	7
Bachelor of Design with Honours	BDH	7
Bachelor of Laws ‘Special’**	LLB	7
Bachelor of Science ‘Special’ (specialty may be stated)**	BSS	7
Bachelor of Science with Honours (specialty may be stated)	BSH	7
Bachelor of Science of Engineering / Bachelor of the Science of Engineering with or without Honours (a speciality will be stated)	BSE	7
Bachelors (External) with any titles	—	Requires NZQA assessment
Bachelors stated as ‘Pass’ or ‘Pass Class’	—	Requires NZQA assessment
Masters (External) with any titles	—	Requires NZQA assessment
Master of Arts	MA	8
Master of Science	MS	8
Master of Social Sciences	MSS	8
Master of Commerce	MC	9
Master of Philosophy	MP	9
Doctor of Philosophy	PhD	10

Notes on this table

* Abbreviations used are for the purposes of this list only.
** Degrees may additionally state ‘Honours’ on the award certificate.
Note: - Award certificates must be provided in their original language. - Award certificates are double sided with an English language version on one side. 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

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
Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka	BAS, MA, MP and PhD: 2000
Eastern University, Sri Lanka	BAS, BSS, MA, MS, MP and PhD: 2000 BBA and BCS: 2005
The Open University of Sri Lanka	LLB, MS, MP and PhD: 2010
University of Colombo	BAS, BSS, MA, MS, MP and PhD: 1990 BBA: 2010 LLB: 2000
University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka	BAS, BSS, MA, MS, MP and PhD: 2000 BBA: 2005
University of Kelaniya	BAS, BCS, MA, MC, MSS, MS, MP and PhD: 2005 BSS: 2005–2016 BSH: 2017
University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka	BDH, BSH, MS, MP and PhD: 2005 BSE: 2014 BSS: 2005–2012
University of Peradeniya	BASH: 2010 BAS, BC, BDS, BSS, MA, MS, MP and PhD: 1990 BBA: 2006 BSE: 2014
University of Ruhuna	BAS, BSS, MA, MP and PhD: 2000 BBA: 2006 BSE: 2014
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka	BAS, BCS, BSS, MA, MS and PhD: 1990 MP: 2000

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.

Book a free 15-minute call Browse other countries

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).