ProVisas Immigration Advisers

Qualifications exempt from assessment

Switzerland qualifications: do you need an NZQA assessment?

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

When is a qualification from Switzerland 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.

  1. the qualification is listed in the Academic Qualifications Table
  2. the awarding institution is listed in the Awarding Institutions Table
  3. the qualification abbreviation is listed in the right-hand column in the Awarding Institutions Table
  4. the qualification was awarded from the year listed in the right-hand column in the Awarding Institutions Table
  5. 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 Switzerland that still need an IQA

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.

  • Doktor der Medizin Docteur en Médecine Doktor der Zahnmedizin

Qualifications from Switzerland 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 Arts (BA) (speciality may be stated) BA 7
Bachelor of Science (BSc) (speciality may be stated) BS 7
Master of Advanced Studies / Maîtrise d'études avancées MAS 8
Master of Arts (speciality may be stated) MA 9
Master of Science (speciality may be stated ) MS 9
Doktor Doktors der Docteur Dottorato PhD Doctor of Philosophy Philosophiae Doctor D 10
Doktor der Medizin Docteur en Médecine Doktor der Zahnmedizin — Requires NZQA assessment

Notes on this table

  • *Abbreviations used are for the purpose of this list.
  • Note: Award certificates must be provided in their original language for all qualifications. Translations should not be used to determine the name of the awarded degree. 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 initial teacher training degrees - All qualifications awarded after 2018

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
École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne BA and BS: 2009 MAS: 2014 MA and MS: 2011 D: 2000
Die / Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich BA and BS: 2009 MAS: 2014 MA and MS: 2011 D: 2000
Der / Universität Basel / UNI BASEL BA and BS: 2009 MAS: 2010 MA and MS: 2011 D: 2000
Die / Universität St. Gallen BA: 2009 MAS: 2017 MA: 2011 D: 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).