Qualifications exempt from assessment

Thailand qualifications: do you need an NZQA assessment?

Immigration New Zealand lists 9 qualifications from Thailand that do not need an IQA at NZQF levels 7 to 9, awarded by 19 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 Thailand 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 the year 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 Thailand 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	7
Bachelor of Science**	BS	7
Bachelor of Business Administration**	BBA	7
Bachelor of Economics**	BEC	7
Master of Arts	MA	8
Master in Communication Arts	MCA	8
Master of Economics	MEC	8
Master of Science	MS	8
Doctor of Philosophy	PhD	9

Notes on this table

* Abbreviations used are for the purpose of this list only.
**Bachelor degrees should show evidence of 4 years full-time study. Shorter duration bachelor degrees should be referred to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment.
Note: Award certificates must be provided in their original language for all qualifications. 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 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
Asian Institute of Technology	MS and PhD: 2000
Assumption University	BA, BBA, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2000
Bangkok University	BA, BBA, MA and PhD: 2003 MCA: 2010
Burapha University	BA, BBA, BS, MS and PhD: 2010
Chiang Mai University	BA, BEC, BS, MA, MEC, MS and PhD: 2005
Chulabhorn Graduate Institute	MS and PhD: 2008
Chulalongkorn University	BA, BBA, BS, MS and PhD: 1995
Kasetsart University	BA, BBA, BS, MA, MS and PhD:1995
Khon Kaen University	BA, BBA, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2000
King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi	BS, MS and PhD: 2010
Maejo University	BA, BBA, BEC, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2010
Mahidol University	BA, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2000 BBA: 2008
Naresuan University	BA, BBA, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2014
National Institute of Development Administration	MA, MEC, MS and PhD: 2000
Prince of Songkla University	BA, BBA, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2010
Silpakorn University	BA, MA and PhD: 2010
Srinakharinwirot University	BA, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2000
Suranaree University of Technology	BS, MS and PhD: 2010
Thammasat University	BA, BBA, BEC, BS, MA, MEC, MS and PhD: 2003

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).