NCEA at Rosehill College
Building pathways for further study, training and employment
At Rosehill College, students in Years 12 and 13 can study towards NCEA Levels 2 and 3.
Our senior curriculum includes academic, creative, technological, vocational and foundation pathways. Students are supported to select courses that reflect their interests, strengths and plans for further study, training or employment.
Senior Qualifications
The National Certificate of Educational Achievement, or NCEA, is New Zealand’s main secondary school qualification.
Students gain credits by completing Achievement Standards and Unit Standards.
NCEA Level 2
Students need:
- 60 credits at Level 2 or above
- the NCEA literacy and numeracy requirement.
NCEA Level 3
Students need:
- 60 credits at Level 3 or above
- the NCEA literacy and numeracy requirement.
Achievement Standards may be assessed internally by the school or externally through examinations, portfolios or performances. They are usually graded Not Achieved, Achieved, Merit or Excellence.
Unit Standards are generally assessed internally by the school or an external provider and are usually graded Not Achieved or Achieved.
Literacy and Numeracy
Students must achieve 10 Literacy credits and 10 Numeracy credits.
This is a one-off requirement that must be completed before an NCEA certificate can be awarded.
Rosehill College provides additional support for senior students who have not yet met the requirement. Students may be placed in programmes such as:
- 12CAA Literacy and Numeracy
- English for Literacy
- Mathematics for Numeracy
University Entrance
University Entrance, or UE, is the minimum requirement for direct entry into a New Zealand university.
Requirements for the University Entrance qualification include:
- Achievement of NCEA Level 3
- 14 credits in each of three courses from the list of Approved Subjects (refer to seniors NCEA course information)
- NCEA literacy and numeracy – gained before January of 2024 OR 20 credits from the NCEA numeracy co-requisite OR NZQA approved transition standards
- UE literacy – 10 credits (five in Reading and five in Writing) from
- specific Level 2 and above Achievement Standards, or specific Te Reo Māori and Te Reo Rangatira Level 2 and above standards, or
- two specific Level 4 English for Academic Purposes Unit Standards, or
- an academic literacy common assessment tool (CAT) at Level 3 (no credit value, run by NZQA for specific students)
University Entrance does not guarantee entry into every university programme. Some programmes also require particular subjects, higher grades or rank scores, portfolios, auditions or interviews.
Rosehill College advises university-bound students to take four UE-approved courses where possible.
Scholarship and Other Pathways
Students may also have opportunities to participate in:
- New Zealand Scholarship
- the New Zealand Certificate in Foundation Skills
- Vocational Pathways
- Trades Academy
- Gateway and Vocations programmes
- extramural university study
- academic extension and enrichment programmes.
New Zealand Scholarship is intended for high-performing Level 3 students. It is assessed externally, does not provide NCEA credits and may lead to a monetary award.
Students interested in these pathways should speak with their Kaitiaki/Head of House, subject teacher or the Careers team.
Selecting senior courses
Rosehill College students in Years 12 and 13 select five courses and two back-up options.
Ability + Interest + Occupation = Course Choice
When choosing courses, students should consider:
- the subjects they enjoy
- their previous achievement
- course entry requirements
- the subjects needed for tertiary study or employment
- where each course may lead
Students and whānau should read the full Course Information Guide before making selections.
Course advice is available from Manaakitia Mai Teachers, subject teachers, Kaitiaki/Heads of House, and the Careers team.
Changes to Senior Qualifications
NCEA remains in place for Rosehill College senior students in 2026.
The Ministry of Education has confirmed that a new qualification system will be introduced progressively:
- 2028: Year 11 Foundational Award
- 2029: New Zealand Certificate of Education for Year 12
- 2030: New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education for Year 13.
Students will not be required to change from NCEA to the new qualification system partway through their secondary schooling.
Rosehill College will provide further information as the Ministry of Education and NZQA confirm the implementation details.
Last reviewed: 17 June 2026
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