India — Qualifications Exempt from Assessment

At a glance

Applicants under the Skilled Migrant Category who hold certain Indian academic qualifications from specified institutions and within defined date ranges can claim points without requiring an International Qualification Assessment (IQA) from NZQA. This page sets out the list of exempt qualifications, the awarding institutions, and the conditions that must be met. [I-india]

Definition

A qualification is exempt from assessment and qualifies for the indicated points if all of the following are true: [I-india]

1. the qualification is listed in the Academic Qualifications Table below;
2. the awarding institution is listed in the Awarding Institutions Table;
3. the qualification abbreviation matches the abbreviation shown for that institution in the right‑hand column of the Awarding Institutions Table;
4. the qualification was awarded from or within the year range shown in that column; and
5. the qualification is not excluded by the notes listed under the Academic Qualifications Table.

Academic Qualifications Table

Qualification	Abbreviation*	Level in NZQF terms	Points under SMC
Bachelor of Engineering / Bachelor of Science (Engineering) (with or without honours) (a speciality may be stated)**	BE	7	50
Bachelor of Laws (with or without honours)**	LLB	7	50
Bachelor of Technology (with or without honours) (a speciality may be stated)**	BT	7	50
Bachelor of Arts with Honours**	BAH	7	50
Bachelor of Commerce with Honours**	BCH	7	50
Bachelor of Science with Honours**	BSH	7	50
Master of Arts***	MA	8	50
Master of Commerce***	MC	8	50
Master of Science***	MS	8	50
Master of Engineering / Master of Science (Engineering) (a speciality may be stated)***	ME	9	70
Master of Philosophy	MP	9	70
Master of Technology (a speciality may be stated)***	MT	9	70
Doctor of Philosophy****	PhD	10	70

*Abbreviations used are for the purpose of this list only.

**All Pass and Third Class or Division degrees with or without Honours must be referred to NZQA for assessment.

***Evidence of an awarded bachelor degree in a relevant subject at Level 7 is required. These master’s degrees may or may not be awarded with Honours.

****Evidence of an awarded master degree in a relevant subject at Level 8 or above is required.

If an applicant believes their qualification may be higher than the level stated they should apply to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment.

Note: Award certificates must be provided in their original language.

The following must be referred to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment:

• All qualifications where an award certificate has not yet been issued (and the applicant holds only a provisional certificate)
• 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
• Award certificates that state a college where study was undertaken (including qualifications studied at affiliated or autonomous colleges)
• All qualifications awarded after 2017

Awarding Institutions Table

Institution (previous names in brackets)	Qualification(s) awarded from or between dates
Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh	BAH, BCH, BSH, MA, MC, MP, MS and PhD: 1982 BE: 1982–2000 LLB: 1982–2012 BT and MT: 2001
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi	BSH, MS and PhD: 1990
Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh	BE, LLB, BT, ME, MP, MT and PhD: 2002
Assam University, Silchar, Assam	MA, MC, MP, MS and PhD: 2008
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh	LLB, BAH, BCH, BSH, MA, MC, MP, MS and PhD: 1987 BT: 1987–2013
Bangalore University, Jnana Barathi, Bangalore, Karnataka	BE, LLB, MA, MC, ME, MS and PhD: 2002
Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu	MC, MP, MS and PhD: 2003
Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu	MA, MP, MS and PhD: 2003 BT and MT: 2003–2007 MT: 2013
Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab	BT, MS, MT and PhD: 2007
Dr. Harisingh Gour University / Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh	MP, MT and PhD: 2001
English and Foreign Languages University / EFL University (Central Institute of English & Foreign Languages 2001–2006), Hyderabad, Telanagana, (Andhra Pradesh 2001–2014)	BAH: 2011 MA, MP and PhD: 2001 MP: 2001–2013
Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (Guru Ghasidas University 2004–2009), Bilaspur, Chhatisgarh	BT, BAH, BCH, BSH, MA, MC, MP, MS and PhD: 2004
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi	LLB, MA, MS, MT and PhD: 2007
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab	LLB, BT, BSH, MA, MC, MP, MS, MT and PhD: 2000
Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, Srinagar, Garhwal, Uttarakand / Uttaranchal	LLB, BT, MC, MP, MS and PhD: 2003
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka	BSH: 2015 ME, MS, MT and PhD: 1990
Indian Institute of Technology / IIT Bombay, Mumbai (Bombay 1983–1996), Maharashtra	BT, MS, MT and PhD: 1983
Indian Institute of Technology / IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal	BT: 1985 LLB: 2010 MS, MT and PhD: 1982
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi / IIT Delhi, New Delhi	BT: 1985 MS, MT and PhD: 1983
Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur / IITK, Uttar Pradesh	BT, MS, MT and PhD: 1990 MP: 2013
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), Chennai (Madras 1983–1996), Tamil Nadu	BT, MS, MT and PhD: 1983
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee / ITT Roorkee, (Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee 2001–2006), Uttarakhand / Uttaranchal	BE: 2001–2008 BT: 2002 MS, MT and PhD: 2001
Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan	BE, LLB, BAH, BCH, MA, MC, ME, MS, and PhD: 2003 MP: 2014
Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi	BSH, BT, MS, MT and PhD: 2003
Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi	BE, BAH, BSH, MA, MP, MS, MT and PhD: 2000 BT: 2005
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi	BAH, MA, MP, MS and PhD: 1985
Kakatiya University, Warangal, Telangana (Andhra Pradesh 2002–2014)	LLB, BT, MA, MC, MP, MS and PhD: 2002
Karnatak University, Dharwad, Karnataka	MA, MC, MP, MS and PhD: 2000
Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana	LLB, BT, MA, MC, MP, MS, MT and PhD: 2000
Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu	MA, MP, MS and PhD: 1999 MC: 1999–2013
Manipur University, Imphal, Manipur	MA, MC, MS and PhD: 2004
Nagaland University, Kohima, Lumami, Nagaland	MA, MC, MS and MP: 2000
National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu	BT, MS, MT and PhD: 2007
National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore	BT, MS, MT and PhD: 2007
National Institute of Technology Warangal, Andhra Pradesh	BT, MS and MT: 2007
North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya	BT, MA, MC, MP, MS and PhD: 2000
Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjab	LLB, MA, MC, ME, MP, MS, MT and PhD: 2001
Pondicherry University, Kalapet, Puducherry (Pondicherry 1999–2006)	MA, MC, MP, MS, MT and PhD: 1999
Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab	LLB, BT, MA, MC, MP, MS, MT and PhD: 2001
Rajiv Gandhi University, Rono Hills, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh	MA, MC, MP, MS, MT and PhD: 2007
Savitribai Phule Pune University (University of Pune 2001–2014), Pune, Maharashtra	MP, MT and PhD: 2001
Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University / S.N.D.T Women’s University, Mumbai, Maharashtra	MC, MP, MS and PhD: 2000
University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal	BT, BSH, MA, MP, MS and PhD: 2001
University of Delhi, Delhi	LLB, BAH, BCH, BSH, MA, MC, MP, MS and PhD: 1982
University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana (Andhra Pradesh 1990–2014)	MA, MP, MS and PhD: 1990 MT: 2006
University of Jammu, Jammu Tawi, Jammu and Kashmir	MA, MC, MP, MS and PhD: 2001
University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir	MA, MP, MS and PhD: 2002
University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	MA, MC, MP, MS and PhD: 2000
University of Mysore, Mysore, Karnataka	MA, MC, MP, MS and PhD: 1999
University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan	LLB, MP, MT and PhD: 2004 BT: 2008
Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal	BAH, BSH, MA, MS and PhD: 1995

Application in decisions

When assessing a Skilled Migrant Category application, INZ uses this table to determine whether a claimed Indian qualification is exempt from IQA. If all conditions are met, the applicant is awarded the points indicated in the Academic Qualifications Table for the NZQF level shown. [I-india]

An applicant who believes their qualification may be higher than the level stated must apply to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment, because the higher points cannot be claimed under this exemption alone. [I-india]

Interpretation & edge cases

Mandatory NZQA referral – Even if a qualification appears in the tables, it must be referred to NZQA for a full IQA in any of these circumstances: [I-india]

• only a provisional certificate is held (no final award certificate);
• the qualification is an honorary degree;
• any part of the study was completed outside India, including at overseas campuses of a listed institution;
• the qualification includes cross-credited courses or papers;
• the award certificate names a college (including affiliated or autonomous colleges) where the study was undertaken; or
• the qualification was awarded after 2017.

Original language certificates – Award certificates must be provided in their original language. [I-india]

Pass / Third Class / Division degrees – All Pass and Third Class or Division degrees (with or without Honours) from the Bachelor-level qualifications must be referred to NZQA for assessment. [I-india]

Master’s and Doctoral prerequisites – A Master’s degree claimed under this exemption requires evidence of an awarded bachelor degree in a relevant subject at Level 7; a PhD requires evidence of an awarded master degree in a relevant subject at Level 8 or above. [I-india]

Citations

• I-india — India