The Union of Students' Associations is unhappy that another university has introduced tougher entry standards.
Massey University has joined Auckland and Victoria universities in adopting a points-based system for next year's enrolments - and more universities are expected to follow suit.
University Entrance alone will not be enough to guarantee entry to courses at Massey next year. Like Auckland and Victoria's system, what Massey calls "preferential entry" sets a standard higher than UE.
The move has been prompted by the Government's decision to fund only an agreed number of students at each tertiary institution.
The co-president of the Union of Students' Associations, David Do, says that will deny able students access to university. He says the Government should provide more funding so that universities can enrol all students with UE.
Massey says that, nonetheless, most applicants with UE will be admitted next year. Its prospectus says the preferential entry system will only be applied for courses that are over-subscribed.
Enrolment caps prompt warning
Universities forced to cap their enrolments are warning that restricting student numbers will make the country go backwards.
Massey is closing second-semester enrolments early and restricting entry from next year; Otago and Victoria have already stopped enrolments for the year.
Derek McCormack, chairman of the Vice-Chancellors' Committee, which represents the country's eight universities, says that some sectors are already being held back by a lack of intellectual capacity, and that the country will fall further behind if thousands are denied higher education.
Mr McCormack says it is the first time since the 1950s that students with University Entrance won't automatically be able to go to university.
Since the Government capped funding two years ago he number of unfunded students has climbed to about 5500, he says.
