University entrance requirements will be raised in 2012, but students will also have four new subjects to count towards the required level.

Religious Studies, Business Studies, Education for Sustainability and Home Economics were added to the list of approved subjects for next year as NZQA today announced changes to UE, including making it harder for students to get into university.

Meanwhile NZQA announced UE, the minimum requirement for university entry, would be changed in 2014, requiring secondary school students to obtain NCEA level 3 with 60 credits or higher, NZQA deputy chief executive Bali Haque said.