To qualify for the Certificate in Arts a candidate must pass courses totalling at least 75 points (maximum of 90 points), in no more than two subjects listed in the Schedule for the Degree of Bachelor of Arts, at 100-level or 200-level.

Subjects available are: American Studies, Anthropology, Arabic, Art History and Theory, Chinese, Cinema Studies, Classics, Cultural Studies, Economics, Education, English, European Languages and Culture, European Union Studies, French, Geography, German, History, Human Services, Japanese, Linguistics, Management Science, Maori and Indigenous Studies, Mathematics, Media and Communication, Music, Pacific Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Russian, Sociology, Spanish, Statistics, Te Reo Maori and Theatre and Film Studies.

Note: These regulations took effect from 1 January 2011. A candidate enrolled before 2011 may complete under the 2010 regulations, providing they complete their course of study before 31 December 2013. Candidates may apply to the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences for such variation as the Dean may determine.

Prerequisites for all courses apply as listed in the Schedule to the Bachelor of Arts. However, prerequisites may be waived where this is appropriate to account for prior learning or experience. No credit is given towards the diploma for such prior learning.

The certificate may be studied full-time or part-time. Other than in exceptional circumstances approved by the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, the maximum elapsed time from first enrolment will be four years, including the four years in which any courses were completed for which transfer of credit is sought (see Regulation 6 below).

Courses which have been failed may be repeated.

With the approval of the Dean, courses passed within the previous five years and listed in the Schedule to the Bachelor of Arts, or courses deemed to be equivalent which have not already been credited to another qualification, may be credited to the certificate, provided that they satisfy the other regulations of the certificate. Such courses will not then be available to the Bachelor of Arts degree at a later date (except as permitted under Regulation 7, below). Up to 15 points from courses from another New Zealand university may be credited to the certificate, provided that the credit satisfies the other regulations of this certificate.

With the approval of the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences: