Please note:
Applications for all 26-SU1 Headstart courses close Wednesday 17 December.
Summer Headstart
If you’ve achieved University Entrance but feel uncertain about a particular subject, or you’ve been out of study for some time, the Headstart programme could be the ideal way to boost your confidence and prepare for academic success.
Headstart courses are 5 weeks long and cover pre-university material generally equivalent to NCEA Level 2 or Level 2/3 to prepare you for studying 100-level courses. All Headstart courses are very intensive and students are recommended to enrol in no more than two at a time. Independent study outside of scheduled classes is expected to support your learning. Headstart courses do not contribute credit points towards a degree.
Entry requirements
Apart from achieving UE, there are no entry requirements for Headstart courses, but you are recommended to have studied to at least Level 1 in your chosen subject(s). If you have no prior study in your chosen subject(s), you should consider completing preliminary study beforehand.
If you have a strong recent background of study in a subject at NCEA Level 3 or equivalent, you will not need Headstart.
If you have good, recent results at Level 2, or you are unsure whether a Headstart course is right for you, contact the Transition Programmes team.
Choosing your Headstart courses
The following Headstart courses are available in 2026 (choose one or two courses ONLY):
- TRNS003 Introduction to Social Issues and Challenges
- TRNS004 Teacher Education and Educational Studies
- TRNS005 Exploring the Psychology and Biology of the Human Mind
- TRNS006 Elementary Chemistry
- TRNS008 Fundamentals of Physics
- TRNS011 An Introduction to Business
- TRNS012 An Invitation to Law
- TRNS017 Mathematics with Calculus
Mathematics with Calculus is an important course if you intend to major in Engineering, Commerce, or any of the sciences (including Health Sciences, Psychology or Forestry).
Fundamentals of Physics and/or Elementary Chemistry are key courses if you intend to major in the Physical Sciences, Biochemistry or Engineering.
While the science courses are very likely to be helpful for Health Sciences or Veterinary Science at other universities, it is not guaranteed that they will be entirely suitable preparation - check with the University that offers the programme.
An Invitation to Law is recommended for anyone intending to study law. It introduces students to the sources of New Zealand law, and some basic understanding of how law is made and applied in the New Zealand legal system.
Students on the Fast Path to Engineering or Product Design should take Preparatory Mathematics in November, and then Fundamentals of Physics and either Mathematics with Calculus or Elementary Chemistry in January.
How much it will cost
Domestic students:
2025: $894 per course
2026: $948 per course
International students:
2025: $4,100 per course
2026: $4,263 per course
How to enrol
Apply through myUC in a Certificate of Proficiency Preparatory (COP PREP). The official start date will be 5 January 2026 and the official end date will be 8 February 2026.
If you are already enrolled at UC in 2025, submit a change of enrolment to add the COP PREP. If you do not have a 2025 enrolment at UC, apply for the COP PREP on a 2025 application.
If you need help, call 0800 827 748 (within NZ) or +64 3 369 3999.
Accommodation
For accommodation options while you study Headstart courses, please contact the Accommodation Team directly.
Headstart FAQs
What is covered in Headstart courses?
Headstart courses cover essential pre-university material – generally equivalent to the key concepts in subjects at NCEA level 2, or Cambridge AS level.
The exceptions are Chemistry and Physics which also cover some concepts at level 3.
The Physics course covers mainly mechanics and electromagnetism.
Academic writing and study skills covers skills that are useful for all degree courses, and essential for education, law, commerce, the humanities and the arts.
Do I need Headstart?
If you have a strong recent background in a subject at NCEA level 3 you do not need Headstart.
I don’t have my NCEA results yet, so I don’t know whether to enrol in Headstart or not.
If you are waiting for NCEA results to be released, you can enrol in Headstart to ensure a place, then withdraw if you find you don’t need it.
Where do Headstart courses lead to?
| Headstart Courses | Prepares you for ... | |||
| TRNS007 Preparatory Mathematics (November Summer) | TRNS017 or MATH101/EMTH117 | |||
| TRNS017 Mathematics with Calculus (January Summer) | EMTH118 | |||
| TRNS006 Elementary Chemistry (January Summer) | CHEM114 or CHEM111 (if you achieve a B grade) | |||
| TRNS008 Fundamentals of Physics (January Summer) | PHYS111 or PHYS101 (if you achieve a B+ grade) | |||
| TRNS001 Academic Writing and Study Skills (November Summer) | Useful for all subject areas |
