Bachelor of Science
- Degree Structure - Start In
- Semester 1 or 2 (February or July)
360
Overview
Bachelor of Science
Introduction
A BSc is about understanding and improving the natural world through observation, experimentation, modelling, and calculation.
You will investigate the big issues confronting our planet, including climate change, human health and diseases, the global water crisis, food security, and environmental protection.
A BSc will expose you to new ideas and technologies, develop your research skills, and help you make a contribution to the challenges facing our world.
Bachelor of Science
What will my study involve?
- Learn from a wide network of field stations reaching from Antarctica to Nigeria and throughout Aotearoa.
- ‘Do science’ right from the first semester of your first year. We have access to the most field stations of any Aotearoa university and offer a range of practical experiences, research projects, and lab and fieldwork.
- Global study experiences, including exchanges to partner universities.
- You can choose to take a minor in Science, or from additional subjects in Arts, Commerce, Digital Screen, Health, Product Design, Sport, or Youth and Community Leadership.
Bachelor of Science
Entry requirements
Admission to UC with University Entrance (or equivalent) is required to enrol.
UC offers transition programmes for those who need help meeting these requirements:
- International students can transition to this degree via the International Year One programme, OR via the Foundation Studies Certificate (if you do not have UE from your high school studies).
- Domestic students can transition via the Certificate in University Preparation (if you do not have UE from your high school studies).
If English is not your first language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements. If you need help meeting these requirements, or would like to practise your English skills before studying, UC offers English for Academic Purposes (EAP) language programmes.
See Admission and enrolment for all information on enrolling at UC.
Recommended preparation
Some previous study is recommended for many Science subjects, in particular Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. Some of these courses have entry requirements.
Headstart preparatory courses are available if you need more background in these areas before starting your degree.
You may be able to fast-track your degree and gain direct entry to the second year if you have excellent Year 13 results or a New Zealand Certificate in Science with outstanding merit.
Bachelor of Science
How do I plan my degree?
The Bachelor of Science requires a minimum total of 360 points:
- a compulsory 15-point Science course
- a minimum of 255 points of Science courses
- the remaining 105 points can be from either Science courses or courses from other degrees.
At least 225 points must be from courses above 100-level, with at least 90 points at 300-level.
The degree takes 3 years of full-time study, or can be studied part-time for up to 10 years.
For the full degree requirements, see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Science.
Majors and minors
BSc students have the option of completing either:
- a major
- a major and a minor
- two majors (a double major).
Each major has specific course requirements, but all consist of a minimum 135 points, with at least 60 points at 300-level.
A minor consists of a minimum of 75 points, including at least 45 points above 100-level, in a single subject chosen from Science, Arts, Commerce, Digital Screen, Health, Product Design, Sport, or Youth and Community Leadership degrees.
Double degrees
It is possible to study a Bachelor of Science alongside other degrees at the same time, such as the Bachelor of Health or Bachelor of Sport.
Find out more information about Double degrees.
Conjoint degrees
You can study a conjoint degree and merge your BSc with options such as the Bachelor of Product Design or Bachelor of Arts, so that you can complete major subjects from multiple areas in a shorter timeframe.
Find out more information about Conjoint degrees.
Bachelor of Science
Subjects and courses
The Bachelor of Science is a highly flexible degree that allows a wide range of choices from major and minor subjects, as well as courses from other degrees.
You will complete at least one major subject, and can also choose to specialise in a minor subject.
Compulsory course
Major subjects
Minor subjects
Other subjects
Some courses from these science-related subjects can also count towards your BSc:
Domestic
2024 tuition fee estimate: $7,485 per 120 points
2025 tuition fee estimate: $7,934 per 120 points
International
2024 tuition fee estimate: $39,900 per 120 points
2025 tuition fee estimate: $41,460 per 120 points
2026 tuition fee estimate: $43,080 per 120 points
Bachelor of Science
Further study
UC's graduate and postgraduate Science options include:
- Graduate Diploma in Science
- Bachelor of Science with Honours
- Postgraduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate in Geospatial Data Science
- Postgraduate Certificate in Science
- Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Data Science
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology
- Postgraduate Diploma in Geospatial Data Science
- Postgraduate Diploma in Science
- Postgraduate Diploma of Water Resource Management
- Master of Antarctic Studies
- Master of Applied Data Science
- Master of Audiology
- Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience
- Master of Financial Engineering
- Master of Geospatial Data Science
- Master of Mathematical Sciences
- Master of Science
- Master of Speech and Language Pathology
- Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal
- Master of Water Resource Management
- Professional Master of Computer Science
- Professional Master of Engineering Geology
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Bachelor of Science
Career ready
- You will get hands-on practical and clinical learning experiences, from the lab to the field.
- Gain project management, critical thinking, and research skills alongside practical knowledge of your chosen major in Science.
- A BSc sets you up to pursue a wide range of careers all over the world — from marine biologist to aerospace engineer, and much more. It can open doors to many other careers, including business, politics, medicine, finance, and engineering. With a BSc, anything is possible.
Find out more about what can you do with a degree from UC.
Example degree structure diagram
Each small block represents a 15-point course. However, some courses may be 30 points or more.
This diagram is an example only – other combinations are possible. For specific course requirements, see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Science.
