Bachelor of Science
BSc
Duration
3 years full-time
Entry times
Semester 1 or 2 (February or July)
Fees Estimate
Scholarships
Pathways
Pathways include:
- Bachelor of Science with Honours
- Master of Science
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Download Brochure
Online to on-campus
Duration
3 years full-time
Entry times
Semester 1 or 2 (February or July)
Fees Estimate
Scholarships
Pathways
Pathways include:
- Bachelor of Science with Honours
- Master of Science
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Download Brochure
Overview
A Bachelor of Science (BSc) is about understanding and improving the natural world through observation, experimentation, modelling, and calculation.
As a BSc student, you’ll investigate the big issues confronting our planet, including climate change, human health and diseases, the global water crisis, food security, environmental protection, and much more. A BSc will expose you to new ideas and technologies, develop your research skills, and help you make a real contribution to the challenges facing our world.
- 19 major Science subjects on offer and over 30 subject choices available in total.
- Flexible three-year degree.
- Students benefit from cutting-edge research undertaken by UC staff, visiting international scholars, and the many research centres and institutes based at UC.
- The unique network of field stations from Antarctica to Nigeria offer amazing active learning opportunities.
- Award-winning lecturers have been acknowledged both nationally and internationally for their teaching and research.
- Te Kura Aronukurangi | School of Earth and Environment is leading the world in its studies of earthquakes.
- $216 million investment in state-of-the-art UC Science facilities through the Rutherford Regional Science and Innovation Centre.
- UC is ranked 92nd in the world for Linguistics; in the top 150 for Geology, Geophysics, and Earth and Marine Sciences; in the top 200 for Geography; and in the top 250 for Psychology. UC is also ranked 253rd in the world for Natural Sciences (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2021).
- UC is ranked first in Aotearoa New Zealand for research in Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour (Te Amorangi Mātauranga Matua | Tertiary Education Commission 2018 PBRF assessment).
Admission to UC with University Entrance (or equivalent) is required to enrol.
If English is your additional language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.
For information on gaining admission to UC please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.
Recommended preparation
Provided you have entry to the University, all Science subjects can be started in the first year. However, previous study is recommended for many Science subjects, in particular Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. Some of these courses have entry requirements.
If you have not studied one or more of the required subjects, or did not achieve enough credits, but have University Entrance, you may consider taking a course from the Certificate of University Preparation.
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 – example degree structure
-
Compulsory course
-
Major courses
-
Other Science courses
-
Courses from Science or other degrees
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.
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 90 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.
Majors and minors
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 165 points, with at least 45 points at 200-level and at least 60 points at 300-level.
BSc students may also choose to complete a minor subject in their degree. A minor consists of a minimum of 75 points, including at least 45 points above 100-level, in a single subject chosen from the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Sport Coaching, or in Youth and Community Leadership.
Double degrees
Many students combine the study of a BSc with another degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, or Bachelor of Laws.
Find out more information about Double degrees.
Conjoint degrees
Students can study the Conjoint Bachelor of Product Design and Science, the Conjoint Bachelor of Commerce and Science, or the Conjoint Bachelor of Arts and Science, which requires 60 points less than a double degree and will be completed in four years in an intensive format.
Contact a Student Advisor from each relevant College or School for course planning advice.
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.
To graduate with a Bachelor of Science you must complete the requirements of at least one major subject, and can also choose to specialise in a minor subject.
When choosing your first-year courses, you should allow for more than one potential major subject. Check the 100-level requirements for your potential majors as some require more than two 100-level courses, or enrolment in a complementary subject such as Mathematics.
See ‘How do I plan my degree?’ above for an example degree structure diagram.
Compulsory course
All students in the BSc must complete SCIE 101 Science, Society and Me in their first year.
Major subjects
Minor subjects
You may also choose to complete one of the following in your degree:
Other subjects
Some courses from these science-related subjects can also count towards your BSc:
Bachelor of Science with Honours
If you have achieved top grades during your Bachelor of Science, you may be permitted to enter the BSc(Hons), which is an accelerated 12-month postgraduate degree.
Graduate and postgraduate qualifications:
- Graduate Diploma in Science
- Bachelor of Science with Honours
- Postgraduate Certificate in Antarctic Studies
- Postgraduate Certificate in Geospatial Science and Technology
- Postgraduate Certificate in Science
- Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Data Science
- Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology
- Postgraduate Diploma in Geographic Information Science
- Postgraduate Diploma in Geospatial Science and Technology
- 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 Geographic Information Science
- 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
- Professional Master of Geospatial Science and Technology
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
A BSc sets you up to pursue a range of careers all over the world – from marine biologist to market analyst, psychologist to policy advisor, seismologist 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 you can do with a degree from UC.
See Tuition Fee Structure for more information
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) |
| 2020 | 360 | Banded Fee - total tuition fee dependent on course selection | $6,213 - $7,202 per 120 points |
| 2020 | 360 | Data Science; Linguistics; Philosophy (Band 1) | $6,213 per 120 points |
| 2020 | 360 | Economics; Finance (Band 2) | $6,576 per 120 points |
| 2020 | 360 | Computer Science; Financial Engineering; Geography; Psychology (Band 3) | $6,939 per 120 points |
| 2020 | 360 | Astronomy; Biochemistry; Biological Sciences; Chemistry; Environmental Science; Geology; Medicinal Chemistry; Physics (Band 4) | $7,202 per 120 points |
| 2020 | 360 | Mathematics; Statistics (Band 9) | $6,237 per 120 points |
| 2021 | 360 | Banded Fee - total tuition fee dependent on course selection | $6,281 - $7,281 per 120 points |
| 2021 | 360 | Data Science; Linguistics; Philosophy (Band 1) | $6,281 per 120 points |
| 2021 | 360 | Economics; Finance (Band 2) | $6,648 per 120 points |
| 2021 | 360 | Computer Science; Financial Engineering; Geography; Psychology (Band 3) | $7,015 per 120 points |
| 2021 | 360 | Astronomy; Biochemistry; Biological Sciences; Chemistry; Environmental Science; Geology; Medicinal Chemistry; Physics (Band 4) | $7,281 per 120 points |
| 2021 | 360 | Mathematics; Statistics (Band 9) | $6,306 per 120 points |
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) |
| 2021 | 360 | This is an indicative fee - total tuition fee will be dependent on your course selection (banded) | $36,563 (first 120 points) |
| 2022 | 360 | This is an indicative fee - total tuition fee will be dependent on your course selection (banded) | $37,563 (first 120 points) |
Contact us
For the full degree requirements, see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Science.
For study planning help, contact Te Rōpū Takawaenga o UC | UC Liaison Office (new students) or a Te Rāngai Pūtaiao | College of Science Student Advisor (advancing students).
For more information on facilities, resources, and staff, see Te Rāngai Pūtaiao | College of Science.
For more general information, email info@canterbury.ac.nz or freephone 0800 VARSITY (827 748).