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
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.
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.
- 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 hands-on practical experiences, research projects, and lab and field work.
- 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 Sciences, Sport Coaching, or Youth and Community Leadership.
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
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, or 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
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 165 points, with at least 45 points at 200-level and 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 Sciences, Sport Coaching, or Youth and Community Leadership degrees.
Double degrees
Many students combine the study of a BSc with another degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Laws.
Find out more information about Double degrees.
Conjoint degrees
You can choose to 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 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.
You will complete at least one major subject, and can also choose to specialise in a minor subject.
See ‘How do I plan my degree?’ above for an example degree structure diagram.
Compulsory course
Major subjects
Minor subjects
Other subjects
Some courses from these science-related subjects can also count towards your BSc:
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 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 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
- Professional Master of Geospatial Science and Technology
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- You’ll 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 you can do with a degree from UC.
See Tuition Fee Structure for more information
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) |
| 2023 | 120 | Indicative first year fee. Actual fee will be determined by course selection. | $7,281 |
| 2022 | 120 | Indicative first year fee. Actual fee will be determined by course selection. | $7,086 |
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) | Fees (NZD) Excl GST |
| 2022 | 120 | This is an indicative fee - total tuition fee will be dependent on your course selection (banded) | $36,500 | $31,739 |
| 2023 | 120 | This is an indicative fee - total tuition fee will be dependent on your course selection (banded) | $38,000 | $33,043 |
Contact us
For the full degree requirements, see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Science.
For study planning help, contact a Student Advisor.
For more information on facilities, resources, and staff, see Te Kaupeka Pūtaiao | Faculty of Science.
For more general information, email info@canterbury.ac.nz or freephone 0800 VARSITY (827 748).