University of Canterbury Courses

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 the enrolment process, please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.

All Arts subjects, including languages, can be started at first-year level without previous knowledge of the subject. A good standard of oral and written English is important.

Successful study to Year 13 is recommended for advanced Mathematics courses.

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 the enrolment process, please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.

The Bachelor of Communication is open to all students with entry to the University and without previous study in the area. A good standard of oral and written English is important.

From the second year, entry to the Journalism major is limited to 25 places in total, and requires a special application by October 31 of the preceding year. See how to apply or contact Te Tari Matai Papaho | Department of Media and Communication for more information.

Mid-year (July) starts for the Bachelor of Communication are possible, however students in the Journalism major are strongly recommended to begin their degree in February due to the limited entry and coursework requirements. Please contact a Te Rangai Toi Tangata | College of Arts Student Advisor for more information and help planning your study

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 the enrolment process, please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.

All students who have entry to the University can study a BCom from 100-level without previous study in the area. However, it is useful to have studied accounting, economics, business studies, and mathematics (especially statistics) at secondary school.

If you have achieved top results in accounting and/or economics at secondary school you may be eligible for direct entry to some 200-level courses.

A good standard of oral and written English is important.

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 the enrolment process, please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.

The BCJ does not require a background in any specific subject at secondary school and is open to all students with entry to the University.

Visit the Engineering First Year page for more information on enrolment requirements for the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours, including an interactive course planner.

For information on the enrolment process, please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.

You should aim to have at least:

• 14 credits in Level 3 maths or calculus including both differentiation and integration
• 14 credits in Level 3 physics
• 14 credits in Level 3 chemistry

Credits in chemistry are not required for students taking Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or Software Engineering.

18 credits are strongly recommended in all subjects.

You will need to have:

• minimum of 4 HL (or 5 SL) in maths (HL is recommended)
• minimum of 4 HL (or 6 SL) in physics (HL is recommended)
• minimum of 4 HL (or 6 SL) in chemistry.

Chemistry is not required for students taking Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or Software Engineering.

You will need to have:

• maths and physics - D grade or better at A level or A in AS level
• chemistry - D grade or better at A level or A in AS level.

Chemistry is not required for students taking Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or Software Engineering.

Alternatively the first year can be completed in more than one year (maximum of two years) with a minimum requirement of:

• CIE Score of 140 Points
• D Grade at A-Level or C Grade at AS-Level in Mathematics
• D Grade at A-Level or C Grade at AS-Level in Physics
• preferably C Grade at AS-Level in Chemistry (discipline specific).

Students who have achieved excellent results in all relevant subjects may be able to get direct entry into the second year. This is at the discretion of the College of Engineering Dean (Academic).

Alternatively, a Modified First Year is offered to students who have taken the MATH 199 or relevant STAR Science courses, and/or have achieved excellent results in some subjects. You may be exempt from taking some of the required courses in the first year and offered advanced/interest courses in their place.

For more information, please refer to the Engineering First Year page.

If you did not achieve enough credits, you can take introductory courses in specific subjects to start with (eg, MATH 101, PHYS 111, and CHEM 114). You could then take the first year courses in Semester 2 and over summer, or do an extra year of study.

To apply for admission to the Intermediate Year (first year) of the BFA directly from secondary school, you need to have met University Entrance requirements and:

• achieved NCEA Level 3 Visual Arts in one or more subjects; and
• at least 14 credits in each of two other NCEA Level 3 subjects (that are not practical art subjects) is also strongly recommended; or
• the equivalent standards in other secondary school qualifications.

All applicants also need to submit an application form, a letter of introduction, and a portfolio of work.

Entry to the first year of the Bachelor of Fine Arts is limited. We recommend that you complete and supply by 15 November:

• the Application for Fine Arts Intermediate course form
• a letter of introduction
• a portfolio of work.

You are encouraged to apply as early as possible, and to visit Te Kura Kowaiwai | Ilam School of Fine Arts before making your application. The School welcomes applications from October.

Your application should include a portfolio of recently completed art and/or design work.

The portfolio must include 12 examples of work from NCEA (or equivalent) practical arts subjects. The format must be colour, laser printed, and stapled A4 photographs.

This is your opportunity to demonstrate:

• your competency and ability in artmaking
  - so please make sure you include your best work. We also need to see aspects of your methodology; examples of preliminary sketches are important here.
• your best possible presentation of work
  . There are a number of formatting requirements for the supply of your work portfolio - please see the application form for details.
• your ability to express your thinking in a written statement.
  This is your chance to demonstrate a critical understanding of how the work operates, the decisions you made, and what you are trying to address through your work.

For more information on the application process for the Intermediate Year, go to

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 the enrolment process, please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.

For some majors, a background in biology, chemistry, and statistics can be beneficial. If you would like to brush up on your knowledge in these areas, Headstart preparatory and summer catch-up courses are available.

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 the enrolment process, please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.

The BForSc is open to all students who gain entry to the University. It is recommended that you take NCEA Level 3 biology and maths (including statistics and probability) or the IB/Cambridge equivalent.

If you have not studied Year 13 statistics, or if you feel you have a weak background in this subject, you should consider enrolling in a Headstart preparatory course over summer.

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.

It is possible to gain exemption for parts of the Forestry Examinations with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or a New Zealand Diploma in Forestry with outstanding merit.

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 the enrolment process, please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.

The study of Law does not require a background in any specific subject at secondary school, and entry to the first year of the LLB is open to all students with University Entrance.

You will need to have good reading, writing, and analytical skills. Subjects such as English, drama, economics, te reo Maori, languages, history, and classical studies are useful preparation.

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 the enrolment process, please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.

Entry to the BProdDesign is open to all students with entry to the University. However, it is strongly recommended that you have at least 14 credits in NCEA Level 2 science and mathematics. Those intending to take the Chemical Formulation Design major should ideally have 14 credits in NCEA Level 3 chemistry (or the IB/CIE equivalent of these).

Secondary school studies in related subjects such as digital technologies, technology, or design and visual communication would be an advantage.

Visit Te Rangai Pukaha | College of Engineering website for more details on recommended preparation, including an outline for different secondary school qualifications.