Victoria University Of Wellington Bachelor Of Science

Discover why the Wellington Faculty of Science is at the cutting edge of science discovery worldwide.

The Wellington Faculty of Science is made up of five schools which offer excellent teaching and world-leading research programmes in a wide range of fields. From Biomedical Science to Environmental Studies to Applied Physics, the opportunities for study are numerous—in fact, most students have trouble choosing. Many subjects are unique to this University, including Physical Geography, Forensic Psychology and Marine Conservation.

Our academic staff are highly regarded internationally and many are acknowledged each year with research and teaching awards in their specialist areas.

We are located in Wellington, the Science Capital of New Zealand—a thriving city and a great place to study and live. The Faculty has well-established links with the many Wellington-based science organisations and government agencies. Several noteworthy research centres and institutes are based in the Science Faculty, including the MacDiarmid Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, New Zealand’s top research institute in material science; the Malaghan Institute for Medical Research, the country’s largest private medical research institute; and the Antarctic Research Centre, a leading research group on Antarctic research and the global climate system. Students benefit from research collaboration opportunities and summer placements with these and other organisations.

The Wellington Faculty of Science is centrally located at Kelburn Campus. Te Toki a Rata, a science teaching and research building, was completed in late 2017, providing additional state-of-the-art laboratory and office space for a growing number of students.

Follow your passion, develop problem-solving skills, and dive into a fascinating career with a Bachelor of Science.

Explore the wonder of science

As a Bachelor of Science (BSc) student at Victoria University of Wellington, you’ll absorb knowledge, observe phenomena, experiment with ideas, and maybe even be part of making new discoveries.

With a strong practical focus, a BSc will take you far beyond the lecture theatre. Apply your curiosity to the many laboratories, field trips, and summer scholar opportunities offered within this degree.

Choose your specialty

Our science degrees are flexible. There are hundreds of unique combinations to choose from with more than 20 specialised scientific areas. We allow you to include subjects from outside science in your degree so you graduate with a broad education tailored to your aspirations.

Important information

You can combine a BSc with another degree such as a BCom or LLB. This will take you four or more years to complete.
Subjects in the BSc with specific minor requirements include Actuarial Science, Development Studies, Environmental Studies, Forensic Science and Science in Society. Contact the liaison officers to learn more about studying these subjects. If you’re already a student here, contact a student adviser.

Develop a future-focused skillset

This three-year undergraduate degree will give you the skills to become a science innovator in an ever-evolving job market.

Our staff are world leaders in their fields of research, Wellington has the highest concentration of scientists and science organisations in New Zealand, and our students are ready to leap into the careers of the future, going on to develop new technologies, treat diseases, or protect the environment.

First year

In your first year you’re likely to take seven or eight courses from a range of subject areas. There are no core courses common to all majors in this year—choose the 100-level courses from subjects that most interest you. However, your BSc must include one course in either Mathematics, Physics, Statistics or Econometrics, and most students do this in their first year.

It’s a good idea to look ahead and think about what you might like to study in your second year, as your chosen major may have specific prerequisites for advanced-level courses.

First-year courses lay the foundations for more in-depth study. If you haven’t already decided, at the end of this year you’ll choose the major you want to focus on for the rest of your Bachelor of Science. It’s possible to do two majors but make sure you take courses that meet the requirements of both.

Second year

This year you’ll start to get down to the detail of your chosen major and have the opportunity to hone your research skills. You’re likely to take six to eight courses this year—three or four courses in your major subject and the remaining courses chosen from your second major, minor subject and/or other electives.

To add variety and depth to your degree you might take some courses from outside the sciences.

Third year

In the third year of your Bachelor of Science you’re likely to take three or four courses in your major subject and a further three or four courses that might be your second major, or a mixture of your minor and other electives.

You’ll graduate university with specialised knowledge in your major, ready to enter the workforce or to go on to postgraduate study.

Get a postgraduate degree

At the end of your three-year BSc you can continue your learning with postgraduate studies. Give your career options a boost and choose from the range of postgraduate science programmes offered.Explore postgraduate study options

Flexibility in your degree

Take advantage of the flexibility offered by Victoria University of Wellington. Depending on your degree, you may be able to do a:

Double major—specialise in two subjects in your degree.
Second major from another degree—study a wider range of subjects without doing another degree.
Minor—specialise in a subject without doing as many courses as for a major.
Conjoint degree—this intense programme lets you complete two degrees more quickly, usually in four years, by requiring you to do fewer courses.

Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded to hundreds of first-year students each year. They help with living costs and accommodation costs at the University’s halls of residence.

Our Tangiwai, Totoweka and Kahotea scholarships are available to school leavers, and there are several other first-year scholarships on offer in our scholarships database.

You can also apply for a TeachNZ Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded based on specific areas where teachers are needed.

Study

Uncover your passions with one of the 30 subjects we offer at the Wellington Faculty of Science.

The Wellington Faculty of Science is proud to offer over 30 subjects from undergraduate to postgraduate level, grouped into a range of qualifications, so that you can opt for a study commitment that’s right for you. We welcome students to Victoria University of Wellington from all over New Zealand and all over the world.

You can start small and take one course at a time, building up to a graduate diploma, then move onto a degree. Or if you’re sure about what you want to do, jump straight into it, whether it’s a Bachelor of Science or a postgraduate degree.

You’ll find yourself surrounded by people passionate about science here—academic staff who are world leaders in their fields of research bring their expertise to the lecture theatre and the laboratory. Science study is exciting, challenging and rewarding, and there is something for everyone at Victoria University of Wellington.

Undergraduate study

The Wellington Faculty of Science offers two three-year undergraduate degrees, the Bachelor of Science (BSc) and the Bachelor of Biomedical Science (BBmedSc).

Biological Sciences

Biological Science is the study of how living organisms work. Learn to apply this knowledge of living things to make life better for humans, and help the environment.

Available subjects

Biology UG
Biotechnology UG/PG
Cell and Molecular Bioscience UG/PG
Molecular Microbiology PG

Biomedical Sciences

Biomedical science is about innovative research into human health. Be at the forefront of discovery—from researching genetics and reproduction, to understanding the cellular and molecular structure of a disease, to searching for a cure.

Available subjects

Biomedical Science UG/PG
Clinical Immunology PG
Clinical Research PG
Drug Discovery and Development PG
Human Genetics UG
Molecular Pathology UG
Molecular Pharmacology and Medicinal Chemistry UG

Chemistry

Study Chemistry and find out how atoms and molecules interact and behave.

Available subjects

Chemistry UG/PG

Communication

Explore the potential of communication to shape our world.

Available subjects

Intercultural Communication UG/PG
Literary and Creative CommunicationUG/PG
Media Studies UG/PG
Political Communication UG/PG
Science Communication UG/PG
Intercultural Communication and Applied Translation PG

Climate and the Environment

Earth’s natural resources are under increasing pressure. Learn the causes of environmental problems and discover pathways to make our actions more sustainable.

Available subjects

Environmental Science UG/PG
Environmental Studies UG/PG
Climate Change Science and Policy PG

Development Studies

Be part of creating a better world. Examine poverty and inequality, and the issues behind development. Explore the strategies devised to address them.

Available subjects

Development Studies UG/PG

Earth Sciences

Study the earth—its structure, history and the forces that constantly shape and reshape it.

Available subjects

Geology UG/PG
Geophysics – Meteorology UG/PG
Geophysics – Solid Earth UG/PG

Ecology and Marine Biology

Take your passion for the natural world to the next level. Explore topics in ecology, marine biology and conservation biology and learn about the vast diversity of plants, animals and micro-organisms that live on earth.

Available subjects

Conservation Biology PG
Ecological Restoration PG
Ecology and Biodiversity UG/PG
Marine Biology UG/PG
Marine Conservation PG

Geography

Our Earth is shaped by different cultural, social and physical forces. Study Geography and learn about these different features of our world.

Available subjects

Development Studies UG/PG
Geographic Information Science PG
Geography UG/PG
Migration Studies PG
Physical Geography UG/PG

Mathematics and Statistics

Learn from international research leaders to think creatively and apply mathematics and statistics to solve big problems.

Available subjects

Actuarial Science UG
Data Science UG/PG
Mathematics UG/PG
Statistics UG/PG
Stochastic Processes in Finance and Insurance PG

Physics

Explore the way our world is put together and how it works. Study the universe from the smallest parts of an atom to the cosmos.

Available subjects

Applied Physics UG
Physics UG/PG

Psychology

Study Psychology to understand behaviour—how we think, feel, and act—and how those processes can go wrong. Learn how our biology and our environment interact to make us who we are.

Available subjects

Psychology UG/PG
Clinical Psychology PG
Cognitive and Behavioural NeurosciencePG
Cross-Cultural Psychology PG
Forensic Psychology PG

Renewable Energy Systems

The world needs cleaner and more sustainable ways to generate power. Learn how to design and create renewable energy systems—and help build stronger communities and a more resilient economy.

Available subjects

Renewable Energy Systems UG

Postgraduate study

Extend your knowledge and become an expert in your field with a postgraduate qualification at the Wellington Faculty of Science.

The Wellington Faculty of Science offers exciting and challenging postgraduate programmes in an extensive range of disciplines. From the two trimester Graduate Diploma in Science to a full PhD, our qualifications will ensure you are fully equipped for a rewarding career in your chosen area of science.

The combination of excellence in teaching, world-class facilities and top-level research supervision, all provided in a friendly, supportive environment, makes science at this university a great experience.

Our collaborative links to Wellington-based research institutions such as Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), see many students conducting their research projects in conjunction with scientists at the CRIs, or employed there as summer interns. Shared laboratory and research equipment extends what is available on campus.