 Subject Guide
for School Students
This guide shows Year 13 school subjects that are recommended or required for University of Auckland degree
programmes. Recommended subjects are those that are useful for degree preparation, and may contribute to
gaining entry. Required subjects are those that are needed to gain entry to a degree.
Gaining Admission
To be admitted to the University, you must:
• have a University Entrance qualification
based on NCEA, Cambridge International,
IB or another recognised, equivalent
qualification
• meet the rank score and any other
requirements for your chosen programme
Please note that this guide is based on
entry requirements for 2022 and are subject
to change. For details on current entry
requirements, including University Entrance
and selection into a programme, please refer
to the University of Auckland website.
www.auckland.ac.nz/admission
Academic
English Language
Requirement (AELR)
If you are applying for admission to an
undergraduate programme and you are a
domestic student, or an international student
applying on the basis of a New Zealand
secondary school qualification or on the basis
of results at another New Zealand tertiary
institution, in addition to any University
Entrance Literacy standard, you must meet
the Academic English Language Requirement
either through your entry qualification or
during your first 12 months of study.
Meeting the requirement through
school qualifications
To satisfy the AELR via an entry qualification
from a New Zealand secondary school you
must achieve the following:
• For those applying on the basis of NCEA: You
must have gained the University Entrance
Literacy Standard AND a minimum of 17
credits in English at Level 2 and/or 3.* †
* Does not apply to applicants who meet the
University Entrance Literacy Standard in Te Reo.
† English for Academic Purposes standards US 22750
and US 22751 will contribute to meeting the AELR.
• For those applying on the basis of
Cambridge International: You must have
gained the University Entrance Literacy
Standard AND a minimum of a D grade in
an English course at AS or A Level.
• For those applying on the basis of
International Baccalaureate (IB): You must
have gained the University Entrance Literacy
Standard AND be in receipt of 26 points.
Meeting the requirement in your first
 months of study
If you do not meet the requirement through
your entrance qualification as outlined above,
but otherwise qualify for admission, you can
satisfy the AELR during your first year of study
by passing an academic English language
course as part of your General Education
programme, or as otherwise specified by your
Faculty. For more information please see:
www.auckland.ac.nz/aelr
Arts
Programme Recommended school subjects
Bachelor of Arts (BA) Students will be selected on the basis of their rank score. There are no specific subjects required for
admission. However any of the following subjects are recommended: Calculus, Classical Studies,
Drama, Economics, English, Geography, History, History of Art, Languages, Mathematics, Media
Studies, Music, Psychology, Religious Studies, Social Studies, Statistics, Te Reo Māori, Te Reo
Rangatira.
Bachelor of Communication (BC) Students will be selected on the basis of their rank score. There are no specific subjects required for
admission. However any of the following subjects are recommended: Calculus, Classical Studies,
Design and Visual Communication, Digital Technologies, Drama, Economics, English, Geography,
History, History of Art, Languages, Mathematics, Media Studies, Music, Psychology, Social Studies,
Religious Studies, Statistics, Te Reo Māori, Te Reo Rangatira.
Education and Social Work
Programme Recommended school subjects
Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies Students will be selected on the basis of their rank score, interview, police check, and referees’
reports. There are no specific subjects required for admission, however any of the following are
recommended: Languages, Classical Studies, Economics, English, Geography, History, History
of Art, Mathematics, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Technology, Te Reo Māori, Te Reo
Rangatira, Visual Arts. A high standard of oral and written English is important.
For the Huarahi Māori specialisation, written and oral fluency in te reo Māori will be assessed to the
proficiency descriptors of the Taura Whiri i te Reo proficiency framework.
Bachelor of Education – Teaching
(BEd(Tchg))
• Primary and Huarahi Māori
specialisations (Early Childhood
Education is suspended for 2022 entry)
Bachelor of Education - Teaching English to
Speakers of Other Languages (BEd(TESOL))
Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Bachelor of Sport, Health and Physical
Education (BSportHPE)
†
Business
Programme School subjects required and/or recommended
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) Students will be selected on the basis of their rank score.
Year 13 Statistics and/or Calculus, or Mathematics, are recommended.
Prior study in Accounting and Economics is beneficial but not essential.
Bachelor of Property (BProp)
Creative Arts and Industries
Programme School subjects required and/or recommended
Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS) Students will be selected on the basis of their rank score and a portfolio of creative work including
a written statement. There are no specific subject requirements, however an English-rich/Te Reo
Māori subject is strongly recommended and Mathematics, Physics, and/or Digital Technologies is
recommended. Art, Design, Technology or equivalent subjects are advisable.
Bachelor of Dance Studies (BDanceSt) Students will be selected on the basis of their rank score, CV, written statement and an interview/
audition. There are no specific subject requirements. NCEA Level 3 Dance or equivalent offers useful
preparation.
Bachelor of Design (BDes) Students will be selected on the basis of their rank score.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) Students will be selected on the bases of their rank score. There are no specific subject
requirements, however Art, Design, Technology or equivalent subjects are recommended.
Bachelor of Music (BMus)
– Creative Practice: Classical, Composition,
Jazz or Popular Music
– Music Studies.
Students for a Creative Practice specialisation (Classical, Jazz and Popular Music only) will be
selected on the basis of their rank score and audition. A specialisation in Composition or Music
Studies has no audition or portfolio requirements. Musical Literacy equivalent to NCEA credits in
Level 3 Music Studies or Practical Music, or high grades in NCEA Level 2 Music or Grade 6 Music
Theory, are recommended.
Bachelor of Urban Planning (Honours)
(BUrbPlan(Hons))
Students will be selected on the basis of their rank score. There are no specific subject
requirements, however English-rich subjects are strongly recommended in preparation.
†An interview, police check and referees’ reports not required.
Engineering
Programme School subjects required and/or recommended
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
(BE(Hons))
Students will be selected on the basis of their rank score and subject requirements. NCEA students
require 17 external credits in Calculus and 16 external credits in Physics in Level 3; Cambridge
International students require A Level Mathematics and Physics; and IB students require Higher
Level Mathematics and Physics. Cambridge International AS Level Mathematics and Physics, or IB
Standard Level Mathematics “Analysis and Approaches”, may be accepted based on level of grade
achieved. IB Standard Level Mathematics “Applications and Interpretation” will not be accepted.
Any of the following are also recommended: Biology, Chemistry, English-rich subjects (Classics,
English, Geography, History, History of Art).
Law
Programme Recommended school subjects
Bachelor of Laws (LLB (Part I)) For first year Law, you will apply for LLB Part I and one other bachelors degree programme to satisfy
the Law Part I requirement for five non-Law courses. Students will be selected into Part II on the basis
of their results in Part I. There are no specific subjects required for admission. Any of the following are
recommended: Classical Studies, Economics, English, Geography, History, History of Art, Languages,
Te Reo Māori, Te Reo Rangatira. A good standard of oral and written English is important.
Medical and Health Sciences
Programme School subjects required and/or recommended
Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) Students will be selected on the basis of their rank score and 18 credits in one of Biology, Chemistry
or Physics, and 18 credits in one of Classical Studies, English, Geography, History, History of Art,
Social Studies, Te Reo Māori or Te Reo Rangatira at NCEA Level 3 or equivalent. For potential
applicants to the MBChB, Biology, Chemistry and at least one English-rich subject are strongly
recommended. Cambridge International students will be selected on the basis of their rank score
and one of English, Geography, History, or Classical Studies, and one of Biology, Chemistry or
Physics at full A level.
Bachelor of Medical Imaging (Honours)
(BMedImag(Hons))
Applicants for the BMedImag(Hons) must first complete the required Stage One courses as part
of the BSc (majors/specialisations that can easily incorporate the required courses are Biomedical
Science, Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology or Physiology). Biology, Chemistry and at
least one English-rich subject are strongly recommended. Physics and Mathematics (Calculus or
Statistics) are useful.
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of
Surgery (MBChB)
Applicants for the MBChB must first complete the required Year 1 courses in the BHSc or the BSc
(in Biomedical Science). Biology, Chemistry and at least one English-rich subject are strongly
recommended. Physics and Mathematics (Statistics or Calculus) are useful.
Bachelor of Nursing (BNurs) Students will be selected on the basis of their rank score and 18 credits in one of Biology, Chemistry
or Physics, and 18 credits in one of Classical Studies, English, Geography, History, History of
Art, Social Studies, Te Reo Māori or Te Reo Rangatira at NCEA Level 3 or equivalent. Cambridge
International students will be selected on the basis of their rank score and one of English,
Geography, History, or Classical Studies, and one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics at full A level.
Bachelor of Optometry (BOptom) Applicants for the BOptom must first complete the required Stage One courses as part of the BSc
(majors/specialisations that can easily incorporate the required courses are Biomedical Science,
Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology or Physiology). Biology, Chemistry and at least one
English-rich subject are strongly recommended. Physics and Mathematics (Calculus or Statistics)
are useful.
Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) Applicants for the BPharm must first complete the required Stage One courses as part of the BHSc
or the BSc (majors/specialisations that can easily incorporate the required courses are Biomedical
Science, Chemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology or Physiology).
Biology and Chemistry are recommended, plus at least one English-rich subject.
Global Studies
Programme Recommended school subjects
Global Studies Students will be selected on the basis of their rank score and a minimum of 16 credits in each
of three subjects from the NCEA approved subject list. There are no additional requirements for
Cambridge International or IB. Study of a language is strongly encouraged.
Science
Programme Recommended school subjects
✓ Useful ✓ ✓ Recommended ✓ ✓ ✓ Strongly Recommended
Bachelor of Science (BSc)
Bachelor of Advanced Science
(Honours) (BAdvSci(Hons))
Students will be selected on the basis of their rank score. There are no required subjects. See the list below for
preparation subjects relating to the major/specialisations.
English-rich subjects (Classical Studies, English, Geography, History, History of Art) are useful for any
major, particularly those marked. Computer-based subjects including Digital Technologies are strongly
recommended for all majors.
All majors/specialisations Chemistry Biology Physics Statistics / Mathematics Calculus / Mathematics English-rich
Anthropological Science ✓
✓ ✓ ✓
Applied Physics
✓ † ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Biological Sciences
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Biomedical Science
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ One of either
✓
Chemistry
✓ ✓ ✓
✓ One of either
✓
Computational Biology
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Computer Science
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Data Science
✓
✓ One or both
✓ ✓
Earth Sciences
✓ ✓
✓ One of either ✓ ✓ Geography
Ecology
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ Geography
Environmental Change
✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ One of either ✓ ✓ Geography
Environmental Science
✓
✓ ✓ One of either ✓ ✓ Geography
Exercise Sciences
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Food Science and Nutrition
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ One of either
✓ ✓
Geographic Information Science
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✓ Geography
Geography
✓ ✓ ✓
✓ Geography
Geology
✓ ✓
✓ One of either ✓ ✓ Geography
Geophysics
✓ ✓ ✓
Green Chemical Science
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ One of either ✓ ✓ Geography
Information and Technology
Management
✓ ✓ One of either
✓ ✓
Geography*
Logic and Computation
✓ ✓ ✓
Marine Science
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Mathematics
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Medicinal Chemistry
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ One of either
✓ ✓
Pharmacology
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ One of either
✓ ✓
Physics
✓ † ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Physiology
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ One of either
✓ ✓
Psychology
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Statistics
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
For more information
contact:
The Schools Partnership Office
The University of Auckland
Alfred Nathan House
24 Princes Street
Private Bag 92019
Phone: +    ext: 
Email: [email protected]
Visit AskAuckland,
your online help
and support centre.
AskAuckland.ac.nz
*Accounting is also useful preparation.
†Biology is recommended for students with an interest in Medical Physics.
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