Bachelor of Science

Information on this page relates to the 2012 academic year unless otherwise specified.

Overview

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree is your entry point to the international scientific community. As well as having general and specialised subject knowledge, Science graduates are experts in problem solving, teamwork and communication. Comfortable with the latest technology, graduates are ideally suited to the knowledge economy and are highly employable..

At Victoria, science is an adventure. Its discoveries and innovations offer solutions to life's most pressing problems and give insight into the fundamental structures of the world. Scientists are explorers, looking into the unknown, from the depths of the Antarctic ice sheet to the workings of the human brain.

Victoria's scientists are international leaders in areas such as conservation, biomedical science, nanotechnology, pure mathematics, marine biology, forensic psychology, seismology and climate change. Much of this groundbreaking research is carried out in the University's laboratories and in the field. The Science Faculty has produced many successful graduates, including the late Professor Alan MacDiarmid, winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2000.

Wellington's high concentration of scientists, science organisations and research institutes benefits Victoria's science students. Not only does external expertise inform lectures and research supervision but also it provides valuable work experience and summer programmes.

Majors and Minors

A major is your main area of study. Your first major must be in science, but a second major may be from outside Science eg: Chinese or Public Policy. The specific major requirements vary from subject to subject. 

A minor demonstrates an area of interest in your degree. Students may take up to two minors. A Science minor requires:

• 60 points from the major requirements of the subject at 200 level or above , including 15 points at 300 level

Details of the points needed for majors and minors and the list of Science majors are below.

A BSc requires three years of full time study. Most students take 7-8 courses in their first year.

The number of points a course is worth is representative of the workload involved. 120 points is a full time programme, equivalent to 40 hours a week including lectures, laboratory sessions, tutorials, fieldwork, assignments, tests, exams and individual study. One point is roughly equal to 10 hours of work over the trimester.

Every BSc graduate must be able to demonstrate mathematical competency and an ability to communicate through oral and written work, including discussion.

These skills will be achieved by all students taking:

• at least 15 points from MATH, STAT, QUAN, PHYS or similar courses
• at least 15 points from approved courses that show competency in communication.

A BSc degree is ideal preparation for postgraduate study at Victoria at Honours and Masters levels. It is the ideal grounding for a career in any area of Science, ranging from biotechnology to theoretical physics. A postgraduate qualification enables you to work at a higher level than graduates with a BSc.

Some students choose to combine a BSc with another degree. Because a number of courses can be credited to both degrees, it is possible for able students to complete two three year degrees in four to five years. Other Science degree and related degree options at Victoria are:

• Bachelor of Biomedical Science.
• Bachelor of Engineering
• Conjoint Bachelor of Commerce and Administration and Bachelor of Science 
• Conjoint Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Teaching 

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A BSc at Victoria

• A total of 360 points
• At least 270 points from Science subjects
• A major chosen from the Science major list (see below)
• At least 210 points from 200 and 300 level, with 75 of these from 300 level Science courses
• At least 15 points from MATH, STAT, QUAN or PHYS courses (if not already included as part of the major requirements)
• At least 15 points from approved courses that demonstrate communication skills (if not already included as part of the major requirements)

Please note:

• Up to 90 points from any other Victoria undergraduate degree can be counted towards a BSc
• A second major from outside science can be taken, but no more than 150 non-science points will count towards a BSc
• 300 level courses required by two majors cannot be shared between those majors or between a major and a minor.

Admission and Enrolment

To enrol in a Bachelor of Science you must have a University Entrance Qualification and have met the Guaranteed Entry Score requirements for this degree. For more information, please see the admission pages for New Zealand students and International students.

It is useful to have studied some of the Science disciplines at NCEA Level 3 or equivalent before you enrol in a BSc, but many 100-level courses require little or no Science background.

Students interested in taking mathematics, chemistry and physics do require previous knowledge of the subject. See the listings for individual subjects.

Preparation Courses

Preparation courses offered over the summer trimester can be taken to gain the prerequisites to enter some first year courses. These are suitable for those lacking the appropriate NCEA credits, or for students wanting to brush up on their science skills.

Two courses are offered:

• CHEM 191 Introductory Chemistry
• MATH 132 Introduction to Mathematical Thinking

The points gained from these courses count towards your degree. Please check the prerequisites of your first year courses to find out if you need to take these preparation courses.

Enrolment

For more information about enrolling, see Guide to Enrolment.

Fees

Fees are set each year and are worked out on a per point basis, so your total fees depend on the courses you choose.

You can use our fees calculator to help you work out your exact fees.

There are also compulsory fees for student services, student union membership and internet access.

Course fees for approved courses may be paid by student loan. If you choose to study part time, this may impact on your eligibility for a student allowance or the living component of a student loan.

Find out more from our Financial Advice site.

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BSc Majors

A minor can be completed in all the subjects listed above, as well as Forensic Science. Please contact us for more information.

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How To Find Out More

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Degree Examples

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