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for the people who want to study in new zealand

For the people who want to study in New Zealand

Start online until you can join us on campus

Borders opening – 31 July 2022

The New Zealand Government has announced a full reopening of New Zealand’s borders from 31 July 2022, three months earlier than planned. International student visa applications will be processed from 1 August.

Unfortunately, this will not be in time for you to enrol with us face-to-face for our July 2022 intake, but you will be able to start many of our qualifications online (see the list below) and transfer to our New Zealand campuses once you have received your student visa. Please note that we are not sure how long it will take to have your visa application processed, so please be prepared for this to take several weeks.

For a limited number of programmes, online students will be able to join our intake in November 2022. Otherwise you can commence on campus in all of our available programmes from March 2023.

We are working hard to confirm a list of programmes available in November 2022.

A selection of programmes will continue to be available for online study in future intakes, for students who prefer to study flexibly.

Further information on the border opening announcement can be found here. Thank you for your patience whilst the borders have been closed, we look forward to welcoming you on our campuses soon.

Do you want to know more?

Please submit your details below.

Start your studies online

Gain your degree from a world-class New Zealand university and enjoy the flexibility of beginning online.

We are offering our most popular programmes to start online while we wait for the New Zealand border restrictions to ease.  You will transfer to face-to-face classes in New Zealand once you are able to enter the country.

Our online students thrive in our virtual environment, with the support of our dedicated staff.  Classes have been created with online learners in mind.  Enjoy studying with students who are both online and on campus.

Begin your study journey, or evolve your existing career with Waikato.

Are you already living in New Zealand? Click here
Based in China? Find out about 中国学习中心

Start online and enjoy a 20% tuition fee discount during your online study*

Transition to face-to-face classes when you can and receive a one-off travel grant of NZ$2,000**

Part-time and full-time online study options available

*This tuition fee discount is applicable to the papers studied online and will be applied directly to your tuition fees. This tuition fee discount is available to students who started studying online outside of New Zealand. Students, who have returned home after the closure of New Zealand borders, are not eligible for the 20% tuition fee discount.
** This offer is current for students are new to the university in 2022 and is currently under review for 2023.

Read Online Study FAQs

Hear from a current online student

Farina Renato lives in India and started studying a Master of Business and Management with us online in March 2021. She was anxious about studying online as she hadn't learnt in this way before but since starting she has felt well-supported with her studies, has enjoyed the interactive elements and the highlight has been working on group projects with other students across the world.

"As an international student I couldn't have asked for a better online experience. The amount of support provided is unbelievable. All of the staff and faculty are extremely compassionate and accommodating."

Why Waikato?

  1. We are proud to have been the university of choice for over 15,000 international students from over 135 different countries since January 2000.

  2. Business School ranked in the top 1% globally.

  1. We are committed to helping you succeed. Our dedicated staff will support you throughout your online and on-campus studies.

  2. Over 20 years of online teaching expertise.

Programmes you can start online in July 2022

Undergraduate

Postgraduate

1 These programmes are available for completion online.
2 Available to start online in one of the following majors only; Agribusiness, International Management, Management and Sustainability, Tourism Management (only two papers available), Supply Chain Management.
3 Available to start online in one of the following streams only; Science, or Society.
4 The Bachelor of Social Science is available to start online in July 2022 in Anthropology, Environmental Planning, Geography, Linguistics, Philosophy, Political Science, Population Studies, Psychology, Screen and Media Studies, Social Policy, Sociology.
5 Postgraduate Diplomas are available to start online in one of the following subject areas only; Education, Education and Society, Education Leadership, Geography, Law, Legal Studies, Psychology.
6 Bachelor of Business can be started and completed online in all majors.
7 The Bachelor of Arts is available to start online in July 2022 in Anthropology, English, Environmental Planning, Geography, Human Development, Linguistics, Law, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Population Studies, Psychology, Screen and Media Studies, Social Policy, Sociology, Theatre Studies, Writing Studies.
10 180 point programme only available to start in B Trimester 2022. The 180 point programme is suitable for students with a ICT undergraduate degree.
11 Graduate Certificates are available to start online in one of the following subject areas only;  Accounting, Digital Business, Economics, Finance, Human resource Management, Law, Marketing, Public Relations, Strategic Management, Supply Chain Management, and Tourism and Hospitality.
13 Graduate Diplomas are available to start online in one of the following subject areas only; Accounting, Agribusiness (two papers available), Cyber Security, Digital Business, Dispute Resolution, Economics, Education, Finance, Human resource Management, Law, Leadership Communication (two papers available), Marketing, Political Science, Public Relations, Strategic Management, Supply Chain Management, and Tourism and Hospitality.
14 Students studying the Bachelor of Climate Change must also choose another major subject to study alongside their climate change papers.  Online students can choose from the following majors: Economics, Strategic Management, Public Relations, Education and Society, some arts and social sciences majors but with limited paper availability.
15 The Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences (Honours) is available to start online in July 2022 in Computer Science. The number of papers available is limited.
16 The Bachelor of Science is available to start online in July 2022 in Computer Science or Psychology. The number of papers available is limited. Psychology majors must transfer to study on campus in New Zealand in March 2023.
17 The Master of Arts is available to start online in July 2022 in International Relations, Security Studies.

Programmes you can start online in November 2022

We are currently working on confirming our C Trimester (November) 2022 online programmes.

Keep up to date:
Be the first to know when these programmes are confirmed by signing up to our email notifications using the enquiry form at the bottom of this page.

Foundation & English Language Programmes

The above English language and Foundation programmes are available to start online. These programmes are not eligible for the 20% Tuition Fee Discount mentioned above. For more information, please visit pathways.waikato.ac.nz.

Aerial view of Mount Maunganui

Mount Maunganui Beach, Tauranga, New Zealand

Joining us in New Zealand

When the time comes to join us in New Zealand you will be able to switch to face-to-face teaching at either our Hamilton or Tauranga campuses*. You will be guaranteed on-campus accommodation in Hamilton*.

New Zealand is rated as the second most peaceful country in the world in the 2021 Global Peace Index. A multi-cultural society, New Zealanders are friendly, welcoming and embrace diversity.

Many of our students choose to stay in New Zealand to further their careers after graduating. As an international student, you may have the option to engage in work while studying in New Zealand.

Experience spectacular landscapes, beaches and National Parks which attract visitors from near and far.

* Programme offerings vary between campuses, please refer to each qualification page for campus location options.
* Accommodation type is subject to availability.

The reason I decided to study at the University of Waikato is because of its reputation. I know that I am getting a high quality education. Plus there is a lot of support available at the university to help you succeed. It is also very multicultural, and it is amazing to be part of such a diverse community.

Anusha Anil Kumar

Bachelor of Business
India

We want to reassure you that the University of Waikato is still accepting applications for our 2021 and 2022 intakes. We recognise that it is an uncertain time and that you will have many questions about your future study plans. We encourage you to refer to our coronavirus (COVID-19) information hub for the most up-to-date information and to sign up to our emails so we can keep in touch and notify you about updates.