Our pre-registration clinical programmes have limited spaces available and one intake per year. Applicants go through an in-depth selection process and only a limited pool of applicants will be selected.
Late applications cannot be accepted.
It is important you take the time to consider your referees and personal statement carefully as these form a large part of the selection criteria.
Clinical programmes
The University of Waikato offers the following clinical programmes:
The Application Process
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Complete an application online
During your application to enrol you will be asked to provide:
1. A personal statement
2. The details of two referees
3. A New Zealand Police vetting form and two forms of ID (if you have lived in New Zealand for six months or more)
4. International Police vetting if you have lived overseas for at least 12 months within the last 7 years
5. CV (requirement for Midwifery only, although we encourage providing a CV for other programmes as well). -
Application is assessed
Your application will be assessed to check you have provided all the necessary documents and determine whether you meet the academic entry requirements into the programme. A preliminary decision will be communicated to you at this stage:
⢠If you meet the academic entry requirements you will be sent a conditional offer which lists conditions that need to be met, including being selected for a place. This conditional offer does not mean you are guaranteed a place in the programme.
Or,
⢠If you do not meet the academic entry requirements you will be advised your application was unsuccessful.
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Interview
The Bachelor of Nursing does not include an interview - please skip to step 4.
The Master of Nursing Practice, Master of Pharmacy Practice and Master of Clinical Practice (Midwifery) require an online interview as part of the application process.
Conditional offer holders will be invited to complete the interview between July â September 2026. Please click the link below for more information about the interview format.
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Applications close
Please see the relevant qualification page linked above for closure dates. You will need to ensure you have provided all the requirements for your application before the closing date.
Applications submitted after the closing date cannot be accepted.
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Selection Committee meets
Selection of applicants considers academic background, work and life experience, and suitability for clinical programmes. All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Our Selection Committee will review all applicants that have provided the required documentation before the closure date.⯠Students will be assessed based on the information provided during their application, personal statement, referee reports, and an interview (Bachelor of Nursing excluded).
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Decisions on selection made and communicated
We intend to update all applicants with our decisions within two months after applications close. Applicants will be informed of one of the following outcomes:
a) Will be offered a place on the programme, or
b) Will be placed on the waitlist, or
c) Will not be issued an offer.We have limited spaces in the programme with large numbers of applications, and some strong applicants may miss out on a place on the programme.
Some applicants will be offered places, conditional on their NCEA results, other academic results, or English. Any additional requirements will be communicated in full at the time.
The selection process is normally undertaken in September of each year after the closing date and the outcome will be communicated to you between mid-end of October.
Tips when Applying
You are required to submit a personal statement with your online application. We strongly recommend that you take the time to write an amazing student statement as it forms an important part of your application. Make sure you stand out: Who are you? Why would your background make you a great applicant? What makes you passionate about working in this field?
The statement should include comments on each of the following:
- Why you want to become a Nurse/Pharmacist/Midwife
- What inspired you to choose this as a career?
- Describe any personal qualities or aspects of your life experience that could enhance your application
- What relevant experiences do you have (e.g. health care, volunteering, customer service, leadership, community work)?
- What personal qualities make you suited to this profession (e.g. empathy, teamwork, patience, reliability)?
- Demonstrate your understanding and commitment to working with diverse communities
- Do you have links with MÄori, Pacific, LGBTQ+, rural, or other under-represented communities?
- Why is it important to you to work with and support these groups?
- Detail your commitment to the programme and attending clinical placements (which will include travel to the greater Waikato area),
- Any support you have behind you to help you achieve your goal.
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We encourage you to limit the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The personal statement helps you to stand out within a large pool of applications. It shows us who you are, your personality, and your distinctiveness. Using AI will produce repetitive and wordy statements that don't make you stand out.
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Please do not submit handwritten statements, we require your statement to be in Word or PDF format.
Handy hints: Use positive and professional language. Try to be specific - give examples rather than generic statements. Check your spelling and grammar carefully before submitting.
Part of the online application to enrol is providing the details of two referees who will complete referee reports about your suitability for your chosen programme.
When considering your referees, make sure that the referee knows you well enough (ideally for longer than one year), that each referee is different (i.e. we wouldn't accept two co-workers, two acquaintances, two family friends), and can write details about your personal qualities in relation to the programme you're applying for. Diverse and less biased referees are stronger.
Good choices can include:
- A teacher or professor who knows you well
- Sports/Drama coach/Youth group leader
- An employer/line manager/owner
Make sure it is not a partner, close friend or relative!
Handy hint: We send a virtual form to your referees once your application is submitted, so let them know to keep an eye on their inbox and spam folder!
We will email you if your referee declines to give a reference, their email bounces back, or they are an unsuitable referee. Please keep an eye on your inbox and replace your referee as soon as possible to meet the deadline. If both referees are acceptable, you will see a "tick" next to each referee's checkbox on your MyWaikato "Qualifications and papers" page. It is your responsibility to ensure your referees respond to us before the application deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, applications for the following year must be received in full by the closing date. Please see the relevant qualification page for closure dates.
Yes, as there are limited places in all our clinical programmes we go through an extensive selection process which includes reviewing your background, two referees and student statement. MNursPrac, MPharmPrac, and MClinPrac(Midwifery) also have an interview. It's important you take time to consider your application information carefully and supply all documentation before the application cut-off date.
No, we don't believe grades correlate with the best health professionals. As long as you meet the entry requirements, whether your background is a Bachelor's Degree, NCEA, or CUP student, we won't rank you by grades. We look at people first.
Yes, when you submit an application the referees you supply are automatically emailed with a link to fill in. They must submit the information contained in the link prior to the cut-off date so that you are eligible for selection. You can click "view" > " Nursing" in your application to see if your referee has submitted a response (the response itself is confidential). It is your responsibility to ensure your referees both respond prior to the application cut-off date. We may call or email your referee if we need further clarification of the information they have provided. Please note that referee links expire within 90 days.
The Master of Nursing Practice, Master of Pharmacy Practice and Master of Clinical Practice (Midwifery) require an online interview as part of the application process.
The Bachelor of Nursing does not include an interview.
You can view more information about the interview here: Clinical Programme Interviews
The Bachelor of Nursing is not open to international students.
The Master of Nursing Practice, Master of Pharmacy Practice, and Master of Clinical Practice (Midwifery)* have spaces for a limited number of international students.
*Applicants must be a registered health professional in New Zealand to be eligible to apply for Midwifery.
If your first language is not English, or you are not a citizen of New Zealand, you may be required to provide evidence that you meet the English language requirement of the programme.
You can view the English language requirements here under 6. for BNurs and 10. for MNursPrac, MPharmPrac, and MClinPrac(Midwifery).
Bachelor of Nursing:
Dependent on spaces available, we may be able to take students from other New Zealand institutions into year 2 of the Bachelor of Nursing. We accept very few transfer students, so it is important that you make alternate arrangements in case you are not accepted into our programme. If you are a nursing student from another institution wishing to transfer into the Bachelor of Nursing at Waikato, you will need to outline the reason for the transfer in your student statement and provide an academic transcript from your current provider along with a reference from the Head of School and the number of clinical hours you have completed.
We do not accept transfers into our Master of Nursing Practice, Master of Pharmacy Practice nor Master of Clinical Practice (Midwifery).
When you first apply you will be assessed on the academic criteria and be given a conditional offer (if you meet entry) shortly after applying. This will be conditional on various requirements but mainly on the selection process. The selection process is normally undertaken in September of each year after the closing date and the outcome will be communicated to you between mid-end of October.
The New Zealand police vetting result can take around 6 weeks to come back from the police. If its clear, we will mark it off in your application check boxes.
If there are results, and you do get selected, we will contact you at that stage to discuss it further. This does not necessarily impact being selected, but we have to consider safety in clinical placements and whether the result would affect your ability to gain registration with the Nursing Council.
Nursing â Yes, both of our programmes are pre-registration programmes. This means that you will get the placement hours and knowledge to sit the state exam and apply to register as a nurse in New Zealand.
Pharmacy â We are registered with the Pharmacy Council. Our programme will allow you to apply as an Intern Pharmacist. After completing and passing the Intern Training Programme, you will be eligible to apply for registration as a Pharmacist.
Midwifery - Graduates of the Master of Clinical Practice (Midwifery) will be eligible to apply for registration with the Midwifery Council. Graduates who begin working as midwives in New Zealand will be required to complete the Midwifery First Year of Practice (MFYP) programme administered by the New Zealand College of Midwives. This requirement is the same as that for graduates of the existing Bachelors pre-registration midwifery programmes.
Being fit to practise means you are physically and mentally able to meet the professional, ethical, and clinical standards required in your chosen health profession. This ensures you can provide safe and effective care.
Having a physical or mental health condition does not automatically prevent registration. Each situation is considered individually by the relevant professional council. What matters most is that you can practise safely within your scope.
If you have a condition or circumstance that may affect your ability to practise safely, youâre encouraged to discuss this early with our heads of programme. Please email health@waikato.ac.nz for more information.
You will need to meet the immunisations standards of practice for healthcare professionals in New Zealand to go on any placement (so after you find out if you have been selected for a place and have been enrolled).
Nursing applicants will also need a First Aid Certificate but please wait until your place is confirmed before obtaining one.
Yes, there are a few additional costs associated with completing a programme with clinical placements:
Nursing:
- Students are required to provide proof of immunisations which can sometimes include serologies at the studentâs expense.
- Students are required to wear a uniform on placement (tunic and pants) at their cost. Black close-toed shoes also required. $150 approx.
- A nursing equipment pack including scissors and a stethoscope are required. $110 approx.
- Costs for travel to and from your clinical placements.
- First Aid certificate.
Midwifery placements:
- Students are required to provide proof of immunisations which can sometimes include serologies at the studentâs expense.
- Students are required to wear a uniform on placement at their cost.
- Costs for travel to and from your clinical placement.
Pharmacy placements:
- Students are required to provide proof of immunisations which can sometimes include serologies at the studentâs expense.
- Students are required to wear a uniform on placement at their cost.
- Costs for travel to and from your clinical placements.
More information about purchasing the above items will be provided once students are enrolled.
Due to the limited number of spaces in these programmes, the criteria for approving deferral requests are strict. Please see the Entry requirements section of the relevant qualification page for more detailed information.
Contact details
If you have any questions or need help, please contact us.