Protecting and sustainably managing our environment is one of our greatest global challenges and our graduates are well placed to tackle this challenge head on.
The growing human population is expected to exceed 9 billion within the next 40 years. The need to provide for increasing human demands, while protecting and sustainably managing the environment, is one of our greatest global challenges. Environmental studies is at the core of this challenge.
World-class laboratories at both our Hamilton and Tauranga campuses
Get extra support with our broad range of scholarships
We have a 'living lab' on our doorstep
The University of Waikato is proudly launching a new three-year degree in 2022 - the Bachelor of Climate Change*.
This degree is the first of its kind in the world and combines scientific knowledge of the biophysical world with understanding of economic and political systems and the impacts on Māori, Pacific and Indigenous communities.
We take a strong interdisciplinary approach so our students gain skills applying the biological, chemical and Earth sciences to understand and manage the impacts of human activities on the environment.
Learn from leading professors and researchers in the sustainability field and develop skills to change the way we tackle environmental challenges. Find our more about our researchers tackling some of the big issues of our time, including climate change, biodiversity and conservation.
"The positive impact I can have on others is what drives and inspires me. I care about people and I care about the environment. I believe that everyone has the ability to make a difference, and I want to be someone that shows people this."
Connected to the sea
Our Tauranga campus offers the only science research facility in New Zealand specifically configured to address the real issues of our engagement with the sea in terms of environmental sustainability, and also with a strong theme of innovation in creating wealth from our marine resources.
Connect with like-minded students, staff and the wider community. Waikato Eco Campus and Tauranga Eco Campus host workshops, tree planting, community hīkoi and much more! It's a great way to develop a deeper passion for the environment, volunteer, and get connected. Explore the Eco Campus community:
Just how prepared is Aotearoa’s highly valuable tourism sector for the coming impacts of climate change? Research recently concluded in the Deep South Challenge: Changing with our Climate suggests that the answer is similar to most sectors of New Zealand society: not nearly prepared enough.
A large research project that seeks to understand how biology responds to increasing temperature could give insight into what may really happen to life if our planet heats up. Professor Vic Arcus and Professor Louis Schipper from the University of Waikato are two of four key principal investigators leading a project that aims to determine whether there’s a single theory of temperature dependence that applies to life.
The University of Waikato has joined an international coalition of around 50 of the world’s top climate research universities with a shared vision to be a global source of trusted communication of climate research.
This year’s Artemis Scholarship recipient is keen to use her degree to help iwi mitigate negative impacts on the environment as a result of increased development.