The social sciences provide you with the tools to add value to society and to confront the more challenging topics of the modern world.
We are an intellectually diverse community of scholars and our curriculum covers subjects that will enable you to think critically about how individuals and groups in society relate to each other.
Get extra support with our broad range of scholarships
With our flexible teaching options you can study on-campus (Hamilton, Tauranga) or online
Learn from award winning professors
Commitment to high-quality research
Our students can work alongside top-rated teachers and internationally respected scholars, across eight majors in the School of Social Sciences:
Offered by Te Ngira, Institute for Population Research:
These majors can be taken towards a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Social Sciences. The School of Social Sciences also offers the Bachelor of Environmental Planning.
Enrolling in one of our postgraduate qualifications gives you the opportunity to engage in independent (but supervised) research in one or more of a wide range of subjects. Our subjects include: Anthropology, Geography, Environment & Society, Environmental Planning, History, International Relations & Security Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Public Policy, Sociology, Social Policy, Population Studies and Demography (Te Ngira, Institute for Population Research).
Master of Environment and Society
A social atlas developed at the University of Waikato is the first of its kind in New Zealand – and researchers say it paints a unique picture of our changing demographics.
The University of Waikato has awarded two of its leading academics the prestigious title of Emeritus Professor for their contributions to the University and their fields of expertise.
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.
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.