Bachelor of Arts
If you’re fascinated by the history and creative activities of humankind and how this shapes societies and our future, then a Bachelor of Arts (BA) is for you. Our graduates are in demand for their flexible skills, practical outlook and depth of understanding they bring to their roles.

With a BA you gain an internationally recognised degree, leading to diverse career opportunities. Through your study you will develop sector-specific analytical abilities and research experience, well-honed written and verbal communication skills, and a broad perspective on the world and its various cultures.
Depending on the major subject you choose, the BA may be taken within the School of Arts, the School of Social Sciences, the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies or the Faculty of Law.
Key information
Years: | 3 |
---|---|
Points: | 360 |
BA Study Locations: | Hamilton, Tauranga Papers offered differ by location. The Catalogue of Papers has full location info. |
Start Dates: | Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July) |
Estimated Fees* (Domestic): |
$6,776 - $7,821 per year
See if you're eligible for fees-free study in your first year |
Estimated Fees* (International): | $29,425 - $38,305 per year |
Entry Requirements: | Undergraduate International |
Area of Study: | |
All amounts are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD).*Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. |
Degree Planner
Degree planner — Bachelor of Arts overview (School of Arts, School of Psychology and School of Social Sciences)
Year 1
100 Level
Major
100 Level
Major
One from List A:
Academic Foundations
Field of the Degree
100 Level
Field of the Degree
100 Level
Elective
Elective
Year 2
200 Level
Major
200 Level
Major
200 Level
Major
One from List B:
Cultural Perspectives
200 Level
Field of the Degree
Elective
Elective
Elective
Year 3
300 Level
Major
300 Level
Major
300 Level
Major
300 Level
Major
One from List C:
Work-Integrated Learning
Elective
Elective
Elective
- Major
- Compulsory
- Elective
BA Papers
Lists A, B and C
List A: Academic Foundations
- ARTSC103 Rights and Reasons
- ARTSC105 Language in Context
- ENSLA103 Undergraduate Research Writing for ESL Students
- ENSLA202 Oral Skills for Academic English
List B: Cultural Perspectives
Any Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies paper, or- ANTHY101 Exploring Cultures: Introduction to Anthropology
- ANTHY102 Exploring Cultures: Aotearoa and the Pacific
- ANTHY201 Patriots, Racists, and Foreigners: Ethnicity and Identity in Global Perspective
- DSIGN252 Cultural Perspectives for Design
- EDUCA200 Te Hononga Tangata
- ENGLI200 Global Fictions
- GEOGY219 Māori Lands and Communities
- INTLC221 Understanding East Asia
- INTLC225 The French-speaking World from Astérix to Zombies
- LINGS203 Language, Society and Culture
- Any MAORI paper
- Any PACIS paper
List C: Work-Integrated Learning
- ALPSS301 Work-integrated learning - Placements
- ALPSS363 The Impact Lab
- ARTSW300 Arts and Cultural Festivals
- ARTSW301 Professional Practice in the Arts (prerequisites ARTSC110 - so open to all BA students)
- ARTSW302 Work-Related Project in the Arts (prerequisites ARTSC110 - so open to all BA students)
- GEOGY328 Geographical Information Systems
- LINGS301 Research Apprenticeship
- MEDIA307 Professional Studio Production
- PHIL0318 Work Ethics
- POLCY318 Global Environmental Politics and Policy
- POPST300 Population Studies Work-related Project
- PSYCH301 Psychology Research Assistantship
- SOCSC301 Work-Integrated Learning - Work-Related Project
- WRITE396 Writing Studies Work Placement
*Please consult our Student Advisors for the correct work-integrated learning paper.
Subject to approval
Degree planner — Bachelor of Arts overview (Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies)
Major subjects offered by the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies are:
- Māori and Indigenous Studies
- Pacific and Indigenous Studies
- Te Reo Māori
Year 1
100 level major
100 level major
Field of
MAORI and PACIS 100 Level
Field of
MAORI and PACIS 100 Level
Elective
Elective
Year 2
200 level major
200 level major
200 level major
Field of
MAORI and PACIS 200 Level
Field of
MAORI and PACIS 200 Level
Elective
Elective
Elective
Year 3
300 level major
300 level major
300 level major
300 level major
Elective
Elective
Elective
- Major
- Compulsory
- Elective
Degree planner — Bachelor of Arts in Law (single major)
This structure applies to study starting in 2020.
Year 1
One from List A
Elective
Elective
Year 2
Any 200 level
LEGAL paper
Any 200 level
LEGAL paper
Any 200 level
LEGAL paper
One from List B
Field of the Degree
200 level
Elective
Elective
Elective
Year 3
Any 300 or 400 level
LEGAL paper
Any 300 or 400 level
LEGAL paper
Any 300 or 400 level
LEGAL paper
Any 300 or 400 level
LEGAL paper*
One from List C
Elective
Elective
Elective
- Major
- Compulsory
- Elective
Choose a major
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Education and Society
- English
- Environmental Planning
- Geography
- History
- Human Development
- International Languages and Cultures
- Law
- Linguistics
- Music
- Māori and Indigenous Studies
- Māori Language/Te Reo Māori
- Pacific and Indigenous Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Population Studies
- Psychology
- Screen and Media Studies
- Social Policy
- Sociology
- Theatre Studies
- Writing Studies
Recommended minors
Or undertake a minor in any other subject within the University.
Career opportunities
- Composer
- Creative Performer
- Cultural Advisor
- Designer
- Editor
- Events Manager
- Foreign Affairs Advisor
- Journalist
- Media Producer
- Museum Curator
- Politician
- Presenter
- Professional Writer
- Screenwriter
- Translator
- Communications Advisor
- Creative Art Director
- Web Designer
Entry requirements
You will be eligible to apply for this degree if you have University Entrance and meet any additional requirements for the qualification.
You will be eligible to apply for this degree if you have University Entrance and meet any additional requirements for the qualification. All other applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Some first-year papers may have specific prerequisites, so please check the catalogue of papers carefully. If you do not meet the prerequisites, please contact [email protected] (School of Arts and School of Social Sciences), [email protected] (Faculty of Law) or [email protected] (Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies) as there may be other pathways that you can take to study in this field.
Scholarships and prizes
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Conjoint degree options
- Bachelor of Arts with a Bachelor of Teaching (BA/BTchg)
- Bachelor of Arts with a Bachelor of Laws (BA/LLB)
Bachelor of Arts with Honours
Expand to read about the Bachelor of Arts with Honours
Entry
In general, to be admitted to the BA(Hons) you must have a B grade average in the 300 level papers of your undergraduate major subject. You need to have majored in the same subject for your undergraduate degree as that in which you intend to enrol at graduate level. In some cases, a substantial undergraduate supporting subject may be sufficient prerequisite.
A number of the graduate subjects/programmes are interdisciplinary in nature, and may accept students with appropriate undergraduate majors in other relevant subjects. Admission criteria may vary so please consult the appropriate programme Graduate Adviser for their specific admission criteria.
Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) involves two semesters of full-time study, or the equivalent in part-time study. The BA(Hons) comprises 120 points at 500 level, of which at least 30 points must be in research, normally a 30 point dissertation or an approved equivalent. The BA(Hons) is awarded with classes of honours.
BA(Hons) subjects
- Anthropology
- Education and Society
- English
- Geography
- History
- Māori and Indigenous Studies
- Music
- Pacific and Indigenous Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Screen and Media Studies
- Social Policy
- Sociology
- Theatre Studies
Notes
Māori and Indigenous Studies and Pacific and Indigenous Studies can be taken for the BA(Hons), but students must enrol through the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies.
International Relations and Security Studies, although not available for Honours, may be taken as a subject for the Postgraduate Diploma.
Flexibility
You may take up to 60 points from other subjects, of which up to 30 points may be taken from outside the subjects listed for the degree. You should discuss your intended programme of study with the Graduate Adviser in each of the Schools or Faculties concerned. Some subjects have specific guidelines for numbers and types of papers outside the subject.
Graduate study options
- Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)) - see Honours section
- Master of Arts (MA)
- Graduate Certificate (GradCert)
- Graduate Diploma (GradDip)
- Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert)
- Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
BA under the School of Arts, School of Social Sciences or Faculty of Law
Expand to read BA under the School of Arts, School of Social Sciences or Faculty of Law
You'll learn about human nature and the human mind as they are revealed by the arts, the languages, the politics, and the cultures of the past and the present. The effective communication skills developed while studying the Arts are valued as essential in the modern workplace.
With a BA from the School of Arts, School of Social Sciences or Faculty of Law, you have the opportunity to tailor your study to suit your passions and interests, across faculties within the University.
You'll have access to Waikato's modern, purpose-built teaching and performance venues, including the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts and on-campus television studios. You will be encouraged to extend and perfect your own practice, and take your place within New Zealand and international creative communities.
BA under the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies
Expand to read BA under the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies
The BA under the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies will teach you the fundamental bodies of knowledge in te reo and tikanga Māori, its distinctiveness, and the ability to think critically of its place locally, nationally and globally.
Studying the BA will provide you with leadership qualities in local, national and international indigenous communities and the ability to contribute to the ongoing development of whānau/hapū/iwi/Māori communities. You'll develop the capacity for working cooperatively with diverse groups and individuals, and contributing effectively to collective projects.
The programme will develop your appreciation of indigenous and global issues and the place of Māori in that indigenous community.
You'll graduate with a high level of communication skills in English and/or Māori and the competency to engage with Te Ao Māori.
You will have acquired the critical analysis skills and understanding to make a positive, relevant and innovative contribution to the social and economic development, the labour market and community of New Zealand.
BA graduates from the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies might become active in the cultural and heritage sector, media, environmental management, Treaty of Waitangi issues and health, welfare and education agencies, and Government Departments including Te Puni Kokiri, to name just a few.
Contacts
Have a chat with one of our friendly advisers to help you plan your degree.
Student Centre
Phone: 0800 WAIKATO (0800 924 528) or 07 838 4176
Email: [email protected]
Have a chat with one of our friendly advisers to help you plan your degree.
Phone: +64 7 807 9275 Email: [email protected]
Enquire Now