If you’re a secondary school student, Waikato’s Unistart programme gives you a head-start in education by letting you take university papers while you’re still at school. There are options to take papers online or at our Hamilton and Tauranga campuses. Check out our new range of papers and apply below for 2024.
There are more than 50 papers to choose from, many of which are taught online, and completed Unistart papers can be credited towards an undergraduate degree at the University of Waikato.
Our students learn from award-winning lecturers and researchers who are committed to delivering you a world-class, innovative education in a supportive learning environment. Join our warm and welcoming community of students from all over New Zealand as you study as part of the Unistart programme.
Unistart papers usually run over one trimester and worth 15 points. The workload is around 8-10 hours a week, which can include time spent online in classes or on campus, participating in tutorials, reading course materials, lab work or preparing for assignments and tests.
Unistart is open to all year 12 and 13 secondary school students who:
If you don’t meet the above entry requirements, email us to discuss your options.
The University of Waikato Unistart Scholarship covers the cost of up to two Unistart papers. Students will automatically be considered for this when accepted into Unistart - no additional application is required. As well as meeting the above entry requirements for Unistart, you will also need:
Step 1: Complete the School Approval Form
Talk to your school about whether the Unistart programme is right for you. Then complete the School Approval Form with them and email it back to us.
Step 2: Applying online for the Unistart Programme
Visit MyWaikato to complete your online application to enrol into the Unistart programme and use the instructions below to help you.
If you need help to complete your application then please contact us on 0800 924 528.
Find out more about the 2024 Unistart programme and papers on offer at Waikato below
Unistart papers available in a flexible format
| Subject | Paper Code | Paper Title | Trimester(s) Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agribusiness | AGBUS101-23A (HAM) | Agri-Food Business | A |
| Arts and Social Science | ARTSC103-24 (HAM), (TGA) | Rights and Reason | A, B |
| Communication | COMMS101-24A (HAM) | Communication Competencies | A |
| English | ENGLI100-24A (HAM) | Telling the Story | A |
| Adapting Stories | B | ||
| Environmental Planning | ENVPL100-24A (HAM) | Introduction to Environmental Planning | A |
| ENVPL101-24B (HAM) | Future Cities | B | |
| Gender and Sexuality Studies | GNSEX101-24B (HAM), (TGA) | Gender and Sexuality: Representations and Realities | B |
| International Languages and Cultures | International Languages and Cultures | B | |
| INTLC221-24B (HAM) | Understanding East Asia | B | |
| SPNSH231-24A (HAM) | Intermediate Spanish 1 | A | |
| SPNSH232-24B (HAM) | Intermediate Spanish 2 | B | |
| Māori & Indigenous Studies | MĀORI102-24 (HAM) | He Hinātore ki te Ao Māori: Introducing the Māori World | A, B |
| Music | MUSIC101-24D (HAM) | Secondary Performance Studies 1 | D |
| MUSIC115-24B (HAM) | Composition 1 | B | |
| Pacific and Indigenous Studies | PACIS100-24A (SEC) | Introduction to Pacific Histories, Languages and Cultures | A |
| Philosophy | PHILO102-24B (HAM) | Introduction to Logic | B |
| PHILO150-24B (HAM), (TGA) | The Big Questions: An Introduction to Philosophy | B | |
| Screen and Media Studies | Understanding Visual Culture | A | |
| Security and Crime Science | CRSCI101-24A (HAM) | Introduction to Security and Crime Science | A |
| Sociology | Introduction to Sociology | A |
Where will I be studying?
FLEXI Unistart papers allow students to choose between studying fully online or on-campus.
A Trimester: 26 February - 23 June 2024
B Trimester: 8 July - 3 November 2024
D Teaching Period: 26 February - 3 November 2024
Unistart papers available online
| Subject | Paper Code | Paper Title | Trimester(s) Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arts and Social Sciences | ARTSC105-24A (NET) | Language in Context | A |
| ARTSC106-24B (NET) | Critical Social Science Research: The Crisis of Climate Change | B | |
| Climate Change | CLIMT101-24A (NET) | Introduction to Climate Change Science | A |
| CLIMT104-24B (NET) | Introduction to Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies: The Climate Change Crisis | B | |
| Computer Science | Introduction to Programming | A, B | |
| COMPX102–24B (SEC) | Object-Oriented Programming | B | |
| COMPX223-24A (SEC) | Database Practice and Experience | A | |
| Data Analytics | DATAX121-24A (SEC) | Introduction to Statistical Methods | A |
| Design | DSIGN125-24A (SEC) | Introduction to Communication Design Production | A |
| Digital Learning | DLRNG100-24A (NET) | Developing Digital Fluency | A |
| Economics | ECONS101-24A (SEC) | Economics for Business and Management | A |
| Education | EDSOC101-24B (NET) | The New Zealand Educational Context | B |
Engineering You will need the support of a maths teacher at your secondary school to enrol in these engineering papers | ENGEN101-24A (SEC) | Engineering Maths and Modelling 1A | A |
| ENGEN102-24B (SEC) | Engineering Maths and Modelling 1B | B | |
| Forensic Psychology | FPSYC101-24B (NET) | Introduction to Forensic and Criminological Psychology | B |
| Geography | GEOGY101-24B (NET) | Sustainable Geographies | B |
| GEOGY102-24A (NET) | A Planet Under Pressure | A | |
| Health | HELTH110-24A (NET) | Understanding Hauora, Health and Wellbeing | A |
| Health, Sport and Human Performance | SDCOA101-24B (NET) | Sport, Culture and Development: Trends and Issues | B |
| Human Development | Lifespan Development | B | |
| International Languages and Cultures | INTLC222-24A (NET) | Food Practices and Cultural Journeys | A |
| International Relations and Security Studies | IRSST103-24B (NET) | Introduction to International Relations | B |
| Law | LEGAL105-24A (NET) | Introduction to New Zealand Law and Society | A |
| Māori Education | MAOED100-24A (NET) | Huarahi Mātauranga Māori: Historical and Contemporary approaches to Māori Education | A |
Mathematics You will need the support of a maths teacher at your secondary school to enrol in these maths papers | Discrete Structures | B | |
| Philosophy | PHILO103-24A (NET) | Critical Thinking | A |
| PHILO106-24A (NET) | Social and Moral Philosophy | A | |
| Political Science | POLSC103-24A (NET) | Introduction to Political Psychology | A |
| Teaching | LLTED101-24A (NET) | An Introduction to Children's Literature | A |
| Writing Studies | WRITE100-24 (NET) | Writing for Academic Success | A, B |
Online papers are taught over the internet, so you can study from anywhere in New Zealand as long as you have a computer and internet connection.
A Trimester: 26 February - 23 June 2024
B Trimester: 8 July - 3 November 2024
Unistart papers available at the Hamilton Campus
| Subject | Paper Code | Paper Title | Trimester(s) Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arts and Social Sciences | ARTSC112-24B (HAM) | Music, Sound and Human Communication | B |
| Biology | BIOEB101-24A (HAM) | Concepts of Biology - Ngā Huatau o te Koiora | A |
| BIOEB102-24B (HAM) | Introduction to Ecology and Biodiversity - Mātai Hauropi a Kanorau Koiora | B | |
| BIOMO101-24B (HAM) | Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology - Mātai Pūtau a Mātai Rāpoi Ngota Koiora | B | |
| Chemistry | CHEMY101-24A (HAM) | Structure and Spectroscopy - Tūramaramatia i ngā Hanganga | A |
| CHEMY102-24B (HAM) | Chemical Reactivity - Tauhohehohe Matū | B | |
| Computer Science | COMPX102-23B (HAM) | Object-Oriented Programming | B |
| Earth Sciences | EARTH101-24A (HAM) | Introduction to Earth System Science - Pūtaiao Pūnaha Whenua | A |
| EARTH102-24B (HAM) | Discovering Planet Earth - Tūhuratia Papatūānuku | B | |
| Environmental Sciences | ENVSC101-24B (HAM) | Environmental Science - Pūtaiao Taiao | B |
| Music | MUSIC101-24B (HAM) | Secondary Performance Studies 1 | B |
| MUSIC121-24D (HAM) | Chamber Music 1 | D |
Hamilton papers are taught at the University of Waikato's Hamilton campus, which is located at Knighton Road, Hamilton. You will need to check with your school that you can attend tutorials, lectures, laboratories and and other classes for your paper during the week at the Hamilton campus.
A Trimester: 26 February - 23 June 2024
B Trimester: 8 July - 3 November 2024
D Teaching Period: 26 February - 3 November 2024
Unistart papers available at the Tauranga Campus
| Subject | Paper Code | Paper Title | Trimester(s) Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | BIOEB102-24B (TGA) | Introduction to Ecology and Biodiversity - Mātai Hauropi a Kanorau Koiora | B |
| Earth Sciences | Introduction to Earth System Science - Pūtaiao Pūnaha Whenua | A | |
| Environmental Sciences | ENVSC101-24B (TGA) | Environmental Science - Pūtaiao Taiao | B |
Tauranga papers are taught at the University of Waikato's Tauranga campus, which is located at 101-121 Durham Street, Tauranga. You will need to check with your school that you can attend tutorials, lectures, laboratories and and other classes for your paper during the week at the Tauranga campus.
A Trimester: 26 February - 23 June 2024
B Trimester: 8 July - 3 November 2024
Email: [email protected]
Thanks to Unistart I felt truly prepared for the next phase of my academic journey.