Structure of Your Degree
Overview
The University offers well over a hundred different qualifications. They can be grouped into the following categories: general bachelor's degrees, specialised bachelor's degrees, Honours degrees, undergraduate certificates and diplomas, and postgraduate qualifications.
A student wishing to enrol for any qualification other than an ordinary bachelor's degree must normally complete an additional form, as well as the usual registration form, in order to apply for admission to the programme (at second year level for Health Sciences, Law, and Surveying degrees, and at second, third, or sometimes fourth year level for Honours degrees).
Bachelors' degree programmes offered by the University of Otago can be divided into two main types: general degrees and specialised degrees.
General Bachelors' Degrees
The following are the general degrees:
- Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc)
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)
- Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBioMedSc)
- Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
- Bachelor of Consumer and Applied Sciences (BCApSc)(no new enrolments being accepted)
- Bachelor of Music (MusB)
- Bachelor of Science (BSc)
- Bachelor of Theology (BTheol)
General degrees are normally taken over three years and require a minimum of 360 points. At least 180 of these points must be above 100-level, and at least 72 must be at 300-level in your major subject.
There must be a major subject in every general degree (except BTour), which means that you must satisfy the requirements specified for that subject.
In a BAppSc, BA, BCom, BCApSc, BSc, BTheol, or BTour degree you also have the option of having a minor subject specified.
In BA, BTheol, BCom, BTour and BSc degrees you can include up to 90 points of papers from other degrees.
The BAppSc is a four-year degree consisting of at least 480 points, which must-include 72 points from Commerce subjects lists, of which not less than 18 points shall be at 300-level.
In the BCApSc and BAppSc degrees the number of points permitted for papers from other degrees varies depending on your choice of major and minor subjects.
In the MusB degree, you can include up to 72 points for papers from other degrees.
Most ordinary bachelors' degrees and many of the specialised bachelors' degrees have Honours degrees allied to them (e.g. BA and BA(Hons)).
Specialised Bachelors' Degrees
The following qualifications are more specialised with restricted choices of papers. Most have their own specific entry requirements, structure and each has its own subjects.
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
- Bachelor of Dental Technology (BDentTech)
- Bachelor of Education (BEd) (TESOL endorsement only)
- Bachelor of Education (Teaching) (BEd(Tchg)) (no new enrolments being accepted)
- Bachelor of Education Studies (BEdSt)
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLSc)
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB)
- Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH)
- Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)
- Bachelor of Physical Education (BPhEd)
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPhty)
- Bachelor of Radiation Therapy (BRT)
- Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
- Bachelor of Social and Community Work (BSCW)(no new enrolments being accepted)
- Bachelor of Surveying (BSurv)
- Bachelor of Teaching (BTchg)
- Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) - BTchg(Prim) (no new enrolments being accepted)
- Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) - BTchg(Sec) (for graduates who intend to be secondary school teachers) (no new enrolments being accepted)
The professional Health Science degrees (BDS, BMLSc, MB ChB, BPharm, BPhty) normally require the Health Sciences First Year course. Admission to the second year of each of these degrees depends on your results in the first-year course. For details, see the entries for each and for Health Sciences First Year elsewhere on this website.
Most ordinary bachelors' degrees and many of the specialised bachelors' degrees have Honours degrees allied to them (e.g. BA and BA(Hons)).
