What can you study?
In Foundation Year you will study in one of several streams. Within each stream you will take ten papers. Advice and guidance will be provided by our deans of students for the best choice of stream leading to undergraduate university study.
All streams include the two compulsory papers, Academic English I and II.
Papers need a minimum of eight students to begin. If there are insufficient numbers to run a paper, students will be offered other options or they may withdraw from the course with a full refund of fees. Timetable restrictions could also mean students may not be able to choose some papers.
The streams include:
- Arts
- Applied Science
- Business/Commerce
- Health Science (February and June intakes only)
- Life Science
Arts
- Academic English I
- Academic English II
- Applications of Computing
- Economics
- Foundations of Computing
- Geography
- International Studies - An Historical Perpective
- International Studies - Contemporary Environment
- Marketing and Management
- New Zealand History
The Arts stream may lead you to study towards the following university degrees:
Applied Science
- Academic English I
- Academic English II
- Applications of Computing
- Chemistry - Structure and Bonding
- Foundations of Computing
- Marketing and Management
- Mathematics for Science
- Physics - Mechanics, Electricity and Waves
- Physics - Thermodynamics and Modern Physics
Plus one of the following papers:
The Applied Science stream may lead you to study towards the following university degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Science
- Bachelor of Applied Science
- Bachelor of Surveying
- Bachelor of Engineering (first year only at Otago)
Business/Commerce
- Academic English I
- Academic English II
- Accounting and Finance
- Applications of Computing
- Business
- Economics
- Foundations of Computing
- International Studies - Contemporary Environment
- Marketing and Management
- Mathematics for Commerce
The Business/Commerce stream may lead you to study towards the following university degrees:
Health Science
- Academic English I
- Academic English II
- Biology
- Chemistry - Structure and Bonding
- Chemistry - Reactivity
- Human Biology
- Epidemiology
- Mathematics for Science
- Physics - Mechanics, Electricity and Waves
- Physics - Thermodynamics and Modern Physics
The Health Science stream may lead you to First Year Health Science.
This may lead you to study towards the following university degrees:
- Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery
- Bachelor of Health Sciences
- Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery***
- Bachelor of Oral Health
- Bachelor of Pharmacy
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy
A limited number of places may be reserved for international students in the second year of each of the above programmes. Entry to the second year of each programme is competitive and is based on the grades achieved in Health Science First Year. The Health Science stream at Foundation Year is a recommended pathway to academically prepare for Health Science First Year.
*** Second year entry to the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery for independent international students is very limited. The availability of places will be determined on an annual basis.
Life Science
- Academic English I
- Academic English II
- Biology
- Chemistry - Structure and Bonding
- Chemistry - Reactivity
- Epidemiology
- Foundations of Computing
- Human Biology
- Mathematics for Science
Plus one of the following papers:
The Life Science stream may lead you to study towards the following university degrees:

