Course details

Summary

The Bachelor of Science (Technology) degree provides you with an opportunity to gain practical, relevant work experience as part of your undergraduate degree. This will help you to step into the professional world in your chosen career and successfully integrates theoretical learning with hands-on experience.

The BSc(Tech) is a flexible degree, designed to provide you with the necessary practical experience to stand out among other science graduates.

It is internationally recognised, meaning you can find work anywhere in the world. A high percentage of graduates actively seeking employment find it within six months of graduating.

This degree includes 10 weeks of relevant work experience. The Cooperative Education Unit assists in matching students with placement opportunities, and offering reflective learning and skill development after the placements are completed. Students are regularly offered permanent roles following their placements.

Heading into the workplace with a BSc(Tech) from Waikato means you'll have spent the summer between your second and third years gaining relevant work experience and, in most cases, being paid for your efforts.

To prepare you for the workplace and gain an understanding of how the business world works, the BSc(Tech) includes a workplace preparation paper prior to starting the work placement in addition to a wide variety of science papers.

The first year of the degree is similar to the BSc, enabling you to explore a range of scientific disciplines, broaden your opportunities and lay a foundation for you to build on, even if you haven't studied science before.

From second year your major will form the core of your degree and give you a much deeper understanding of a particular discipline.

Our science minors will give you a taste of a complimentary discipline to broaden your knowledge and demonstrate the breadth of your scientific skills. Alternatively, select a minor from a supporting non-science discipline to show employers you can apply yourself in a range of fields.

Chemistry

Chemistry is fundamental to our understanding of all branches of science and for a wide range of industries. A degree in Chemistry from the University of Waikato means you'll gain an excellent grasp of Chemistry theory, supported by a strong emphasis on practical expertise.

Employers recognise Waikato Chemistry graduates for their analytical and problem solving skills as well as for their high-level of practical abilities including hands-on bench and modern instrumentation skills.

A Chemistry qualification from Waikato appeals to a wide range of employers including analytical, forensic, industrial, environmental and medical laboratories. There is a shortage of Chemistry graduates in New Zealand and overseas and a critical shortage of qualified Chemistry teachers.

Better building materials and textiles, improved medical aids, new alloys, more productive agriculture, better environmental control and remediation – all rely on the chemical expertise you'll gain from studying at Waikato.

The University of Waikato covers a wide range of specialist areas including analytical chemistry, geochemistry, environmental chemistry, forensic science, industrial chemistry, materials chemistry and biochemistry.

Career opportunities

• Biochemist
• Biosecurity Officer
• Chemical Technologist
• Environmental Scientist
• Food Technologist
• Forensic Scientist
• Marine Studies
• Material Science
• Microbiologist

Entry criteria

If you have achieved University Entrance through NCEA you will be accepted into this degree.

Discretionary Entrance

Applicants will normally be granted Discretionary Entrance if they have gained a total of at least 80 credits in NCEA at Level 2 in four subjects equivalent to the approved subjects for University Entrance in NCEA at Level 3, with a minimum grade of Merit in at least half of the achievement standards for each subject. Applicants must also have satisfied the numeracy and literacy requirements of University Entrance.

Special Admission

Applicants will be considered on a case by case basis. Applicants 20 years old and over by the beginning of their programme of study will be accepted, except those that are clearly insufficiently prepared for academic study. Preference may be given to applicants who have successfully completed appropriate Waikato Pathways College bridging programmes.

Admission at entrance level or with credit from previous study

Applicants will be considered on a case by case basis bearing in mind patterns of admission which have applied in previous years and the standing of the qualification in New Zealand.

English language requirements:

IELTS (Academic) - 6.0 overall (no band less than 6.0); iBT (internet based) TOEFL - 79-80 with a score of 20 in writing; Pearson PTE Academic - 57 with no less than 57 for each communicative skill; Waikato Pathways - Successful completion of Level 7 with a B grade average in the Certificate of Attainment in Academic English (CAAE) program.