Planning your Bachelor of Science

To complete your BSc you will need to take a defined number of courses (totalling 360 points) from Stage I to Stage III. Stages refer to the level of study within a subject. Stage I is the introductory level, Stage II the intermediate and Stage III the advanced. You can take courses from each stage at any time in your degree, though typically you will be taking a majority of Stage I courses in your first year.

Courses are typically worth 15 points each. To finish your degree in three years, you will need to take eight courses (120 points) per year. Students typically take four courses per semester. The minimum course load per year for a full-time student is 100 points over two semesters. For more information, please refer to Workload.

When planning your BSc you should:

• Identify a subject major or specialisation you believe will be your ultimate academic goal. See Subjects and specialisations at undergraduate level
  
  • Note that you usually choose your own courses within the requirements for majors, whereas most specialisations have a set schedule of courses you must complete. For more information, refer to the Faculty of Science Undergraduate Prospectus.
  • Of the five courses you are required to take at Stage III of a BSc, you will be taking at least four courses (60 points) at Stage III in your area of interest. It is possible to take a double major with a BSc. You would need to complete three courses (45 points) at Stage III in this second major.
  • Note that some Stage II and III courses have prerequisites. Prerequisites are other courses, usually at a lower stage, which must be passed before you can enrol in the course of interest.
• Identify the prerequisites required for the Stage II and III courses in your major of interest. This will allow you to identify the core Stage I courses you will need to take to advance in this major. Most majors require at least two courses (30 points) at Stage 1. See Core Stage I courses
• In addition to these core Stage I courses, you will be taking other Stage I courses in related subject areas within the Science Schedule (download at the bottom of this page) (e.g. Mathematics in conjunction with an intended Computer Science major). You can also take other Stage I interest courses.
• To get an overview of the courses you need to take for your BSc, majoring in a specific subject or specialisation, see our list of BSc planners by subject.

The page "How to choose your first-year courses" provides more information and advice.You may take no more than 12 courses (180 points) at Stage I over the course of your degree.

See How to choose your first year courses

The remaining 12 courses (180 points) must come from courses at an advanced level (Stage II and III). You must take at least 5 courses (75 points - 60 of which must be in your major) from Stage III Science courses.

Once you have determined which courses you would like to take for your first year, you will need to work out a timetable.

Fill out our BSc Degree Planner - single major to see if you meet the requirements.

Important notes

• You must pass a total of 360 points, at least 300 of which must come from courses within the Science Schedule.
• You must take courses from a minimum of three science subjects (including your major subject or specialisation).
• You must take two courses (30 points) from the General Education schedule approved for Science. It is recommended that you take these courses in Years 2 or 3, unless you are enrolling in a specialisation which requires otherwise. See the General Education schedules.
• You may choose up to two courses (30 points) from subjects outside the Science Schedule.
• Students considering Honours will need to take six Stage III courses in their intended area of study to be considered.
• Ensure you consult The University of Auckland Calendar.