School Subjects and Tertiary Courses

The summary on the following pages is not intended to be comprehensive. It gives a brief outline of some full-time Polytechnic and University courses, the likely prerequisite school subjects, and present course entry requirements. It is a guide to help in the selection of appropriate subjects, in order that career opportunities and choices are not limited. As well, go to the Subjects to Careers to find out the career paths from subjects and courses.

Every endeavour has been made to ensure the information is correct. It is very important to check current entry requirements and prerequisites from the websites, University Calendar, Student Guide or prospectus of the particular Tertiary Institution.

Key for Subject Requirements
ACC
ARH
ART
BIO
CHE
CLS
COMP ST
ECO
ENG
LAN
GEO

Accounting
Art History
Art
Biology
Chemistry
Classical Studies
Computer Studies
Economics
English
Foreign Language
Geography

GRA
HIS
MAT
MAC
MAS
MUS
PHY
NCEA
CIE
UE

Graphics
History
Maths
Maths with Calculus
Maths with Statistics
Music
Physics
National Certificate of Educational Achievement
Cambridge International Examination
University Entrance

 

* See University Entrance 2011 Note Changes for entry
#N.B. These are the current entry criteria for 2011. Students will be advised of entry requirements and changes from tertiary institutions as they become available. University Entrance

  • International students currently in the N.Z. high school system must note the requirements of U.E. They cannot substitute IELTS or TOEFL for the Literacy NCEA Level 2/AS requirement. They must also carefully check the particular university's academic requirements as some have higher credit levels/UCAS tariff for entry.

 

Career Area Qualification Subjects Minimum Entry
Agriculture/Farming Certificate Gen.Ed. Sciences, GEO. MAT. 16 years & min.3 years secondary education
Diploma Year 12 BIO, ENG, MAT, CHE/PHY recommended NCEA 48 Credits or more in best 4 subjects
Level 2
Degree Year 13, BIO, MAT, CHE UE
Air Traffic Control Licence
Airways Corp. of NZ		 Year 13, ENG, MAT, PHY
Keyboard skills useful		 UE, age 20 years ENG, MAT, PHY
Apprenticeships: e.g.
Electrician
Plumber
Builder
Painter		 Cert. & Dip. Us require 3/4 years Sec.Ed & Year 11 quals in ENG, MAT & PHY can be required. Check Polytechnic programmes for specific requirements
Automotive Mechanics Cert. & Dip. 3/4 years Sec.Ed. Level 1 English, 10 credits, Maths & Physics desirable
  
Aviation
(i) Air Force		 Air Force Officer MAC, PHY, ENG 90 Credits L3 ENG, MAT, PHY preferred
Pilot/Navigator PHY,CHEM or COMP ST, ENG MAT, ENG, Science pref. PHY 18 credits Level 2
  Cert. Aeronautical Eng. Air NZ Yr12 ENG. MAT & PHY Good grades. Pre-enrolment assessment
(ii) Massey Degree Massey B.Aviation Yr13 PHYS, MAT, ENG Pre-selection exam & high standard of English
(iii) Flying Academy and School   Year 12, MAT, PHY Pre-selection process, 18 years of age
Architecture Degree ART, PHY & MAT highly reccommended. COMP ST & GRA useful. Auckland - direct entry good grades, UE very competitive. Interview,
Art portfolio, 1 Table A  & B required
  Year 13 MAC and / or PHY, ARH,
Art recommended.		 Victoria - Int year, competitive entry to Year 2 - no portfolio
Unitec - Portfolio & UE
Architectural Technology Diploma Year 12 MAT, PHY, ENG, ART pref. Good grades, Year 12
Architectural Draughting NZ Certificate Year 12 MAT, PHY GRA or Design pref. MAT, PHY Year 12
Commerce/Business NZ DipBus ENG, MAT 48 NCEA Credits or better, Level 2
Degree MAT, ENG, ACC, ECO recomended. MAC if majoring in ECO or Finance UE Some Univ. limited entry
NB: Specialist Comm degrees at Lincoln & Massey
Computing/Information Technology Certificate Year 12 MAT, COMP Good Year 12 grades
Degree MAC recommended, or MAS, PHY, ECO, Computing UE, Limited entry for some universities
Construction Economics
(Quantity Surveying)		 Diploma MAT, ECO, COMP ST Year 12. Good Marks.
Degree UE, MAT essential. ECO, PHY, & COMP ST recommended.
Construction Management Diploma L2 MAT & Eng or AS MAT & ENG  
Degree MAT, ENG, COMP ST. UE
Dentistry Degree   See Health Science Intermediate Otago
Design Degree 4 yrs ART essential
Useful ENG, HIS, MAT, PHY, ARH, Computer Skills, Graphics
 UE, Portfolio required, competitive entry, Massey, AUT, Unitec, Otago Polytechnic. Vic. Uni no portfolio, competitive to Year 2
Engineering Diploma Year 12 MAT, PHY. SC, GRA desirable MAT & PHYS 14 Credits Level 2 orbetter
AUT MAC, PHY, Year 13 UE MAC and Physics Year 13. Full A levels prefered.
Degree Year 13 MAC & PHY essential. CHE highly recommended. ENG & MAS recommended UE, Auckland limited entry.
Canterbury open entry
MAC & PHY Full A level preferred. CHEM to AS level for Year 1. A2 for Chem Eng.
Fine Arts Diploma Polytechnics: Year 12 in ENG & ART Portfolio required
Degree ART, ARH UE, Canterbury: Good passes in 2 ART Year 13 subjects & portfolio, or 2 portfolios.
Auckland Portfolio and written appln required
Massey - Competitive entry, portfolio. Refer  to individual Uni websites.
Food Science
Human Nutrition		 Degree CHEM. essential. BIO, MAT, PHY recommended. Degrees at AUT, Massey, Otago, Auckland
Forestry Degree BIO, CHE, MAS essential, ECO & ENG recommended UE
Health Science (Medicine) Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Med Lab Science, Physiotherapy BIO, CHEM. Essential. ENG. PHY. & MATHS to minimum AS level. MAC also good prep.
 Auckland Medical School: either Year I B. Health Sc or B.Biomed Sc: See University Auckland website for subjects
Otago Med School: Health Science Intermediate - compulsory BIO, CHE, PHY, MAS - competitive 2nd year entry for Auckland and Otago.
Horticulture BAg.Sc/HortSc BIO, CHE, MAT UE
BComm
  • Farm Management
  • Horticulture
BIO, MAT
ACC, GEO & ECO recommended		 UE
Journalism Diploma - post-grad
Degree B.Communication Studies.		 ENG + gen. ed
Media Studies Recmnd.		 Postgrad diploma - Degree Required.
AUT Degree-competitive entry. Uni Waikato & Massey UNITEC
Languages Degree ENG, LAN UE
Landscape Architecture Diploma

MAT, DES, BIO, GEO recommended

MAT, DES, BIO, GEO recommended

Unitec: NCEA Level 2 credits.
Degree UE, Portfolio for Unitec. Open entry Yr1 Vic. & Lincoln-no portfolio.
Law Degree General Education, ENG. essential UE, Very competitive entry to second year. Limited entry to Waikato University Year 1.
Medicine: see Health Science      
Med Lab.Science Degree BIO, CHE, ENG, MAT, PHY UE, Int year at Otago
Media Studies Certificate Year 12 ENG Good grade in ENG. Work experience desirable.
B.Communication, AUT, Unitec, Waikato and Massey   UE and written appln, Competitive entry, high grades for AUT. Media Studies & Communication are also BA majors
Medical Radiation Technology Degree Year 13 ENG, MAT and 1 Science subject, pref. PHY UE and selection criteria
UNITEC and Chch Polytechnic
Medical Radiation Therapy Degree ENG, MAT, PHY, BIO.

UE, Univ. Otago. Post Grad. programmes require Science degree.
Music Degree MUS to at least Year 12, preferably Year 13 UE, audition for performance-check early closing dates.
Nursing Degree programme at Polytechnics and Univ. of Auck. & AUT Uni of Auck. BIO, CHEM. or PHY. plus one Table A subject Limited entry programme. Check requirements. BIO & CHEM recomm.
Optometry Degree CHE, BIO, PHY UE Auckland (Year 1 of B.Sc.BioMed) competitive entry.
Pharmacy Degree MAT, CHEM, BIO essential, PHY, ENG recommended. UE Auck. competitive direct entry and interview. BIO & CHEM. Full A levels preferred.
Otago Health Science Int. Yr1 course.
Physical Education Degree P.E. recomm. BIO, CHEM, ENG, MAS, helpful Admission competitive - Otago.
Excellent Year 12 marks and CES
Physiotherapy - Auckland and Otago Degree ENG, BIO, CHE, PHY, MAT for Otago. H.Sc.Int UE, Otago HSc. Int.
AUT - no prescribed subjects. Competitive entry CES. NCEA 56 credits Level 3, CIE 180 points: Full A levels preferred.
Sport and Recreation
Sport and Exercise Science		 Degree General Education, P.E. recommended. BIO, ENG, GEO helpful
 UE
Science Certificate Year 12 BIO, CHE, MAT, PHY depending on major.  
Degree MAT, BIO, PHY, CHE depending on major. UE, Limited entry Auckland for some courses
Speech & Language Therapy Degree,
Postgrad Auckland.		 Science to at least Year 12, BIO recommended and English. UE, competitive entry to second year, Cant. and Massey, Post-grad. Auck.
Social Work Degree General Education UE, competitive entry to second year
Surveying Diploma MAT, PHY, Graphics Yr12, Comp.St. useful  
Degree ENG, MAC, MAS. COMPST. & GEO Useful UE, Int year at Otago
Teaching Gen. Education Primary: CES & some required subjects Interview: watch early closing dates.
  Secondary: 4 year degree or Post Grad Dip.
Technology Degree PHY & MAC, CHEM if major in degree. UE - Univ. Auck. Limited entry programmes. Victoria & Massey - B. Tech
Veterinary Science Degree UE BIO, CHEM, MAS, PHYS, ENG  Vet Sc. Int. Massey Autumn Semester
Visual Communication Diploma, Degree ENG, ART Very competitive. Portfolio Required.