Overview
Make a difference with an exciting and challenging career
Massey’s Bachelor of Science (BSc) is a flexible programme that will challenge you, while giving you the satisfaction of discovery.
Level
- Undergraduate, NZQF Level 7
Credits
- 360
Duration
- 3 year(s) full-time. Available part-time.
Other
- Some distance courses contain compulsory contact workshops.
With Massey University’s Bachelor of Science, you’ll gain a broad scientific education while also being able to study one or more specialist areas in depth.
Leaders and influential thinkers around the world see the training, nurturing and appointment of well-qualified scientists and technologists as instrumental to health, environmental sustainability, and prosperity. Studying science will set you up to play a part in an exciting and prosperous future.
A flexible programme of study
Massey’s Bachelor of Science degree provides you with an adaptable base from which to develop in your chosen career. With the right choice of first-year courses, you can keep your options open when it comes to selecting your major in your second year.
You can select from a wide variety of majors and minors, or combine your Bachelor of Science with a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Business.
Get the skills employers are looking for
You’ll learn concepts, principles and theories that you can apply in your chosen career, such as how to interpret, summarise, evaluate and present data and information, and how to solve problems.
In addition to the technical skills you’ll gain through practical experience, you’ll also develop the communication and quantitative skills that are essential to success in New Zealand and international workplaces. These include time management, technological knowledge and project-planning skills that are useful across a wide range of industries and science-related organisations.
Learn from the best
Learn from some of the top science researchers and teachers in the world, and use some of the best facilities in New Zealand.
Specialisations
Majors, subjects or endorsements
Chemistry
Computer Science
Earth Science
Ecology
Ecology and Sustainability
Environmental Science
Exercise and Sport Science
Human Nutrition
Integrative Biology
Marine Biology
Mathematics
Microbiology
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry
Physiology
Psychology
Statistics
Zoology
Minors
For more information on minors see the Courses and planning tab.
Chemistry
Computer Science
Earth Science
Ecology
Ecology and Sustainability
Environmental Science
Exercise and Sport Science
Human Nutrition
Integrative Biology
Marine Biology
Mathematics
Microbiology
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry
Physiology
Psychology
Statistics
Zoology
Careers and further study
Further study
Top graduates can proceed to a one-year Bachelor of Science with Honours, and from there, directly to a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).
Alternatively, you could study a Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology or a Master of Science. Many of our subject areas provide opportunities for postgraduate study while you’re working, so you can earn money while becoming more highly qualified.
International students
New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.
Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.
As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.
Entry requirements
University admission
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Programme admission
Required
There are no specific entry requirements for the Bachelor of Science, outside of university admission regulations. However there is some expected background knowledge.
Expected high school preparation
A Year 13 background in a number of the science subjects (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) and at least one of the mathematics subjects is expected. Please refer to the webpage for your chosen major to see specific details on expected and recommended high school subjects for your major.
English language requirements
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
Prior learning, credit and exemptions
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
- review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
- contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
If you do not have the entry requirements
Pathway tool
If you are unsure whether you have the right background/subjects to study this programme, our tool will help you to figure out what you might need to do before starting your qualification.
English language and foundation courses
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and programmes that may help.
- English Language Proficiency
- Foundation Certificate in Academic English
- Foundation Certificate in Advanced Academic English
- Full Foundation - Certificate in Foundation Studies
Summer School
If you need to do a course before you start your programme, there may be options for you in Summer School.
Courses and planning
Credit summary
360 credits
240 credits (at least)
From the Schedule to the Degree including:
Core courses
Major courses
Elective courses from the Schedule
120 credits
Elective courses
Ensure that overall, you also have:
- Not more than 165 credits at 100 level
- At least 75 credits at 300 level
Attend block courses, contact workshops, field trips, studios, workshops, tutorials and laboratories as required.
See ‘Courses for this programme’ below for schedules of courses.
Returning students
If you started the BSc programme before 2020 you may be completing the programme under the previous regulations, which are listed in Schedule C in the Regulations for this programme.
Courses for this programme
Schedule A: Core Courses (At least 90 credits from)
Compulsory courses (At least 45 credits from)
| 15 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 247111 | Science and Sustainability for Agriculture and Horticulture | 15 |
| 247112 | Science and Sustainability for ICT | 15 |
| 247113 | Science and Sustainability for Science | 15 |
| 15 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 161111 | Applied Statistics | 15 |
| 161122 | Statistics | 15 |
| At least 15 credits from | ||
|---|---|---|
| 124103 | Biophysical Principles | 15 |
| 160101 | Calculus | 15 |
| 160102 | Algebra | 15 |
| 160104 | Introductory Mathematics for Science | 15 |
| 160105 | Methods of Mathematics | 15 |
Remaining credits from
| 117155 | Introduction to Animal Science | 15 |
| 119120 | Plants for Agriculture and Horticulture | 15 |
| 120101 | Plant Biology | 15 |
| 122102 | Biochemistry | 15 |
| 123103 | Chemistry for Modern Sciences | 15 |
| 123104 | Chemistry for Biological Systems | 15 |
| 123105 | Chemistry and the Physical World | 15 |
| 124100 | Introductory Physics | 15 |
| 124104 | Physics 1A: Mechanics and Thermodynamics | 15 |
| 124105 | Physics 1B: Electricity, Waves and Modern Physics | 15 |
| 158120 | Fundamental Information Technologies | 15 |
| 159100 | Introduction to Programming | 15 |
| 159101 | Technical Programming 1 | 15 |
| 159102 | Technical Programming 2 | 15 |
| 159171 | Computational Thinking and Programming 1 | 15 |
| 159172 | Computational Thinking and Programming 2 | 15 |
| 162101 | Cell Biology | 15 |
| 162103 | Introductory Biology | 15 |
| 175101 | Psychology as a Social Science | 15 |
| 175102 | Psychology as a Natural Science | 15 |
| 189151 | Principles of Soil Science | 15 |
| 194101 | Introductory Physiology | 15 |
| 196101 | Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour | 15 |
| 199103 | Animals and the Environment | 15 |
| 214101 | Human Bioscience: Normal Body Function | 15 |
| 214131 | Introduction to Food and Nutrition | 15 |
| 233105 | Our Dynamic Earth | 15 |
| 234121 | Functional Anatomy | 15 |
Schedule B: Specialisations
Majors
Please refer to individual specialisation page for a list of courses for your specialisation.Minors
Please refer to individual specialisation page for a list of courses for your specialisation.Majors and minors
About specialisations
Completing a major is compulsory. To complete a major in the BSc, you must pass 120 credits in specified areas, comprising 60 credits at 200-level and 60 credits at 300-level.
Chemistry
Computer Science
Earth Science
Ecology
Ecology and Sustainability
Environmental Science
Exercise and Sport Science
Human Nutrition
Integrative Biology
Marine Biology
Mathematics
Microbiology
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry
Physiology
Psychology
Statistics
Zoology
About minors
Completing a minor is optional. Minors increase the breadth of your degree and give you extra knowledge, attributes and capabilities. A minor must be in a different subject from your major.
You may choose a minor from any University undergraduate degree that has recognised minors. If the minor is from another degree the regulations of that programme will apply.
All BSc majors are available as minors. See the BSc regulations for requirements.
Chemistry
Computer Science
Earth Science
Ecology
Ecology and Sustainability
Environmental Science
Exercise and Sport Science
Human Nutrition
Integrative Biology
Marine Biology
Mathematics
Microbiology
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry
Physiology
Psychology
Statistics
Zoology
Planning your programme
Planning overview
If you study full-time, in your first year, you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.
If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.
The first-year structure is designed to provide you with a broad knowledge and skill set which will equip you to go on to more advanced courses in the second and third years.
You can change to any BSc major at the end of your first year. By choosing your courses and electives carefully to cover both majors you could change at the end of first year.
Typical pattern for the Bachelor of Science
Core courses These courses are a compulsory part of your qualification.
Major courses Choose from a selection of courses appropriate for your specialisation.
Elective courses Follow your interests. Your qualification may have selection guidelines for elective courses.
| Year one |
|---|
| 247.111 or 247.112 or 247.113 |
| 161.111 or 16.122 |
| 124.103 or 190.101 or 160.102 or 160.104 or 160.105 |
| Core 100-level relating to major |
| Core 100-level relating to major |
| Core 100-level |
| Core 100-level |
| Core 100-level |
| Year two |
|---|
| Major 200-level |
| Major 200-level |
| Major 200-level |
| Major 200-level |
| Elective |
| Elective |
| Elective |
| Elective |
| Year three |
|---|
| Major 300-level |
| Major 300-level |
| Major 300-level |
| Major 300-level |
| Elective |
| Elective |
| Elective |
| Elective |
Courses are each worth 15 credits
Before you start
Laboratory streams
Lecture and laboratory streaming information will be available in your online classroom (called Stream) through your student homepage. You will get access to your student homepage after you have applied and been accepted into your programme. A link will be emailed to you prior to lectures starting.
Make sure you take a look before semester starts because laboratory sessions commence in the first week of the semester.
Fees and scholarships
Fees and finance
Fees, student loans and free fees scheme
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
Already know which courses you're going to choose?
If you already know which courses you are going to take, you can use our fees calculator to get an estimate of your fees.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students will find their National Student Number on their student homepage.
- Student loans (StudyLink)
- Fees Free
- Student homepage login
A good fit if you:
- like making discoveries
- want to have a career where you can make a difference in the world.
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Regulations
Review this important information before you apply for this programme. This gives you full details of the rules and regulations about what you need to study and what you must achieve in order to graduate with this qualification. That includes structure, courses and requirements. These regulations should be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including the below.
Undergraduate programmes
Postgraduate regulations
General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates.
Applying and enrolling
Applying for the programme
Check you are ready
If you are ready to apply, have a look at our application checklist. It will help you get prepared with what you need. Please also check the entry requirements carefully before you apply.
Choose your programme and click on Apply now
You will apply for the programme using the Apply now button on this page. You’ll also choose your specialisation (major, subject or endorsement) if applicable.
Some programmes have additional requirements such as the submission of a portfolio or CV. Click on Apply now and you will be able to submit those documents as part of the application process.
Receive and accept an Admission Offer of Place
You will receive an Admission Offer of Place when you have been accepted into the programme. You need to accept this before you can enrol in your courses. International students also need to pay their fees at this point.
Enrolling in courses
You’ll then get access to your own student homepage (also known as the student portal). This is where you can enrol in courses. Any updates on your application or enrolments will also be on your student homepage. Make sure you check this regularly.
When you choose courses, ensure you check for any requirements that apply including:
- prerequisites (courses you have to do before the one you are enrolling in)
- corequisites (courses you have to do at the same time as the one you are enrolling in)
- restrictions (courses that you cannot enrol in if you are completing or have completed another identified similar course)
- location – for instance some distance-based courses still have an on-campus element, so double check that the way the course is taught is suitable for your situation.
Each of our courses has its own webpage where you can find this information. You can use our course search to find course pages.
More information on courses is in the ‘Courses for this programme’ section on this page.
You can find information on application due dates and semester dates on the key dates page.
We look forward to welcoming you to Massey!
If you have any questions, contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
What are courses and credits?
What are courses and credits?
Each Massey programme is made up of courses (in some tertiary institutions they are called ‘papers’).
You will have some compulsory courses and some you can choose from.
Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (often 15 credits, but this does vary). You must gain a set number of credits to be able to graduate from this programme.
There may also be some rules about which courses you need to pass to progress to the next year, or stage, of your study (known as progression). There are also courses you must pass to graduate with a specialisation.
- See the ‘Courses for this programme’ section for the list of courses.
- Courses search
Understanding course numbers
The first three digits of our course numbers show you which subject the course is about.
The second three digits show you the level and course ID number. For instance:
- sub-degree courses are '0' (i.e. xxx.0xx)
- undergraduate study begins at 100-level, (i.e. xxx.1xx)
- as you progress through 200- and 300-level courses this number changes to 2 and 3 respectively. The higher the number that starts the second three digits, the higher the level of study
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
About electives
Electives are courses that are not compulsory. Certain guidelines are usually provided on courses you may take. Elective courses contribute to the programme, but not to your major or specialisation.
Workload and time management
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
Returning students
If you started the BSc programme before 2020 you may be completing the programme under the previous regulations, which are listed in Schedule C in the Regulations for this programme.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these programmes go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
Scholarships and awards
Scholarships related to this programme
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.