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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.
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.
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.
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 some of the top science researchers and teachers in the world, and use some of the best facilities in New Zealand.
Chemistry
Computer Science
Data Science
Earth Science
Ecology
Ecology and Sustainability
Environmental Science
Exercise and Sport Science
Human Nutrition
Integrative Biology
International Agriculture
Marine Biology
Mathematics
Microbiology
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry
Physiology
Plant Science
Psychology
Statistics
Zoology
For more information on minors see the Courses and planning tab.
Microbiology
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.
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.
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
There are no specific entry requirements for the Bachelor of Science, outside of university admission regulations. However there is some expected background knowledge.
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.
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
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.
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and programmes that may help.
If you need to do a course before you start your programme, there may be options for you in Summer School.
From the Schedule to the Degree including:
Core courses
Major courses
Elective courses from the Schedule
Elective courses
Ensure that overall, you also have:
Attend block courses, contact workshops, field trips, studios, workshops, tutorials and laboratories as required.
See ‘Courses for this programme’ below for schedules of courses.
| 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 |
| 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 |
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
Data Science
Earth Science
Ecology
Ecology and Sustainability
Environmental Science
Exercise and Sport Science
Human Nutrition
Integrative Biology
International Agriculture
Marine Biology
Mathematics
Microbiology
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry
Physiology
Plant Science
Psychology
Statistics
Zoology
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.
Microbiology
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.
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
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.
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.
If you already know which courses you are going to take, you can use our fees calculator to get an estimate of your fees.
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.
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
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.
General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
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.
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. You can go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
There is a webpage with information on changes that took place in 2020, which may affect you if you are a current BSc student.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may be 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.
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.