All qualifications and degrees , Ngā tohu katoa

A bachelor’s degree gives you enough time to explore your interests, and also focus on specific subjects. Most are 360 credits, which takes 3 years if you study full-time, but some can be up to 600 credits.

An undergraduate bachelor’s degree with honours is generally 480 credits (4 years of full-time study) – most are designed to meet professional requirements.

Go deeper into a major subject from your undergraduate bachelor’s degree, graduate certificate or graduate diploma; at a higher level of study with an honours year (120 credits or 1 year if studying full-time).

A master’s degree normally builds on a main subject of study from your undergraduate degree. It can be 120 credits, 180 credits or 240 credits. A master’s degree is generally completed in 1 or 2 years of full-time study.

Doctoral degrees and PhDs are degrees with a large research component. They normally take a minimum of 3 years of full-time study.

You must meet a certain high-level of academic achievement in your postgraduate study to be allowed to enrol in a doctoral qualification. There are different types of doctoral degrees, and entry and regulations differ among them.

If you want to study at university, but aren't sure if you want to commit to a degree, try an undergraduate certificate. A certificate at undergraduate level needs 60 to 120 credits of study (6 months to 1 year, if studying full-time).

A graduate certificate is 60 credits (6 months if studying full-time). At least 45 credits of the courses within this qualification must be at 300-level or higher.

Postgraduate certificates give you an introduction to postgraduate-level study and can build on knowledge and skills you’ve already achieved in other study or your professional life. They’re shorter than postgraduate degrees, and need 60 credits (6 months if studying full-time) at 700-level.

If you’re successful, you might be able to use the credits towards a postgraduate diploma.

Undergraduate diplomas let you try university study before you commit to a degree. They’re also useful if you need to advance your career. A diploma at undergraduate level needs 120 credits (1 year if studying full-time).

A graduate diploma needs 120 credits (1 year if studying full-time). At least half of the courses within this qualification must be at 300-level or higher.

A graduate diploma can be used as a bridging qualification if you are aiming for postgraduate study or research that is different from the area you have studied before.

Postgraduate diplomas are postgraduate-level qualifications that are longer than a postgraduate certificate – they are 120 credits (1 year if studying full-time) and all courses are at 700-level or higher. They may include research.

If you are successful, you might be able to use the credits towards the longer master’s degree.

Pursue an interest or prepare for further study. These certificates are not formal qualifications and are normally for those who only intend to complete 1 or 2 courses.