Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Health Sciences

The Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) is a three-year program that provides a comprehensive overview of health and healthcare. It is a multidisciplinary qualification, and graduates use their skills in the health sector and beyond.

What Will My Study Involve?

• Cover topics such as mental health and wellbeing, sexual health promotion, environmental health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, and community health.
• Smaller classes mean academic staff can work closely with students to help achieve their goals.
• Option to study a minor from subjects across Health Sciences, Arts, Commerce, Digital Screen, Product Design, Science, Sport, and Youth and Community Leadership.
• Successful completion of the Public Health major means students meet the generic public health competencies and the health promotion competencies endorsed by Rnanga Whakapiki Ake i te Hauora o Aotearoa | Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand.

Degree Structure

The BHSc requires a total of 360 points:

• 120 points of compulsory courses
• at least 120 points of Health Sciences courses
• the remaining 120 points from Health Sciences or from other degrees. At least 225 points must be from courses above 100-level, with at least 90 points at 300-level. The degree takes three years of full-time study, or can be studied part-time for up to 6 years.

Majors and Minors

BHSc students have the option of completing either:

• a major
• a major and a minor
• two majors (a double major). Each major has specific course requirements, but all consist of a minimum 120 points, with at least 45 points above 100-level, and at least 30 points at 300-level. If students are completing a double major, they may need to complete additional points (i.e., more than 360 points) to meet the requirements of both majors. A minor consists of a minimum of 75 points, including at least 45 points above 100-level, in a single subject chosen from Health Sciences, Arts, Commerce, Digital Screen, Product Design, Science, Sport, or Youth and Community Leadership degrees.

Double Degrees

It is possible to study a Bachelor of Health Sciences alongside other degrees at the same time, such as the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Youth and Community Leadership.

Subjects and Courses

The Bachelor of Health Sciences provides students with applied research in human biology, epidemiology, health promotion in Aotearoa, and decision making for policy and care. Students will complete courses towards a major and can choose from a wide range of minor subjects.

Compulsory Courses

• Year 1:
  • HLTH101 Introduction to Health Studies
  • HLTH102 Health Promotion
  • HLTH106 Te Wero Mori Health Issues and Opportunities
  • BIOL116 Human Biology
• Year 2:
  • HLTH203 Epidemiology
  • MAOR270 Te Ao Hauora Tangata: Mori Health Perspectives
• Year 3:
  • HLTH301 Evidence in Health

Major Subjects

• Health Education
• Mori and Indigenous Health
• Psychology
• Public Health

Minor Subjects

A wide range of subjects are available for minors, including but not limited to:

• Accounting
• Animation
• Anthropology
• Art History and Theory
• Astronomy
• Biochemistry
• Biological Sciences
• Business Analytics
• Business and Sustainability
• Chemical Formulation Design
• Chemistry
• Chinese
• Cinema Studies
• Cinematic Arts
• Classics
• Community Music
• Computer Science
• Cultural Studies
• Digital Humanities
• Digital Product Design
• Economics
• Education
• English
• Entrepreneurship
• Environmental Science
• European and European Union Studies
• Finance
• French
• Game Arts
• Game Development
• Geography
• Geology
• German
• Health Education
• History
• Human Resource Management
• Human Services
• Indigenous Narrative
• Industrial Product Design
• Information Systems
• Innovation
• International Business
• Japanese
• Linguistics
• Mori and Indigenous Studies
• Marketing
• Mathematics
• Media and Communication
• Music
• Nutrition
• Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Pacific Studies
• Performance Data Analysis
• Philosophy
• Physical Activity
• Physical Activity and Wellbeing
• Physics
• Political Science and International Relations
• Professional and Community Engagement
• Psychology
• Public Health
• Russian
• Screen Sound
• Screenwriting
• Society and Policy
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Sport Coaching
• Sport Management
• Sport Studies
• Statistics
• Strength and Conditioning
• Taxation
• Te Ao Hkinakina
• Te Reo Mori
• Tourism Marketing and Management
• Youth and Community Leadership

Workplace Skills and Knowledge

This degree will provide students with an awareness of the critical health challenges facing Aotearoa. Workplace skills will be gained in cultural competency and working with communities to improve health outcomes. Graduating BHSc students who complete HLTH312 Health Planning, Implementation and Evaluation are recognised by the Health Promotion Forum as meeting the foundation knowledge and understanding of Ng Kaiakatanga Hauora m Aotearoa | Health Promotion Competencies for New Zealand.

Fees

Domestic

2025 tuition fee estimate: $7,687 per 120 points

International

2025 tuition fee estimate: $40,380 per 120 points Tuition fees vary for each course, depending on the subject area and course level, so the final total may differ from the estimates provided above.

Further Study

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the degree, there are a wide range of postgraduate health study options at UC, including:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Counselling Studies
• Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences
• Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
• Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Family Psychology
• Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science
• Master of Arts (Thesis) in Child and Family Psychology
• Master of Science in Child and Family Psychology
• Master of Counselling
• Master of Health Sciences
• Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice
• Doctor of Health Sciences
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health Sciences

Careers

• Opportunity to do an internship in a health-related industry.
• Learn the necessary skills to improve health and wellbeing through disease prevention, health promotion, and health service planning, delivery, and evaluation.
• Graduates work in healthcare organisations, in local and central government, aged residential care, schools, district health boards, Mori health providers, and more.