Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Programme Overview

The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) is designed to extend your understanding of an academic area that you already find intellectually rewarding. It allows students to deepen their knowledge in small classes alongside some of New Zealand's leading scholars, advancing critical analytical capabilities, information filtering, and argument formulation.

The curriculum permits students to continue their undergraduate major or pursue a completely different Arts discipline, provided they possess the required foundational prerequisite background.

What You'll Study

The degree requires the completion of 120 postgraduate-level points. While exact schedules depend entirely on the chosen subject, a typical structure consists of a mix of advanced coursework and supervised research.

Standard Annual Coursework Structure:

• Advanced Elective Courses: 90 points of Stage VII seminar and lecture-based papers within your chosen specialty field (typically 3 x 30-point courses).
• Supervised Research: 30 points dedicated to a formal Research Project or Research Essay, providing essential training in methodological skills and independent research practices.

Available Subjects Include (Examples):

Anthropology, Art History, Asian Studies, Chinese, Classical Studies and Ancient History, Criminology, Development Studies, Drama, Economics, Education, Employment Relations and Organisation Studies, English, French, Gender Studies, Geography, German, History, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Linguistics, and Media and Screen Studies.

Why Choose This Programme?

• Next-Level Skills: Sharpens solution-seeking, critical reasoning, and transdisciplinary communication tools beyond standard undergraduate training.
• Bridging Option: If you are missing exactly one course to finish your undergraduate BA, the university may allow you to complete that final paper during your first semester of honours enrolment.
• Postgraduate Platform: Seamlessly transitions into specialized Master's degrees, such as the Master of Public Policy (MPP) or Master of Conflict and Terrorism Studies (MCTS).

Entry Requirements

• Academic Prerequisites: A completed Bachelor of Arts degree (or equivalent) with a GPA of 5.0 or higher. This grade threshold must specifically be met in at least 45 to 60 points of advanced coursework above Stage II within the prerequisite major.
• Limited Entry: Certain high-demand subjects fall under the Limitation of Entry Statute, meaning selective criteria apply beyond the baseline 5.0 GPA line.
• English: IELTS Academic 6.5 (all individual bands 6.0+) or approved equivalent institutional score.