Why Study/Key Benefits

Lincoln University’s First-Year Pathway Diploma is a supported one-year pathway designed for students who want to progress into a bachelor’s degree but need additional academic preparation or narrowly miss the normal university entrance requirements. The programme provides a structured first year of university study while allowing students to work towards their intended degree.

Key benefits for international students include:

• Completion of a full 120-credit first-year pathway.
• Students study 100-level courses selected from Lincoln bachelor’s degree schedules.
• Successful completion can allow the 120 credits to be transferred into a relevant Lincoln bachelor’s degree, subject to the courses being approved for that degree.
• Students can progress into the second year of a bachelor’s degree after completing the diploma and meeting the relevant progression requirements.
• Additional academic communication and personalised pathway support are built into the programme.
• Students can graduate with the First-Year Pathway Diploma even if they decide not to continue to a bachelor’s degree.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The First-Year Pathway Diploma contains eight courses in total:

• One compulsory academic communication course.
• Seven 100-level courses selected from the schedules of Lincoln bachelor's degrees.
• Pathway Support Programme participation as required.

Elective/degree-related courses

Students complete seven 100-level courses, totalling 105 credits, selected from courses included in Lincoln's bachelor’s degree schedules.

The exact elective subjects therefore depend on the student's intended degree and the applicable course schedule.

Examples of subject areas available through Lincoln's bachelor's degree schedules can include areas such as:

• Agriculture
• Agribusiness
• Commerce/business
• Environment
• Food-related study
• Horticulture
• Landscape architecture
• Sport and recreation
• Tourism

Disciplines/Specialisations

The First-Year Pathway Diploma does not have fixed majors or specialisations of its own.

Instead, students select 100-level courses from Lincoln's bachelor’s degree schedules. This makes the programme flexible and allows the first year to be aligned with the student's intended bachelor’s degree.

The exact discipline/pathway depends on the bachelor’s degree the student intends to enter.

Students should confirm their proposed course combination with Lincoln before enrolment because not every 100-level course will necessarily contribute to every bachelor's degree.

Programme Highlights

• 1-year full-time programme.
• 120 credits.
• Two-semester structure.
• Designed as a supported first year towards a bachelor’s degree.
• 15-credit compulsory Academic Communication course.
• Seven 100-level bachelor’s degree courses.
• 105 credits from selected bachelor-level courses.
• Personalised Pathway Support.
• Potential transfer of the completed 120 credits into an appropriate Lincoln bachelor’s degree.
• Potential progression directly into Year 2 of the bachelor’s degree.
• Stand-alone diploma available if the student does not continue to a degree.

Career Outcomes

The First-Year Pathway Diploma is primarily a pathway qualification rather than a specialist vocational qualification.

Its main outcome is progression into the second year of a Lincoln University bachelor's degree. Students who complete the diploma and subsequently complete a bachelor’s degree can therefore pursue the career opportunities associated with that chosen degree.

If a student does not continue into a bachelor's degree, they can graduate with the First-Year Pathway Diploma as a standalone qualification.

Specific employment outcomes associated solely with the First-Year Pathway Diploma are not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student completing the First-Year Pathway Diploma in New Zealand, the relevant student visa will normally be the Fee Paying Student Visa or, where the student's study arrangement qualifies, a Pathway Student Visa.

Fee Paying Student Visa

Immigration New Zealand requires applicants to:

• Have an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Have sufficient funds to pay tuition fees or have an appropriate scholarship.
• Have sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Have acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Have genuine intentions to study.
• Show that they can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.