Why Study Bachelor of Health

The Bachelor of Health (BHealth) at the University of Waikato is a 3-year, 360-point undergraduate degree designed for students who want to work across the wider health sector rather than being limited to one clinical profession. The programme combines health sciences with health promotion, biomedical knowledge, psychology, sociology, epidemiology, statistics, health communication, policy, and M?ori, Pacific and Indigenous perspectives. It is particularly suitable for international students interested in health promotion, community health, health research, health communication, health services and related health-sector careers.

Key Benefits

• Multidisciplinary health education covering scientific, social, cultural and community aspects of health and wellbeing.
• Strong focus on hauora, health equity, cultural competency and the social determinants of health.
• Develops practical and transferable skills for working with individuals, wh?nau, communities and health organisations.
• Includes perspectives from M?ori, Pacific and Indigenous approaches to health.
• Provides opportunities for work-integrated learning, including a 60-hour internship listed in the University's international student guide.
• Can prepare students for postgraduate study in areas such as health science, medical research and related health disciplines.
• Biomedical Sciences can provide a pathway towards further study in areas such as medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, pharmacy and biomedical research, subject to the relevant postgraduate entry requirements.
• International students may be eligible for the Vice-Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship, worth up to NZD 15,000 toward tuition fees, subject to eligibility and selection.

Program Structure

The Bachelor of Health requires 360 points and normally takes 3 years of full-time study. It is offered at the Hamilton campus, with Trimester A beginning in March and Trimester B beginning in July. The programme is primarily campus-based, although some individual papers and subjects may have online or flexible study options.

Key areas and papers within the degree include:

• Core Health papers such as HELTH102, HELTH120, HELTH201 and HELTH220.
• Health-related study in areas such as biology, chemistry, human development, human performance science, psychology, Maori studies and sociology.
• Epidemiology and biostatistics.
• Health communication and community approaches.
• Biomedical sciences, including biology, chemistry and physiology.
• Health promotion and wellbeing.
• Maori, Pacific and Indigenous perspectives and practices.
• Psychology, sociology, policy and statistics.
• Senior-level study and work-integrated learning opportunities.

Discipline / Specialisation

The Bachelor of Health currently provides three major pathways:

• Biomedical Sciences – focuses on the biological basis of human health and disease and can support careers in laboratory, research, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and health-related fields.
• Health Promotion – focuses on improving health outcomes at individual, community and population levels through psychology, communication, sociology, epidemiology and Maori and Indigenous studies.
• Kaupapa Maori Psychology – explores psychology through Maori and Indigenous perspectives, including wellbeing, culture, land, language, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Indigenous psychology.

The University's current 2027 subject regulations confirm that Health itself is not a separate major or minor; students select from the available BHealth major areas above.

Programme Highlights

• Level of study: Bachelor's Degree – Bachelor of Health (BHealth).
• Duration: 3 years full-time.
• Total study requirement: 360 points.
• Campus: Hamilton, New Zealand.
• Division: Te Wananga Waiora | Division of Health.
• Intakes: March and July.
• Learning mode: Primarily on-campus/in-person at Hamilton; individual papers may offer online or flexible options.
• Work-integrated learning: The 2026 international student guide lists a 60-hour internship.
• International tuition: The current qualification page lists approximately NZD 38,840 per year. The University's international fee schedule separately lists an estimated NZD 38,838 for 2027; fees are indicative and calculated according to the papers enrolled in, so the final amount can vary.
• Additional costs can include the Student Services Levy and compulsory/required medical insurance for international students.
• Scholarships: International students can consider the Vice-Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship, with awards of up to NZD 15,000. The Braemar Charitable Trust Scholarship in Health is a NZD 10,000 health scholarship, but it is specifically for eligible domestic second-year BHealth students and therefore is not normally available to international students.

Career Outcomes

Graduates can pursue a broad range of health-sector and health-related roles, depending on their chosen major, additional experience and any professional registration required for a particular occupation.

Potential career areas include:

• Health promoter
• Health communication
• Community and client engagement
• Health and wellbeing programmes
• Health and safety roles
• Research technician
• Researcher
• Laboratory technician/scientist
• Medical science writing
• Medical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries
• Health-related policy and community organisations

Visa Requirements (International Students)

International students normally need a New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa to study the Bachelor of Health in New Zealand. Students generally need:

• An offer of place from the University of Waikato.
• Evidence that tuition fees have been paid or that an acceptable scholarship/funding arrangement is in place.
• Evidence of sufficient funds for living expenses. For tertiary study of one year or more, Immigration New Zealand currently specifies NZD 20,000 per year.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance for the period of study.
• Evidence that they meet the other applicable student-visa requirements.
• Evidence of funds or arrangements for onward travel from New Zealand at the end of their stay.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current University information confirms March and July intakes for the Bachelor of Health.
• The programme currently requires 360 points over approximately three years.
• The latest 2027 subject regulations confirm the core Health papers and identify Biomedical Sciences, Health Promotion and Kaupapa Maori Psychology as the major pathways available within the BHealth.
• The University currently lists the programme at Hamilton campus and highlights multidisciplinary health education, hauora, equity and Maori, Pacific and Indigenous perspectives.
• Students should check prerequisites for individual papers because some BHealth subjects may have specific prerequisite requirements. Students who do not have required prerequisites may need additional papers or foundation study, potentially extending the overall study period.
• Tuition fees are indicative and can change annually. The University calculates international tuition largely on a per-paper basis, so the final cost depends on the papers selected and the year of study.
• The University’s current international admissions requirement remains an equivalent university entrance qualification plus the required English-language proficiency for undergraduate study.