Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Bachelor of Health is a multidisciplinary health degree designed to prepare students for careers across the health and wellbeing sector rather than training for one single clinical profession.
• Students develop knowledge of health and wellbeing, health-sector terminology, health models, communication, health equity and global health challenges.
• The degree has a strong practical and community focus. Students work with communities, health organisations and wh?nau to identify health barriers and develop strategies that promote Oranga | wellbeing.
• M?tauranga M?ori and bicultural competence are integrated into the programme, giving students an understanding of health within the Aotearoa New Zealand context.
• A compulsory third-year health-sector internship provides practical workplace experience.
• Students can customise their degree through a major plus minor or through two majors.
• UC also highlights possible professional certification/accreditation pathways, including Associate Registered Nutritionist for relevant Exercise and Sport Nutrition students and DAPAANZ-related opportunities for relevant Mental Health and Addiction students. These are not automatic professional registrations and may involve additional requirements.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Bachelor of Health requires at least 360 points, with six compulsory Health courses forming the core programme.

Compulsory courses for on-campus study:

100-level:

• HLTH101 Introduction to Health Studies
• HLTH105 Communication for Practice
• HLTH106 Te Wero – M?ori Health Issues and Opportunities

200-level:

• HLTH203 Epidemiology

300-level:

• HLTH302 Evidence in Health
• HLTH321 Health Internship

The programme therefore covers areas such as:

• Introduction to health studies
• Communication for health practice
• M?ori health
• Epidemiology
• Evidence-based health practice
• Health-sector workplace experience
• Health promotion
• Health systems and policy
• Public health
• Psychology
• Nutrition and physical activity
• Mental health and addiction
• Health education
• Health science
• Maori and Indigenous health.

Disciplines / Specialisations

UC currently lists eight major options:

1. Exercise and Sport Nutrition
2. Health Science
3. M?ori and Indigenous Health
4. Mental Health and Addiction
5. Health Education
6. Physical Activity and Wellbeing
7. Psychology
8. Public Health

Programme Highlights

• New Bachelor of Health introduced to replace the former Bachelor of Health Sciences from 2026.
• 360-point, three-year undergraduate qualification.
• Eight health-related major options.
• Major + minor or double-major flexibility.
• Compulsory third-year health-sector internship.
• Strong emphasis on employability and practical learning.
• M?ori and Indigenous perspectives integrated throughout the degree.
• Health-sector/community engagement.
• Possibility of additional professional certification or accreditation pathways depending on major and eligibility.
• Online study is available in addition to on-campus study.
• From 2027, UC Bachelor of Health graduates will be eligible to apply for entry to the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine in Waikato, which is scheduled to open in 2028. This is an application pathway, not automatic admission to medical school.

Career Outcomes

UC identifies career opportunities across the wider health and wellbeing sector rather than restricting graduates to one profession.

Potential areas include:

• Health services research
• Health protection
• Public health policy
• Health promotion
• Health communication
• Health education
• Mental health and addiction support
• Health improvement
• Health coaching
• Policy analysis
• Government health services
• NGOs
• M?ori health providers
• Health promotion agencies
• Schools
• Aged residential care
• Sport and wellbeing organisations
• Health New Zealand roles
• Local and central government.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The most important current update is that the Bachelor of Health is a new qualification that replaced the Bachelor of Health Sciences for new students from 2026.

A major new development is the planned medical pathway: from 2027, Bachelor of Health graduates will be eligible to apply for entry to the New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine in Waikato, opening in 2028. Admission will still be subject to the medical school's own selection and entry requirements.

The third-year HLTH321 Health Internship is compulsory for the Bachelor of Health.

Students pursuing particular professional certifications should check the relevant professional body's requirements. UC does not state that completing the Bachelor of Health by itself guarantees professional registration.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students normally require a New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa for full-time study at UC.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that the Fee Paying Student Visa:

• Costs from NZ$850.
• Can be granted for up to 4 years.
• Has a published processing timeframe of 80% within 8.5 weeks.
• Requires an Offer of Place from an approved education provider.
• Requires evidence of sufficient tuition funding or an applicable scholarship.
• Requires evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Requires acceptable medical/travel insurance as required by the education provider.
• Is applied for online.
• INZ strongly encourages students to apply approximately 3 months before intended travel.