The Bachelor of Arts (BA) at Te Whare W?nanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) is a flexible undergraduate degree designed to let students build a programme around their interests and career goals. UC currently offers more than 30 Arts subjects, with options to combine a major and minor, take a double major, follow a themed specialisation, or combine the BA with another degree.

Why Study / Key Benefits

• Highly flexible degree with more than 30 Arts subjects.
• Students can tailor their study towards their interests and intended career.
• Students develop critical thinking, creative problem-solving, writing and communication skills.
• Many courses provide practical learning through field trips, real-world case studies, performances, internships and community projects.
• An internship can be added in the second or third year.
• Students can take a minor outside Arts, including subjects from Commerce, Computer Science, Digital Screen, Health, Product Design, Science, Sport, and Youth and Community Leadership.
• UC also offers specialisation, double-degree and conjoint-degree options.
• The degree provides pathways to a wide range of postgraduate Arts qualifications.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The BA is designed around a combination of compulsory courses, major/minor courses and elective courses.

Compulsory component:

Students choose two of:

• ARTS102 Problems, Questions, Evidence
• MAOR165 Tuakiri: Culture and Identity
• WRIT101 Writing for Academic Success.

Major/minor structure:

• A major requires at least 135 points in one Arts subject.
• At least 45 major points must be at 200-level.
• At least 60 major points must be at 300-level.
• A minor requires at least 75 points.
• At least 45 minor points must be above 100-level.
• Students can complete a major plus minor or a double major.
• UC's programme page states that students need to choose at least one major and one minor.

Disciplines / Specialisations

Current BA major subjects include:

• Anthropology
• Art History and Theory
• Chinese
• Cinema Studies
• Classics
• Economics
• Education
• English
• European and European Union Studies
• French
• Geography
• German
• History
• Human Services
• Japanese
• Linguistics
• M?ori and Indigenous Studies
• Mathematical Sciences Education
• Mathematics
• Media and Communication
• Music
• Philosophy
• Political Science and International Relations
• Psychology
• Russian
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Statistics
• Te Reo Maori
• Writing.

Programme Highlights

• 360-point undergraduate degree.
• 3 years full-time.
• February and July entry.
• More than 30 Arts subjects.
• Major plus minor or double-major options.
• Very broad selection of minors across multiple faculties.
• Flexible elective component.
• Practical learning opportunities.
• Internship opportunities in the second or third year.
• Specialisation pathways available.
• Double-degree and conjoint-degree options available.
• Multiple postgraduate progression options.

Career Outcomes

UC states that the BA develops skills in:

• Writing
• Critical thinking
• Creative thinking
• Problem-solving
• Communication

UC identifies potential graduate employment areas including:

• Media
• Politics
• Conservation
• Iwi organisations
• Tourism
• Heritage
• International relations
• Other professional and community sectors.

Potential postgraduate progression at UC includes:

• Graduate Diploma in Arts
• Graduate Diploma in Journalism
• Graduate Diploma in Strategic Communication
• BA with Honours
• Postgraduate Certificate in Arts
• Postgraduate Diploma in Arts
• Master of Arts
• Master of Arts (Thesis)
• Master of Applied Translation and Interpreting
• Master of European Union Studies
• Master of International Relations and Diplomacy
• Master of Linguistics
• Master of M?ori and Indigenous Leadership
• Master of Policy and Governance
• Master of Strategic Communication
• Master of Te Reo Maori
• Master of Writing
• PhD.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• UC's current programme page confirms February and July starts.
• The current BA requires 360 points and normally takes three years full-time.
• UC's current international tuition schedule, updated in August 2026, gives the 2027 BA international tuition estimate as NZ$36,410 per 120 points.
• UC has updated its English-language requirements for the post-January-2026 TOEFL scale.
• Students should verify the specific requirements of their chosen major because some subjects can have additional prerequisites.
• Advanced Mathematics preparation is specifically recommended through successful Year 13 study.
• The supplied IPU programme link is not a BA programme page and currently describes an IPU master's programme that is no longer accepting new enrolments.

International Student Visa Requirements

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

Immigration New Zealand currently requires evidence such as:

• Offer of Place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of tuition payment or an acceptable arrangement/evidence for tuition.
• Evidence of sufficient funds for living expenses.
• Acceptable medical/travel insurance.
• Evidence of genuine intention to study.
• Identity, health and character evidence where applicable.

Living-cost funds:

• NZ$20,000 per year for tertiary study of one year or more.
• NZ$1,667 per month where the study period is less than one year.

These living funds are separate from tuition fees.

Work rights:

• Depending on the conditions attached to the student visa, students may work up to 25 hours per week while studying.
• Eligible students may work full-time during scheduled holidays.
• Work rights are controlled by the conditions on the individual visa.

Visa duration:

• The visa is normally issued for the period of study that has been paid for, subject to passport validity and individual visa conditions.
• The maximum duration of this visa can be four years.