Bachelor of Arts
With the AUT Bachelor of Arts you can choose from majors in areas as diverse as languages, international studies, criminology, psychology, event management and education.
Build a degree that fits your passions and interests with the Bachelor of Arts. Get an in depth understanding of the wider world and your role in it, and learn how you can make a positive difference.
As you explore topics that unpack social issues, you’ll become a skilled problem solver, analytical thinker, communicator, researcher and questioner. The knowledge and skills you gain, combined with workplace experience opportunities in your final semester, will prepare you for meaningful careers in Aotearoa New Zealand and abroad.
Start date: 2022
- Download our Education programme guide [PDF, 2.6 MB]
- Download our Hospitality, Tourism and Events programme guide [PDF, 2.7 MB]
- Download our Language and Culture programme guide [PDF, 3.1 MB]
- Download our Social Sciences & Public Policy programme guide [PDF, 2.5 MB]
- Download our Te Ara Poutama programme guide [PDF, 2.9 MB]
Minimum entry requirements
- University Entrance or equivalent
- Chinese Studies major: Not available for native speakers of Chinese.
- Interpreting major: High level of competency in English and one other language. Interview will be required.
- Japanese Studies major: Not available for native speakers of Japanese.
- NZ Sign Language - English Interpreting major: High level of competency in English (NZSL fluency is not required). Interview will be required.
International student entry requirements
Useful New Zealand school subjects
All subjects are useful, in particular Art History, Classical Studies, English, Geography, History, Media Studies and other languages.
English language requirements
- Interpreting and NZ Sign Language - English Interpreting majors: IELTS (Academic) 7.0 overall with 7.0 in Writing and Speaking, and 6.5 in Reading and Listening; or equivalent.
- All other majors: IELTS (Academic) 6.0 overall with all bands 5.5 or higher; or equivalent.
Don’t meet the entry requirements?
Consider starting with:
Education
Hospitality, Tourism and Events
Language and Culture
- Chinese Studies
- Creative Writing
- English and New Media Studies
- International Studies
- Interpreting
- Japanese Studies
- NZ Sign Language and Deaf Studies
- NZ Sign Language - English Interpreting
Māori and Indigenous Development (Te Ara Poutama)
Social Sciences and Public Policy
Additional majors and minors for bachelor’s degrees
Add an additional major or a minor to your bachelor’s degree and study another area that interests you. You can choose from a wide range of additional majors or minors.
- Asian Studies
- Children and Learning
- Cruise Ship Management
- Deaf Studies
- Digital Cultures
- Gastronomy
- Hospitality
- Hospitality Enterprise
- Hospitality and Society
- Hospitality Management
- Language Teaching
- New Zealand Sign Language
- Popular Culture and Performance
- Restaurant Management
- Social Data Analytics
- Social Education
- Spanish
- Sustainable Tourism Management
- Te Reo Māori
- Tourism
- Translation
- Travel Management
You can also choose from a wide range of minors from other AUT degrees.
View more minor options
The Bachelor of Arts is highly flexible and you can build your degree in a way that suits you – study a single or a double major, select from a wide range of minors or add elective courses from another area of study.
To graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) you need to complete:
- Core courses (120 points)*
- Your chosen major (120 points) and
- One of the following options
- A second major (120 points)**; or
- A first minor (60 points) and a second minor (60 points)**; or
- A minor (60 points) and elective courses (60 points)**
*Includes 30 points for your workplace experience (Work Integrated Learning course) or the course CLSY719 Foundations in Research for students planning to continue into postgraduate study
**From the Bachelor of Arts or another AUT degree
Core courses
All Bachelor of Arts students need to complete core courses that help you develop transferable skills and support your work in all other courses in the degree.
Academic Communication
Choose one of:
Culture and Society
Complete one course from each of the following clusters. Each cluster aligns with one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Choose one of:
- CHIN501 Introduction to Chinese I
- CHIN502 Introduction to Chinese II
- CHIN504 Write Chinese I
- CHIN511 Speak Chinese I
- CLSY502 Intercultural Competence
- ENGL500 Contemporary Language Studies
- ENGL501 Critical Media Studies
- ENGL502 Reading New Zealand
- ENGL503 A Pacific Reader
- JAPA511 Speak Japanese I
- JAPA512 Write Japanese I
- KORE500 Introduction to Korean Language and Culture I
- KORE501 Introduction to Korean Language and Culture II
- MAOR500 Introduction to Conversational Māori
- MAOR501 Beginners Māori Language I
- MAOR502 Beginners Māori Language II
- NZSL502 Deaf Community and Culture I
- NZSL510 New Zealand Sign Language I
- NZSL520 New Zealand Sign Language II
- SPAN501 Spanish 1A
- SPAN502 Spanish 1B
- TIKA501 Noho Mārae Wānanga Maori Learning Experience A
- TIKA502 Noho Mārae Wānanga Maori Learning Experience B
Choose one of:
- CLSY500 Culture and Society
- CRIM580 Criminology and Criminal Justice
- HIST500 Introduction to New Zealand History
- HIST501 The Holocaust: Its Causes, Character, and Legacy
- HIST503 Ka Whawhai Tonu Mātou: Struggle and Resistance in Aotearoa and South Africa
- PSYC580 Introduction to Psychology A
- SOSC582 Social Thinking
- SOSC583 Social Institutions
Knowledge and Inquiry
Choose one of:
Skills you will develop
The outcomes for graduates of the Bachelor of Arts are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.
Broaden your options - study the Bachelor of Arts and:
- Bachelor of Business (conjoint programme)
- Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences (conjoint programme)
- Bachelor of Laws (double degree)
- Bachelor of Design (double degree – detailed programme structure)
Other double degree combinations may also be available. Contact your faculty to discuss your options.
Conjoint programmes
You study two degrees at the same time in a single programme of study. It’s usually possible to complete two three-year degrees in four to five years. You need to maintain a B grade average across all courses and do courses from each degree every year.
Double degrees
The difference between double degrees and conjoint programmes is that in the double degrees you apply for and enrol separately in each of the two degrees. If you’re considering doing this, it’s important that you contact AUT to discuss your plans. Double degrees can be completed either one after the other or concurrently.
Second majors and minors
Adding a second major or a minor allows you to study another area that interests you from a wide range of subjects, so long as your timetable permits.
18 Jul 2022
$6,418 - $7,207
- This represents the approximate tuition fee range based on a full-time workload of 120 points in 2022. The exact fees will depend on courses selected and may exceed this range.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for beyond 2022, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay. Learn more about fees to study at AUT
- Check if you're eligible for fees-free study
$30,400 ($7,700 Māori Development only)
- This represents the approximate tuition fee range based on a full-time workload of 120 points in 2022. The exact fees will depend on courses selected and may exceed this range.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for beyond 2022, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay. Learn more about fees to study at AUT
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.