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.

Do you enjoy learning about people and places at an individual, national or international level? Want to learn how to use this knowledge to make a difference in our increasingly globalised society?

The Bachelor of Arts prepares you for a huge range of careers, 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. Throughout your Bachelor of Arts you’ll develop effective communication, critical thinking and analysis skills, as well as the ability to research and present professionally. These skills are key to any professional role.

Brochure
Enquire
How to apply
Apply now

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.

English language requirements

Don’t meet the entry requirements?

Consider starting with:

Education

Hospitality, Tourism and Events

Language and Culture

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.

Additional majors and minors for bachelor’s degrees

The Bachelor of Arts is made up of:

  • Core courses all BA students do - these help you develop transferable skills and support your work in all other courses in the degree
  • A major - this is the main subject and the focus of your degree
  • Another major or a minor focusing on a different subject
  • Elective courses

Throughout your Bachelor of Arts degree you take courses from the core, your major(s) and/or minor. Your final semester includes workplace experience, working on a project/event or at an organisation related to your chosen major.

Core courses

The core courses you take depend on your chosen Bachelor of Arts major. Your faculty or school will advise you what courses to take.

Level 5

CLSY500 Culture and Society
CLSY504 Knowledge and Inquiry
COMM570 Academic Communication: Conventions and Expectations

Level 7

CLSY703 Workplace Integrated Learning
CULN795 Advanced Culinary Events
MAOR707 Cooperative Education II: Project Report
NZSL707 NZSL Interpreting Practicum Experience I: Observations
NZSL708 NZSL Interpreting Practicum Experience II: Professional Practice

Skills you will develop

The outcomes for graduates of the Bachelor of Arts are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.

Graduate Profile

Broaden your options - study the Bachelor of Arts and:

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.

Quick facts
Programme code:
AK3704
Level:
7
Points:
360
Duration:
3 years full-time / part-time available
Campus:
City Campus
Starts:
12 Jul 2021
28 Feb 2022
18 Jul 2022
The NZ Sign Language - English Interpreting major only starts in February.
Fees:
Domestic
$6,311 - $7,087
  • This represents the approximate tuition fee range based on a full-time workload of 120 points in 2021. 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 2021, 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
International
$30,092 ($7,606 Māori Development only)
  • This represents the approximate tuition fee range based on a full-time workload of 120 points in 2021. 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 2021, 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.

Scholarships at AUT

Karen Coleman
Elizabeth Na’asipa Toloke
Hope Hana-Wheeler
Kirstin Elphick
Shivani Mudaliar
Karen Coleman
Great graduatesKaren ColemanGraduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching
Bachelor of Arts
Diploma in Culinary ArtsWith a dream to teach culinary arts, Karen Coleman hopes to one day inspire her students as much as her AUT Bachelor of Arts lecturers inspired her.With a dream to teach culinary arts, Karen Coleman hopes to one day inspire her students as much as her lecturers inspired her. After completing a Diploma in Culinary Arts in 2009, Karen successfully worked as a chef for several year, but felt she wanted to do more; she wanted to share her passion for food with others by becoming a culinary arts teacher.
Elizabeth Na’asipa Toloke
Great graduatesElizabeth Na’asipa TolokeMaster of Gastronomy
Bachelor of ArtsThe biggest misunderstanding about food is that food is only there to eat, says Elizabeth Na’asipa Toloke who came to AUT to study culinary arts & gastronomy.The biggest misunderstanding about food is that food is only there to eat, says Elizabeth Na’asipa Toloke who came to AUT to study a Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts, followed by a Master of Gastronomy. She has been impressed by the support she received throughout her studies, says Elizabeth who is expecting to graduate with her master’s degree later this year.
Hope Hana-Wheeler
Great graduatesHope Hana-WheelerReintegration Kaiārahi Navigator, PARS (People at Risk Solutions)Bachelor of ArtsShe’d love to help create change in New Zealand’s justice system, says Hope Hana-Wheeler who completed a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice.She would love to help create change in New Zealand’s justice system, says Hope Hana-Wheeler who is expecting to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice this August. She has enjoyed the culture at AUT, says Hope who received an AUT Undergraduate Scholarship in 2019 and 2020 to support her studies.
Kirstin Elphick
Great graduatesKirstin ElphickNew Entrant Teacher, Te MataurangaMaster of Teaching and Learning
Bachelor of ArtsShe has always been interested in education, says AUT alumna Kirstin Elphick who completed a Bachelor of Arts, followed by a Master of Teaching and Learning.She has always been interested in education, says Kirstin Elphick who completed a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Japanese Studies, followed by a Master of Teaching and Learning. Studying at a university where she wouldn’t feel like another number was a key reason she chose AUT, Kirstin says.
Shivani Mudaliar
Great graduatesShivani MudaliarEvent Coordinator, Trouble Brewing, SingaporeBachelor of ArtsShe had been dreaming of interning overseas since she was in her first year at AUT, says Shivani Mudaliar who is now working at Trouble Brewing in Singapore.She had been dreaming of interning overseas since she was in her first year at AUT, says Shivani Mudaliar who is now working at Trouble Brewing microbrewery in Singapore through the Internz programme. She has always loved events, says Shivani who completed a Bachelor of Arts in Event Management with a minor in creative technologies.

The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.

Back to top
Website search