Find the right course – info for high school students

Not sure what to study? Uni isn’t about having your whole life mapped out on day one – it’s about finding your direction with people who back you.

Your first year gives you room to explore your subject area, try things out and get a feel for the future you actually want. And if you start something and realise it’s not for you? We’ll help you change programmes and figure out the path that feels right for you.

What you can study when you finish school

1. Types of courses you can study

If you’re new to university you can study:

Bachelor’s degree

Most common qualification for school leavers. Usually 3 years of full-time study

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You need UE to get in

Conjoint programme or double degree

A combo of two bachelor’s degrees you study at the same time, usually 4 or 5 years*

You need UE to get in and may need NCEA level 3 merit

Diplomas or certificates

Pathway courses that give you a taste of uni and prepare you for further study. Shorter; either 1 year or 6 months

UE is usually not required

_{*For even more subject combinations in a shorter timeframe instead consider one of our flexible degrees}

2. Decide what subjects you're interested in

Every subject takes you somewhere different – new skills, new ideas, different career paths. Pick the topics that feel like you, and study becomes a whole lot more rewarding. Still working it out? Think about the school subjects you enjoy, what you’re naturally good at and what matters to you.

Use the info on this page to get some ideas or check out the Careers New Zealand website to help you figure it out.

How other students decided what to study at uni

Rhodes Sikireta

Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences in Networks and Cybersecurity with a minor in Marketing

“I chose to study computing because there are great job opportunities in this field and I’ve always had an affinity for working with computers, whether it was learning rudimentary networking for creating servers for games like Minecraft, or my general curiosity in data and how computers store and use it.”

Isabella Denholm

Bachelor of Laws & Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice

“I’ve always been passionate about justice and helping people. I knew law would be an incredible platform to achieve that; regardless of whether I pursued a legal career path or not. I also chose to study criminology as it complemented my law degree well and gave me a broader understanding of our criminal justice system.”

Kasidy Wipani

Samoan, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Porou
Bachelor of Arts in Education with a minor in Health Promotion

“I’m passionate about health and education but was unsure what I wanted to do. With my degree I can further my understanding of how both contribute to society. I started my studies with a Diploma in Arts because I was on the fence about studying at university as my last year of high school – during COVID-19 – was difficult.”

Khooshi Patel

Bachelor of Health Science (Oral Health)

“I was always playing dental games on the computer and was super excited when my name was called out in class for a dental checkup. When I stumbled across the oral health degree at AUT, it was the perfect blend for me. It offered a job where I could enjoy being on the computer and using my people skills to interact with patients.”

Junior Timothy Doedoke

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Construction Engineering

“I chose to study construction engineering because it was always my passion to build things and be creative. Good construction engineering means that you can be sure of your safety and everyone else’s because you’ve learnt to design, plan, construct and manage infrastructures, and you contribute to ensuring a fun and safe environment for you and your community.”

Emily Wauters

Bachelor of Design Te Tohu Paetahi mō te Hoahoa in Interaction Design and Software Development

“It's okay if you don’t know what you want to do. I’ve changed my degree once – from a computing degree to the design degree with software development as my second major – and I know people that have changed their degree over three times. There’s no correct way to do it.”

Tayla Webb

Ngātiwai
Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Economics

“I always wanted to do business in some form, but at first I wasn’t exactly sure what I specifically wanted to do. I actually didn’t think I’d choose accounting, however after completing the first semester introductory courses I realised that my mum was right and that accounting was a good fit for me.”

Mikayla Madden-Snoad

Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences

“The best way I could think to learn about the world’s issues and ways to improve people’s lives was by studying social sciences. I was fascinated by the insights social sciences can provide into society, culture, politics and people, and I wanted to explore the ways we interact with social structures on a daily basis.”

Prayag Shethia

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Mechatronics Engineering

“I was always that one child who tried opening devices and broke them, but then felt the need to try fix them. I always wanted to achieve something different, a fresh perspective on solving problems. The beauty of studying mechatronics is that it’s the ‘Jack of all Trades’ of the engineering world.”

See where your future could take you

Skip the guesswork. Our career sheets show you what jobs look like on the inside – the trends, the roles and the skills you’ll need to get there.

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Browse our programme brochures

Our programme guides give you the essentials – what you’ll study, what life at AUT is like and how to get your application sorted.

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Talk to us about your study options

City Campus photo

Thinking about studying at AUT? Book a time with us to talk through your options, get a feel for uni life or come and see the campus for yourself.

Meet with us

Other ways to get ideas

Visit our open day, AUT LIVE
Chat to AUT’s student recruitment team when they visit your school
Talk to family, friends, neighbours and teachers for ideas
Keep your options open by studying a flexible degree

Differences between high school and uni

No bells, no roll call, no ‘same old’. Uni isn’t just a bigger version of high school – it's a different experience altogether. Knowing what to expect makes it a lot easier to hit the ground running.

Start your studies with a pathway programme

Want another way into AUT? Pathway programmes help you get started – whether you’re still figuring uni out or didn’t get into your first choice degree.

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