Unistart

Get a head start in your education and complete university papers while you're still at school

unistart-students-study-tsr-seated
unistart-students-study-student-center

What is Unistart?

If you’re a secondary school student, Waikato’s Unistart programme gives you a head-start in education by letting you take university papers while you’re still at school. There are options to take papers online or at our Hamilton and Tauranga campuses.

Choice and flexibility

There are more than 50 papers to choose from, many of which are taught online, and completed Unistart papers can be credited towards an undergraduate degree at the University of Waikato.

Teaching excellence

Our students learn from award-winning lecturers and researchers who are committed to delivering you a world-class, innovative education in a supportive learning environment. Join our warm and welcoming community of students from all over New Zealand as you study as part of the Unistart programme.

Workload

Unistart papers usually run over one trimester and worth 15 points. The workload is around 8-10 hours a week, which can include time spent online in classes or on campus, participating in tutorials, reading course materials, lab work or preparing for assignments and tests.

Entry

Unistart is open to all year 12 and 13 secondary school students who:

  • have met the criteria for discretionary entrance to university,
  • are between 16 and 20 years old at the start of the Unistart paper, and
  • have approval from their school.

If you don’t meet the above entry requirements, email us to discuss your options.

Scholarship

The University of Waikato Unistart Scholarship covers the cost of up to two Unistart papers. Students will automatically be considered for this when accepted into Unistart - no additional application is required. As well as meeting the above entry requirements for Unistart, you will also need:

  • NCEA Level 2 Certificate or above endorsed with merit or excellence; and
  • New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency.

How to apply

Step 1: Complete the School Approval Form

Talk to your school about whether the Unistart programme is right for you. Then complete the School Approval Form with them and email it back to us.

  1. Fill in the Unistart Secondary School Support form
  2. Have your school complete and sign their approval section
  3. Email the completed form to unistart@waikato.ac.nz
  4. Apply for the Unistart programme online (instructions below)


Step 2: Applying online for the Unistart Programme

Visit MyWaikato to complete your online application to enrol into the Unistart programme and use the instructions below to help you.

  1. New Unistart students need to Create an Account for MyWaikato
  2. Fill out your personal details and list the email address you use most under your account details. Click the Create account button once finished
  3. From the Type of Qualification drop down box, select Individual Paper Credit and click the Search button
  4. Two results will be listed after the search. Select Unistart Paper Credit
  5. Select your start date
  6. Continue to answer all the questions to complete your application
  7. Upload your verified ID. This can be a birth certificate or passport. You will need to ask your school to stamp and sign a copy to verify it. If you have difficulties uploading your verified ID, then please scan and email it to unistart@waikato.ac.nz
  8. We will be in touch with you once your application has been reviewed

If you need help to complete your application then please contact us on 0800 924 528.

2025 papers

Find out more about the 2025 Unistart programme and papers on offer with the 2025 Unistart brochure

 

FLEXI papers

Subject

Paper codePaper titleTrimester(s)

 

Communication

 

COMMS101-25B (HAM)Communication Competencies

 

B

English

 

ENGLI100-25A (HAM)Telling the StoryA

 

 

ENGLI101-25B (HAM)Adapting StoriesB

 

Environmental Planning

 

ENVPL100-25A (HAM)Introduction to Environmental PlanningA

 

 

ENVPL101-25B (HAM)Future CitiesB

International Languages and Cultures

INTLC221-25B (HAM)Understanding East AsiaB

 

SPNSH131-25B (HAM)Spanish for BeginnersB

 

SPNSH231-25A (HAM)Intermediate Spanish 1A

Māori & Indigenous Studies

MĀORI100-25A (HAM)Kōkiri: Academic Skills for Indigenous StudiesA

 

MĀORI102-25B (HAM)He Hinātore ki te Ao Māori: Introducing the Māori WorldB

 

MĀORI150-25A (HAM)Te Tiriti o Waitangi: An Introduction to the Treaty of WaitangiA

Music

MUSIC115-25B (HAM)Composition 1B

Screen and Media Studies

MEDIA100-25A (HAM)Understanding Visual CultureA

 

Where will I be studying?

FLEXI Unistart papers allow students to choose between studying fully online or on-campus.

When will I be studying?

A Trimester: 24 February - 19 June 2025

B Trimester: 7 July - 31 October 2025

D Teaching Period: 24 February - 31 October 2025

Online papers

Subject

Paper codePaper titleTrimester(s)
AnthropologyANTHY102-25B (SEC)Exploring Cultures: Aotearoa and the PacificB
Arts and Social SciencesARTSC112-25B (NET)Music, Sound and Human CommunicationB
Climate ChangeCLIMT101-25A (NET)Introduction to Climate Change ScienceA
Computer Science

COMPX101-24 (NET) (SEC)

Introduction to ProgrammingA, B
 COMPX102–24B (SEC)Object-Oriented ProgrammingB
CriminologyCRIMN101–25B (SEC)Criminology and Social Justice in New ZealandB
 CRSCI101–25B (SEC)Crime Science and PreventionB
Data AnalyticsDATAX121-25A (SEC)Introduction to Statistical MethodsA
DesignDSIGN125-25A (SEC)Introduction to Communication Design ProductionA
Digital LearningDLRNG100-25A (NET)Developing Digital FluencyA
EconomicsECONS101-25A (SEC)Economics for Business and ManagementA

Engineering

You will need the support of a maths teacher at your secondary school to enrol in these engineering papers

ENGEN101-25A (SEC)Engineering Maths and Modelling 1AA
 ENGEN102-25B (SEC)Engineering Maths and Modelling 1BB
Forensic PsychologyFPSYC101-25A (SEC)Introduction to Forensic and Criminological PsychologyA
Gender and Sexuality StudiesGNSEX101-25B (SEC)Gender and Sexuality: Representations and RealitiesB
GeographyGEOGY101-25B (NET)Sustainable GeographiesB
 GEOGY102-25A (NET)A Planet Under PressureA
HealthHTHPR101-25B (NET)Promoting Mental and Physical HealthB
HistoryHISTY107-25A (NET)Aotearoa Histories: Past and FutureA
Human Development

HMDEV100-25B (NET)

Lifespan DevelopmentB
International Languages and Cultures

CHINE131-25B (SEC)

Chinese for Beginners B
 CHINE231-25A (SEC)Intermediate Chinese 1 A
 

CHINE232-25B (SEC)

Intermediate Chinese 2 B
 

FRNCH131-25B (SEC)

French for Beginners B
 

FRNCH231-25B (SEC)

Intermediate French 1 A
 

FRNCH232-25B (SEC)

Intermediate French 2 B
 

INTLC101-25B (NET)

International Languages and CulturesB
 INTLC222-25A (NET)Food Practices and Cultural JourneysA
 

KOREA131-25B (SEC)

Korean Language for Beginners 1A
 

KOREA231-25B (SEC)

Korean Language 2B
 

JAPAN131-25A (SEC)

Japanese for BeginnersB
 

JAPAN231-25B (SEC)

Basic Japanese 1A
 

JAPAN232-25B (SEC)

Basic Japanese 2B
 

SPNSH232-25B (SEC)

Intermediate Spanish 2B
International Relations and Security StudiesINTRL100-25A (NET)International Relations of the Indo-PacificA
 INTRL103-25A (NET)Introduction to International RelationsA
LawLEGAL105-25A (NET)Introduction to New Zealand Law and SocietyA

Mathematics

You will need the support of a maths teacher at your secondary school to enrol in these maths papers

MATHS135-25B (SEC)

Discrete Structures

B

MusicMUSIC112-25A (SEC)1000 Years of MusicA
Pacific and Indigenous StudiesPACIS100-25A (SEC)Introduction to Pacific Histories, Languages and Cultures 
PhilosophyPHILO102-24B (NET)Introduction to LogicB
PhilosophyPHILO103-25A (NET)Critical ThinkingA
 PHILO106-25A (NET)Social and Moral PhilosophyA
 PHILO150-25A (NET)The Big Questions: An Introduction to PhilosophyB
Social PolicySOCPY100-25A (SEC)Introduction to Social PolicyA
SociologySOCIO101-25B (SEC)Introduction to SociologyB
Sport & Human MovementSDCOA101-25B (NET)Sport, Culture and Development: Trends and IssuesB
TeachingLLTED101-25A (NET)An Introduction to Children's LiteratureA
Writing StudiesWRITE100-25 (NET)Writing for Academic SuccessA, B

 

Where will I be studying?

Online papers are taught over the internet, so you can study from anywhere in New Zealand as long as you have a computer and internet connection.

When will I be studying?

A Trimester: 24 February - 19 June 2025

B Trimester: 7 July - 31 October 2025

Hamilton campus papers

Subject

Paper codePaper titleTrimester(s)
BiologyBIOEB101-25A (HAM)Concepts of Biology - Ngā Huatau o te KoioraA
 BIOEB102-25B (HAM)Introduction to Ecology and Biodiversity - Mātai Hauropi a Kanorau KoioraB
 BIOMO101-25B (HAM)Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology - Mātai Pūtau a Mātai Rāpoi Ngota KoioraB
ChemistryCHEMY101-25A (HAM)Structure and Spectroscopy - Tūramaramatia i ngā HangangaA
 CHEMY102-25B (HAM)Chemical Reactivity - Tauhohehohe MatūB
Earth SciencesEARTH101-25A (HAM)Introduction to Earth System Science - Pūtaiao Pūnaha WhenuaA
 EARTH102-25B (HAM)Discovering Planet Earth - Tūhuratia PapatūānukuB
Environmental SciencesENVSC101-25B (HAM)Environmental Science - Pūtaiao TaiaoB
MusicMUSIC102-25D (HAM)Jazz Improvisation Combo 1D

 

Where will I be studying?

Hamilton papers are taught at the University of Waikato's Hamilton campus, which is located at Knighton Road, Hamilton. You will need to check with your school that you can attend tutorials, lectures, laboratories and other classes for your paper during the week at the Hamilton campus.

When will I be studying?

A Trimester: 24 February - 19 June 2025

B Trimester: 7 July - 31 October 2025

D Teaching Period: 24 February - 31 October 2025

Tauranga campus papers

Subject

Paper codePaper titleTrimester(s)
BiologyBIOEB102-25B (TGA)

Introduction to Ecology and Biodiversity - Mātai Hauropi a Kanorau Koiora

B
Earth Sciences

EARTH101-25A (TGA)

Introduction to Earth System Science - Pūtaiao Pūnaha Whenua

A
Environmental SciencesENVSC101-25B (TGA)

Environmental Science - Pūtaiao Taiao

B

 

Where will I be studying?

Tauranga papers are taught at the University of Waikato's Tauranga campus, which is located at Durham Street, Tauranga. You will need to check with your school that you can attend tutorials, lectures, laboratories and other classes for your paper during the week at the Tauranga campus.

When will I be studying?

A Trimester: 24 February - 19 June 2025

B Trimester: 7 July - 31 October 2025

Learn from students who have completed Unistart

Contact us