Programme
Feb, Jul
This degree provides a comprehensive foundation for careers across the health, nutrition, and sport science sectors. You’ll gain the knowledge, practical skills, and real-world experience needed to promote wellbeing, enhance performance, and address health inequalities in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.
You’ll explore key areas such as health promotion, human nutrition, and sport and exercise science — learning how cultural, environmental, and psychological factors influence health and behaviour. Your studies will cover topics like disease prevention, exercise prescription, nutrition and metabolism, rehabilitation, and the social determinants of health.
Hands-on learning is central to the programme. You’ll complete industry placements with organisations such as public health agencies, Māori and Pacific health providers, workplace wellbeing initiatives, sports clubs, and high-performance facilities. By graduation, you’ll be equipped with the scientific knowledge, communication skills, and practical experience to work effectively in community health, nutrition education, or sport and exercise performance.
Health Promotion
Human Nutrition
Sport and Exercise Science
Based on the specialization, career oppurtunities include:
Health promotion- Graduates can pursue roles such as:
-Physical activity specialist
-Corporate health consultant
-Health promoter
Human Nutrition- Graduates with a specialisation in Nutrition can pursue a wide range of career paths, including:
-Nutrition consultant
-Community health promoter
-Public health advisor
-Food industry or research specialist
-Food writer or media professional
Sport and Exercise Science- This specialisation offers diverse career opportunities in the health and sports science sectors, including roles such as:
-Performance analyst
-Strength and conditioning specialist
-Sports development officer
-Health and fitness consultant
-Researcher or postgraduate student
Academic requirements:
New Zealand University Entrance: NCEA Level 3 (60 credits at level 3 and 20 credits at level 2 or higher) which must include:
-14 credits at Level 3 in each of:
-Biology or Human Biology or Physical Education, another subject, preferably Core Health/Health Education, Physics, Statistics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Geography and Psychology. Human Nutrition specialisation applicants must have a minimum of 14 credits in Chemistry at Lvl 2 or equivalent
Literacy – 10 credits at Level 2 or above, made up of 5 credits in reading, 5 credits in writing and
Numeracy/Maths – 10 credits at Level 1 or above (specified achievement standards, or unit standards 26623, 26626, 26627)
OR New Zealand Certificate in Exercise (Level 4)
OR New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) Ara Applied Science Pathway or equivalent
-Due to Covid-19 disruption, if you studied and achieved NCEA Level 3 during 2020, you only need 12 credits per Level 3 subject (i.e. total of 36 credits). Literacy and Numeracy requirements remain the same
-If you have undertaken examinations other than NCEA (e.g. International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Examination), Ara will assess your qualification for academic entry equivalency.
English requirements:
If English is not the first language, students must provide a result from a test or qualification on the acceptable alternatives.
| Test | Minimum Requirement |
| IELTS (Academic) | Overall score of 6.0, with no band lower than 5.5 |
| TOEFL iBT | Total score of 60, with a writing score of at least 18 |
| Cambridge English Qualifications | B2 First, B2 First for Schools, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency with a score of 169, and no less than 162 in each skill |
| OET (Occupational English Test) | Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests |
| NZCEL (New Zealand Certificate in English Language) | Level 4 (Academic) |
| PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English) | Score of 50, with no band lower than 42 |
| LanguageCert International ESOL | C1 Expert (overall PASS) with no less than 25/50 in each skill, or Academic test with a minimum score of 65 overall and no skill below 60 |
| Trinity College London ISE | ISE II with no less than distinction or 96 in any band |
This course may qualify for the following visa rights:
In-study work rights
Post-study work rights
This course qualifies for 3 points if applying for residency under the Skilled Migrant Category.
