Bachelor of Applied Science
Course details
About the course
About the programme
Are you passionate about sports, exercise or health? Do you like working with people? Do you want to help others improve their lives to reach their potential?
This highly-regarded degree is based around practical experiences and problem-based learning. You'll develop skills and understanding in sport, exercise and health, as well as communication, academic writing, and project management. Plus, you'll complete practical community projects and gain real-world industry experience within your chosen field to deepen your knowledge.
First year courses include Bioscience; Introduction to Sport; Introduction to Exercise; and Introduction to Health. You'll also complete your first community project. During your second year, you'll choose to study Advanced Sport, Advanced Exercise, Advanced Health or Advanced Massage, and complete a second community project. Your third year will focus fully on your final and major community project.
If you choose the massage and health specialities, you'll complete the New Zealand Diploma in Wellness and Relaxation Massage as your first year of study. You'll then continue into the second year of this programme. Upon graduation, you'll meet the requirements for registration with Massage New Zealand (MNZ) as a massage therapist specialist in rehabilitation.
Those who choose to study the exercise specialty will be able to apply for registration with the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) after they graduate.
Graduates can expect to gain employment as competent practitioners within professional organisations. This might include government or non-government sport, exercise and health settings such as regional sports trusts, commercial gyms, teaching, health promotion organisations and sporting organisations.
Studying part-time
We know that full-time study isn't always possible. We offer part-time study options for this programme - talk to us about what would suit you best!
Entry requirements
Entry
Entry requirements
| Academic qualification | Criteria |
|---|---|
| NCEA | * + NCEA Level 3 + 14 credits at Level 3 or above in each of three NZQA approved university entrance subjects, and + 10 Literacy credits at Level 2 or above, made up of: - 5 credits in reading and 5 credits in writing, and + 10 Numeracy credits at Level 1 or above, made up of: - specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects OR - package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627- all three required). |
| NZQA | A Level 4 qualification on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) totalling 60 credits or more completed within one year. This may be achieved through successful completion of a pre-entry programme such as the Health bridging certificate at Otago Polytechnic. Please note: completion of pre-entry qualifications does not guarantee automatic entry into this programme. |
| University study | Successful completion of courses equating to 50% of first year learner workload completed within one year. |
| Other | Equivalent professional experience. |
| English Language requirements | If English is not your first language, you must provide:* New Zealand University Entrance OR * Overall Academic IELTS 6.5 with no individual band score lower than 6.0 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR * Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests). If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes. |
Additional criteria
- All applicants who are accepted must obtain a First Aid Certificate, and complete the requirements of the Children’s Act 2014 (including police vetting), before starting classes.
- If you currently hold a valid first aid certificate then please send that with your acceptance.
- If you do not have a first aid certificate, a training course opportunity will be offered to you at a reasonable cost.
Selection process
Where there are more applicants than places, an interview panel consisting of a member of the degree Leadership Team and relevant academic staff will interview and select applicants, with candidates prioritised on the basis of strength of academic record.
Applicants who do not meet the entry or selection criteria will be directed to a path of study to help prepare them for application in the future.
Don't meet the entry requirements?
The below programmes provide great pathways into this degree.
The health bridging certificate offers a more generalised study pathway. The two exercise certificates focus more on a sport and personal training pathway. And the massage diploma focuses on wellness and relaxation massage.
Talk to us if you're not sure which pathway to choose.
- Health bridging certificate
- New Zealand Certificate in Exercise (Level 4)
- New Zealand Certificate in Exercise (Level 5)
- New Zealand Diploma in Wellness and Relaxation Massage (Level 5)
Want your existing skills recognised?
If you have extensive knowledge and skills due to practical experience in this area, please ask us about our recognition of prior learning process. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification and could achieve it in a shorter timeframe. Please email [email protected] or call 0800 762 786.
About the provider
We're proud to be a leader in high quality, career-focused education with some of the best student achievement and satisfaction results in New Zealand.
Employers love our graduates because they are work-ready, confident and solution-focused. We believe our people make a better world and our alumni are global citizens who care about making a difference. We have been given the highest possible quality ratings from Government and, as educators, we offer innovative ways for our learners to study so they can build their capability and realise their potential.