About the course

Best placed for politics—learn about political systems and policy-making processes in the city where change is made

Best placed for politics—learn about political systems and policy-making processes in the city where change is made.

Study politics where it happens

Study Aotearoa New Zealand’s only Bachelor of Politics right here in Wellington—the heart of the nation’s political life. This unique degree combines big-picture thinking with real-world skills, preparing you to understand and influence the decisions that shape our society. In the Bachelor of Politics, you’ll explore how power, governance, and justice shape our society—while developing the tools to influence them. With six majors, three specialisations, and 11 minors to choose from, you can tailor your study to match your passions and career goals. The BPols prepares you for a future of leadership and innovation. Whether you’re aiming to shape policy, work in international relations, or drive change in your community, this degree gives you the interdisciplinary foundation and practical experience to make a difference—here in Aotearoa and beyond.

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

Gain perspective on Te Tiriti

At the core of the BPols is a commitment to understanding our nation’s political landscape through both Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti perspectives. Through your studies, you’ll be introduced to mātauranga Māori and gain a solid understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi—essential for anybody working in Aotearoa New Zealand’s public sector.

Wellington offers more than just a backdrop—it’s your extended classroom. Here, in the heart of national politics, you’ll have unique access to government institutions, NGOs, international organisations, and a vibrant political community. You can meet Members of Parliament at your lectures, attend Parliament events, and intern with groups working for social change.

Your first year

In your first year of the BPols, you’ll complete the following core courses:

a core Politics course—Introduction to Politics (POLI 101)
a Māori Studies course—Engaging with Māori in Professional Practice (MAOR 126)
a Political Science course
an International Relations course.

These compulsory courses give you a solid foundation on which you can build your chosen majors and interdisciplinary minors. You’ll also take courses from at least one [major] and at least one [minor].

If you are not taking the Politics, Philosophy, and Economics major, you’ll have the opportunity to take two additional courses that can count toward an outside major or minor.

Globally ranked

This subject area at Victoria University of Wellington is ranked in the top 150 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2026.

The QS World University Rankings is an annual global publication that gives overall rankings and subject rankings for more than 1,500 universities worldwide.

Majors and specialisations

In your Bachelor of Politics, you can choose from six diverse majors—two of which have optional [specialisations].

BPols majors

International Relations (with an optional specialisation in International Security)
Political Communication
Political Science (with optional specialisations in Comparative Politics or Political Ideas)
Politics of Aotearoa New Zealand
Politics, Philosophy, and Economics
Public Policy.

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Minors

A minor is made up of a collection of courses in a particular subject. The workload for a minor is lighter than for a major—fewer courses to do, fewer points required. This makes a minor a good way to build a second or third area of focus into your degree.

There are 11 minors in the BPols:

Asian Politics
Civic Engagement
Environmental Politics
International Political Economy
Māori Politics
Pacific Politics
Politics of Aotearoa New Zealand
Politics of Migration
Politics, Philosophy, and Economics
Science and Politics
Human Rights, Justice, and Peace.

Find out more about the course requirements for Minors in the BPols.

Bachelor of Politics versus Bachelor of Arts

An alternative way to study Politics at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington is through a Bachelor of Arts (BA) majoring in Political Science. A BA could be a good choice for you if you want to mix your study of politics with a focus on a different subject.

Compared to the BA, the Bachelor of Politics dives more deeply into political theory and practice. The BPols gives you more scope to explore politics from different perspectives. You’ll build a broader understanding of key political issues across different domains.

Career options

The skills you develop through the Bachelor of Politics will set you up for a career in a field such as:

government
public service and policy analysis
international relations and diplomacy
academic research or teaching
roles in NGOs and global organisations.

Further study

After completing the Bachelor of Politics, you have plenty of options for continuing your studies at an advanced level.

At Victoria University of Wellington, the BPols offers a clear pathway into postgraduate study in the following Master’s programmes:

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Entry requirements

Domestic entry requirements

University Entrance or alternative admission type.

International entry requirements

Achieve the International Baccalaureate Diploma, or three GCE Advanced Level passes at C grade, or equivalent.

English language requirements

You may also be required to demonstrate your proficiency in English.

About the provider

Victoria University of Wellington, full name Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, was founded in 1897 and is one of New Zealand’s largest and most prestigious universities. The University is located in the heart of New Zealand’s vibrant capital city and its three city campuses are all within easy walking distance of one another, as well as local attractions, shopping districts, and cafés.

The University’s central location gives students access to a variety of national organisations in the areas of business, government, politics, culture and heritage, the arts and filmmaking industry, as well as the science and technology communities. Wellington is a compact city where students can easily explore nature trails, beaches, galleries, museums, and events. It is multicultural, safe, friendly, and has a reputation for great food and coffee—it regularly ranks as one of the world’s most liveable cities.

Victoria University of Wellington at a glance

Top 1% of the world's universities for research quality and teaching
170+ subjects
20 undergraduate programmes and 180 postgraduate programmes
40+ research institutes and 4 libraries
3,000 of our 17,000 students are international students, from 120+ countries
130+ clubs and societies
5+ stars from the latest QS Stars Rating of Excellence
#1 in New Zealand for research intensity (in the latest assessment of the Performance-Based Research Fund)
Wellington School of Business and Government is one of an elite group of commerce faculties worldwide that hold the Triple Crown of international accreditations of EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA
Top 2% of the world’s universities (QS World University Rankings 2026)
Top 100 in the world in 7 subjects (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)

Graduate outcomes*

Of the graduates who responded that they are currently working full time, 91% were employed prior to or within 6 months of degree completion.
67% were in full-time employment.

*Based on those who completed the 2023–2024 Graduate Destinations Survey.

Entry requirements

To study at Victoria University of Wellington, international students need:

a good command of the English language
a good record of academic achievement.

Entry requirements are provided under each programme. The University considers each student’s academic and English-language background when assessing applications. If a student doesn’t meet entry requirements, our team can help them meet their study goals.

If a student doesn’t meet the entry requirements for:

English language - Students can apply for our English for Academic Purposes programme
Undergraduate study - Students can apply for our Foundation Studies programme
Postgraduate study - Students can talk to us to help build a pathway to their degree

Student support

The University offers complete support for students through a range of wellbeing and learning services. These include a specialised international team that is dedicated to supporting students during their studies, which helps international students meet new friends and settle into university and Wellington life.

Some of the support services include:

dedicated international student orientation and events
a free arrival meeting service at the airport
the International Buddy Programme, where you get paired with a ‘buddy’ from the get-go

Students can make the most of the many opportunities to get involved in different communities, embrace new experiences, and develop skills for their future careers. The university encourages all students to develop strong global citizenship skills through their studies and extracurricular programmes such as the Kitea Impact Programme, which is also free to join.