The Engine of The New New Zealand

Natural sciences

Imagine a university degree that could lead to scaling the remote peaks of the Himalayas in search of snow leopards, exploring the Ugandan jungle to observe mountain gorillas, or working with rare native kakapo.

The Bachelor of Natural Science is about taking aspiring scientists like you, and helping you understand how to work towards solving solve real-world problems, such as sustainable food production, biosecurity, climate change impacts and species extinction.

If you like science, but not sure what kind of scientist you want to be, the Bachelor of Natural Science means you don’t have to play favourites. This programme will give you the broad base of knowledge and flexibility to progress into virtually any scientific field you want. But you’ll need to come in with good knowledge and skills at ALL kinds of science rather than just one.

It’s an internationally-comparable degree – based on the University of Cambridge model – one of the world’s top science degrees. It is unique within New Zealand.

You’ll emerge with a broad understanding of the world around you, understanding the underlying reasons why the natural world behaves the way it does, the cause-effect relationship around events taking place in nature, and ways of preserving life for present and future generations.

Find out what career you might have and how you can do it too.

What career will I have?

More than any other science degree, the Bachelor of Natural Sciences opens the door to careers in diverse fields.

You’ll be qualified for a wide variety of jobs in many fields, including science, research, business, entrepreneurship, policy, conservation, sustainability, marine biology, applied sciences, agri-food, horticulture, and teaching.

You will be well-prepared to solve problems in the increasingly integrative ways dictated by the complex demands of today’s world.

After completion of the programme, you’ll be aware of the ethical, social, environmental, and commercial dimensions of science in society. You’ll understand how to solve problems and implement solutions in unfamiliar settings.

How can I do it too?

If you have an enquiring mind, and are dedicated to your studies, the Bachelor of Natural Sciences may be the qualification for you.

You’ll need to have a university entrance qualification and at least 20 credits from NCEA level three chemistry, biology, physics or an equivalent qualification.

The first year of the Bachelor of Natural Sciences is based on structured inquiry. In Year 2, teachers provide guidance to stimulate self-directed exploration of questions. Open inquiry is the aim in Year 3, when students come up with the questions and independently research the answers.

This kind of programme requires students to be dedicated to their work and to devote as much time as they can in order to be selected for the accelerated master’s degree programme after the second year of study. That means you could earn a Master of Natural Sciences in as little as four years – if you’re up to the challenge.

Feel free to or get in touch with us if you have any questions about this programme.

Why Massey?

Massey University’s Bachelor of Natural Sciences degree is a new, relevant way of looking at science, with flexibility and a multi-disciplinary approach.

It has similarities to degrees offered at leading international universities. You’ll have the opportunity to gain knowledge across the biological and physical science disciplines. The programme also gives you the flexibility to study beyond the classical science subjects in areas like sociology of science, sustainability, philosophy and project management.

Massey University offers a wide range of courses to choose from in the Institute of Natural sciences and a high-quality personalised education. You’ll also be exposed to some of the world’s finest technology and rub shoulders with some of New Zealand’s greatest scientific minds.

The lecturers and staff at Massey are highly trained and qualified, many of them with international recognition through their research and publications.

You’ll be taught by recognised international experts, and gain a broad knowledge of science, environment and society. It’s about readying you for our changing world – to take on the big issues of today.