Semester at University of Auckland

Per the University of Auckland, 15 points is equivalent to 3 -4 US credits. Students enroll in 3-4 courses per semester (45 and 60 Auckland points), which usually transfers as 12-16 US semester credits or 18-24 US quarter hours.

Taking a fifth course incurs an additional tuition fee.

You enroll in 3 - 4 courses per semester, totaling 45 - 60 Auckland points. Your tuition includes 4 courses.

The New Zealand academic year begins each February. As you review course options, keep this in mind to ensure that you select courses from the correct semester. 

• Semester 1: February – June (US Spring Semester) 

• Semester 2: July – November (US Fall Semester) 

Internships for credit are limited and not guaranteed; additional fee may be required. Check out the additional course information section for unique opportunities and course restrictions.

Courses for Semester 1 (February start) are generally not finalized until October. Although courses do not change tremendously from year-to-year, please be aware that you may need to make additional selections once papers are officially published.

Use the following course level guidelines when selecting your courses:

• A 100-level course is the equivalent of a freshmen and sophomore level U.S. course.

• A 200-level course is the equivalent of junior level U.S. course. 

• A 300-level course is the equivalent of a senior level U.S. course. (Note: These courses require a high level of competency, and you will most likely need to fulfill numerous pre-requisites.)

• 400-level + courses are graduate level and for the most part, are not open to study abroad students. 

Unique course opportunities:

Quite a few of the upper-level Auckland biology courses offer a field trip or field work as part of the course. Some of those courses are:

• MARINE 302 – Dynamics of Marine Systems

• BIOSCI 325 – Plant Diversity and Function

• BIOSCI 328 – Fisheries and Aquaculture

• BIOSCI 330/MARINE 303 – Freshwater and Estuarine Ecology

• BIOSCI 333 – Marine Ecology and Conservation

• BIOSCI 337 – Animal Behaviour

• BIOSCI 394 – Terrestrial Ecology and Conservation.

The following courses are not available to study abroad students:

• Courses offered in Medicine, Surgery, Pharmacy, Nursing and Optometry

• Courses running for the whole academic year, e.g. PSYCH 308A and 308B (except students enrolled for the whole academic year – February to November)

• Law courses are available for Law-majoring students except Part IV Advocacy, Mediation and Negotiation; non-Law majoring students may have a limits to courses they can take

• 100-level courses in Fine Arts, Architecture and Planning (unless you are majoring in one of these subjects at your home university)

• BUSINESS 111, 112 and 202

• PROPERTY 103

• Graduate School of Management courses running on a quarterly basis e.g. BUSACT, BUSADMIN etc.

• Courses ending with the letters F or H, e.g. HISTORY 91F or MAORIHTH 14H. These are foundation year courses and not appropriate for study abroad students

• Stage I Engineering courses (ENGGEN 115, ENGGEN 121, ENGGEN 131, ENGGEN 140, ENGGEN 150, ENGSCI 111, ELECTENG 101, CHEMMAT 121) except for those ending in G

• POLICY 702

The following courses have limited enrollment availability:

• Courses ending with the letter G, e.g. PHYSICS 107G

• Psychology and Drama stage II and III courses

• 700-level Finance and Accounting courses