Bachelor of Arts

Summary

Explore Victoria University of Wellington's highly regarded Bachelor of Arts degree. Study your passion and gain career skills in New Zealand's capital city.

Explore your passions through a rich variety of subjects and develop the creativity and flexibility needed in a changing job market. Choose the Bachelor of Arts from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

New Zealand’s most flexible Bachelor of Arts

Take advantage of the flexibility of our Bachelor of Arts. Some of your options include:

• a double major—specialise in two subjects in your degree. Choose from over 40 majors in the Bachelor of Arts.
• a second major from a different degree—study a wider range of subjects without doing another degree. Choose from over 90 majors across the University.
• a minor—specialise in a subject without doing as many courses as for a major. You can have more than one minor.
• a conjoint degree—this more intense programme of study lets you complete two degrees more quickly, usually in four years, by requiring you to do fewer courses. Most of our degrees can be studied together in a conjoint programme.
• elective courses that aren’t part of your major—these can be courses from other degrees that expand the scope of your studies.

Not sure which subject to choose as your major? Our BA encourages you to explore up to three majors in your first year, so you can discover your passions and develop a broad base of learning before deciding where to specialise.

Study a globally ranked arts degree

Gain a new understanding of the world and the people who live in it. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington is ranked in the top 150 worldwide for Arts and Humanities 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.

This degree will give you insights into cultures, languages, art, history, politics, and societies that will challenge your thinking and expand your view of the world.

Use Pūaha to view requirements for current students

If you're already studying with Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, use myDegree in the Pūaha self-service portal to find the most up-to-date information about the requirements that you’ve already met, and those you still need to complete. Find out more about tracking your progress.

Stay updated

Fill in the form to discover how you can explore your passions and prepare for an exciting career with our Bachelor of Arts.

Future-proof your career

The job market is changing fast, with many current jobs predicted to be automated within 10 to 15 years. Gain skills valuable in any workplace—studying for a BA develops your creativity, flexibility, and imagination, while teaching you how to think critically and present an argument. You’ll also develop research skills and learn to communicate complex ideas in both speech and writing.

Get your degree in a subject you have a genuine passion for, and set yourself on a path to a fulfilling career. BA graduates are employed in almost every part of the workforce. Your ability to view things from different perspectives—along with your skills in research and analysis—can be applied in a vast array of careers. At Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, you’ll be encouraged to think about how what you learn can contribute to a progressive, inclusive, and internationally connected society.

To find out more about career opportunities with the Bachelor of Arts, see what you can do with a degree in humanities and social sciences.

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.

Fees may vary

Your actual fees may vary from the figure shown above, depending on the subject you choose for your major.

Make workplace connections

Take advantage of the exciting opportunities our BA offers to integrate work-related learning and industry engagement into your degree. You’ll give yourself a competitive edge in the job market.

We provide direct contact with employers in Wellington that are looking to hire graduates. Choose from both curricular and extra-curricular programmes, including the BA Internship. On this internship programme, you can gain academic credit towards your degree while working voluntarily for employers such as Te Papa Tongarewa, the Department of Conserv...