Bachelor of Global Studies

Summary

Become a leader of positive change, growth, and problem solving with our diverse and flexible Bachelor of Global Studies.

Become a leader of positive change, growth, and problem solving with our diverse and flexible Bachelor of Global Studies. Studying in Wellington, you will connect with change-makers and be ready to launch an exciting career, locally or internationally.

Focusing on what matters to you

Globalisation and the things it brings with it—good, bad, and ugly—dominate the way that we think and interact in the world today.
From politics, law, and human rights, to health and wellbeing, to the environment and sustainability, to business—we understand that the personal is political and that local decisions can have a big impact in the wider world. The Bachelor of Global Studies is a qualification that takes you across disciplines and allows you to focus on different aspects of the issues at the heart of our globally connected world—while developing your knowledge of te ao Māori and Aotearoa’s place in the global context.

Stay updated

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

How you’ll study

In your first year you’ll explore the different subjects and approaches covered in the degree. You’ll take Māori studies papers to build your knowledge of te ao Māori and language papers to build your skills in intercultural communication. There are options for all levels of language learners—from absolute beginners to those with many years of experience. In your second and third years you’ll move further into your area of interest, adding at least two minors to your degree. Choose from:

• Area and Cultural Studies
• Cultures and Identities
• Environment and Sustainability
• Ethical Leadership and Intercultural Communication
• Global Health and Wellbeing
• Globalisation, Movement, and Change
• Human Rights, Justice, and Peace
• World Affairs and Organisations.

You’ll also be able to add a language minor to your degree, or a different third minor.

Choose your minors

Find the Bachelor of Global Studies minors that best suit your area of interest.

Area and Cultural Studies

Take a look at the history and contemporary issues facing specific areas, the cultures within those areas, and those cultures’ diaspora.

Cultures and Identities

Discover the history and investigate the impact of changing global attitudes towards identity—gender, sexuality, indigeneity, and culture.

Environment and Sustainability

Look at the global cultural impacts of climate change and the breakdown of the environment, and examine worldwide attempts to deal with the big environmental issues facing our world.

Ethical Leadership and Intercultural Communication

Learn the pleasures and pitfalls of communicating across cultures, and how to lead effectively when working with people from varied cultural backgrounds.

Global Health and Wellbeing

A globalised world includes one where some have access to medicines and treatments while others do not. Discover the roots of these inequalities and how they can be changed.

Globalisation, Movement, and Change

Look at the way that people have moved—and continue to move—around the world, examining the issues and impacts of migration, global communities, and cultures.

Human Rights, Justice, and Peace

Find out how we can create peace and preserve human rights across nations with different historic legal systems and approaches to law and justice.

World Affairs and Organisations

Examine the intersection of capitalism and culture. Find out what’s required to run an international business and the potential impacts of a globalised economy on developing nations.

Improve your writing

Clear writing is vital to your success at university and at work. It helps you understand your subject, organise your thoughts, and communicate your message. If you want to improve your writing, consider the Writing (Academic and Professional) course.

Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded to hundreds of first-year students each year. They help with living costs and accommodation costs at the University's halls of residence.

Our Tangiwai, Totoweka, and Kahotea scholarships are available to school leavers, and there are several other first-year scholarships on offer in our scholarships database.

You can also apply for a TeachNZ Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded based on specific areas where teachers are needed.

We strongly recommend applying for our scholarships, as they often don’t receive enough applications.

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, an...