Science Degrees in Australia and New Zealand: A Complete Overview

What a Bachelor of Science looks like

In both Australia and New Zealand, the most common undergraduate science qualification is the Bachelor of Science (BSc). It is a broad, flexible degree: instead of locking you into one subject from day one, it usually lets you study several science disciplines in your first year and then choose a major (and often a minor) as you progress.

The BSc is built around a major — your main subject of depth, such as biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics or environmental science — supported by elective courses (called 'papers' in New Zealand). Each university sets its own list of available majors and its own rules for how many courses count toward the major, so check the specific programme page on the university's official website.

• Year 1: broad foundation across several science areas
• Later years: depth in a chosen major (and sometimes a minor)
• Each university sets its own majors list and structure

Common majors and double majors

Typical BSc majors include the life sciences (biology, biochemistry, genetics, microbiology), the physical sciences (physics, chemistry), the mathematical sciences (pure and applied mathematics, statistics, data science) and the environmental and earth sciences (ecology, geology, marine science, environmental science).

Many Australian and New Zealand universities let you combine two majors in a single BSc — a 'double major' — for example chemistry with mathematics, or ecology with statistics. This is a way to keep two interests open or to build a distinctive combination. The exact pairings allowed, and whether they fit in the standard degree length, vary by university, so confirm on the official programme structure page.

BSc versus specialist science degrees

The general BSc is not the only route into science. Universities in both countries also offer specialist or named degrees — for example a Bachelor of Environmental Science, a Bachelor of Marine Science, a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, or a Bachelor of Computer/Data Science. These are more structured, with most of the curriculum fixed around the named field rather than chosen from a wide elective pool.

Choosing between a broad BSc and a specialist degree is mainly about how certain you are of your direction. A general BSc keeps options open and lets you change major; a specialist degree goes deeper into one field sooner. Some sciences also lead into professional or applied degrees (engineering, health, agriculture) with their own admission rules.

• BSc — broad, flexible, choose a major later
• Specialist degree — structured around one named field
• Decide based on how settled your direction is

Qualifications frameworks and degree length

Undergraduate degrees in Australia sit within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and in New Zealand within the national qualifications framework administered by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). These frameworks define the level and learning outcomes of each qualification, which helps you compare programmes and understand where a BSc leads next.

A bachelor's degree typically runs over several years of full-time study, and an additional honours year is common in both countries (covered in a separate guide). Exact duration, credit points and structure differ by university and by whether you add honours, a double major, or work-integrated learning — always verify on the official programme page.