Personal Programmes of Study Regulations

These regulations apply to candidates beginning their studies in 2025. Candidates who first enrolled in a qualification prior to 2025 are eligible to complete that qualification either under the regulations which applied at the time of first enrolment or the regulations which apply at the time of re-enrolment. Candidates who are resuming their studies for a qualification after an extended absence are advised to consult the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies concerned at the time of re-enrolment regarding the requirements for completion. However, where there have been significant changes in the structure of a qualification or content of the major or specified programme during the candidate's absence, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies may prescribe a specific programme of study which will be deemed to satisfy the requirements for completion of the qualification.

  1. Title
    These are the Personal Programmes of Study Regulations 2012.
  2. Date of effect
    These regulations are effective from 1 January 2013.
  3. Delegation of powers
    The powers and authority of the Academic Board referred to in these regulations have been delegated in certain matters under the Delegation of Powers Statute 2014.
  4. Definitions
    In these regulations

paper means a segment of work in a particular subject and is identified by means of a unique code number. Papers are delivered through lectures, tutorials, practicals, and such other coursework as may be required by the department concerned
programme of study means the selection of papers taken by a candidate in any one academic year for a particular qualification
restricted papers are either in effect the same papers e.g. one of which was taught in the past with a different paper code, or they share a significant amount of common content. Candidates may therefore receive credit for only one of the papers listed. Restricted papers may not necessarily be used to satisfy prerequisite or corequisite requirements
a prerequisite must be passed before a candidate may enrol in the paper for which the prerequisite is specified. (A paper for which a Restricted Pass (RP) has been awarded will not be accepted as meeting the prerequisite requirements for any other paper unless the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies in which the other paper is offered approves otherwise)
a corequisite must be taken either prior to or concurrently with the paper for which the corequisite is specified
internal assessment means all or some of the following: essays, assignments and reports of various kinds, practical work, work in tutorials and/or seminars and tests
a field means a general area of academic study that includes a number of related subjects
a subject is a grouping of papers with a common academic theme, defined in terms of the listings under individual subject headings in the University of Waikato Subject Regulations. A department may offer more than one subject
a major means a principal area of study a candidate has chosen for a bachelors degree and is selected from those listed in the relevant degree regulations. A candidate is required to take a defined and substantial number of papers in the major at a range of levels up to and including 300 or 400 level
a minor means an additional subject to the major and is a requirement of some bachelors degrees
a supporting subject means an additional subject to the major, usually of at least 60 points in a single minor subject
a specialisation means a recognised pathway within a qualification or major which provides an area of focus within the qualification or major
points is the term used to express the student workload of a paper or programme. A normal full-time academic year comprises 120 points or 1.0 EFTS (Equivalent Full-time Student)

  1. Application
    These regulations apply to undergraduate certificates, undergraduate diplomas, bachelors degrees, bachelors with honours degrees, graduate certificates, graduate diplomas, postgraduate certificates, postgraduate diplomas, masters degrees and individual paper credits.
  2. Admission and re-entry
    1. In order to be eligible to be enrolled at the University of Waikato, candidates must meet the requirements of Section 255 of the Education and Training Act 2020.
    2. The criteria for admission to the University of Waikato in a given year are determined by the Council and are set out in the Admission Statute 2016.
    3. The criteria for admission to a particular qualification in a given year are determined by the Academic Board and are set out in the Criteria for Admission to Particular Qualifications and the qualification regulations.
    4. To ensure that a candidate is adequately prepared for a graduate qualification, the Academic Board will require relevant papers in the relevant subject or subjects of the qualifying bachelors degree to have been passed at grades which it deems appropriate.
    5. Candidates are usually required to have majored in their bachelors degree in the main subject to be presented for a graduate degree. This requirement may be waived in cases where no more than one or two papers in a given subject are proposed to be incorporated into the candidate’s graduate degree.
    6. In exceptional circumstances, based on academic merit, candidates who have no more than 30 points left to complete the requirements of a qualifying degree may be permitted to enrol in a graduate degree, provided that they have completed all of the requirements of the major or main subject of the qualifying degree. The graduate degree will not be deemed to have been completed until the qualifying degree has also been completed.
    7. The Academic Board may approve limitations on enrolment for programmes or papers due to insufficiency of staffing or resources. Limitations and the criteria for selection are published in the Limitations Statute.
    8. A candidate who has been awarded a particular qualification in one major or subject may only be re-admitted to the same qualification in another major or subject.
    9. The criteria for re-entry for returning students are determined by the Academic Board and are set out in Part 3 of the Criteria for Admission to Particular Qualifications.
    10. In addition, the Academic Board may decline to re-enrol a candidate whose progress during the preceding year or years has not been to the satisfaction of the Academic Board.
  3. Enrolment in a programme of study
    1. The Academic Board may prescribe qualifying or additional papers which must be passed by a candidate either prior to, or concurrently with, the minimum requirements for a qualification. Qualifying or additional papers may be required if the candidate is considered by the Academic Board to be inadequately prepared in a core subject area.
    2. Enrolment in a programme of study or paper is subject to the approval of the Academic Board. Such approval will be determined on the basis of the candidate’s academic background as well as staffing and resources.
    3. The personal programme of study of every candidate is subject to the approval of the Academic Board.
    4. The papers for qualifications and their prescriptions are defined in the University of Waikato Subject Regulations. Before enrolling for a paper, candidates must meet any requirements specified in the relevant prescription unless approved otherwise by the Academic Board.
    5. Particular regulations governing qualifications may be varied or waived by approval of the Academic Board.
  4. Student workload
    1. The normal full-time student workload for an academic year (Trimester A and Trimester B) is 120 points. This includes a normal full-time student workload of 60 points in each of Trimester A and Trimester B. For the purposes of calculating workload, a paper that runs across the academic year has a workload equivalent to half of its points value during each of Trimester A and Trimester B. 
    2. The maximum workload for Trimester C is 45 points, no more than 15 points can be in G coded papers, no more than 15 points can be in H coded papers.
    3. The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies or delegated authority may vary or waive these regulations in individual cases.
  5. Completion of a qualification
    1. The minimum requirements for the completion of a qualification are defined in the relevant regulations.
    2. With the approval of the Academic Board, a candidate may be permitted to complete the requirements of a qualification in less than the minimum period of enrolment prescribed in the relevant regulations. Approval will depend on the candidate’s academic record and on the availability of suitable teaching and supervision arrangements.
  6. Eligibility for Honours or Distinction
    In order to qualify for Honours or Distinction in a particular qualification, a candidate may be required to complete the requirements within a prescribed time period of first enrolling for the qualification.
  7. Dissertations and theses
    1. The Dissertations and Theses Regulations 2020 governing the presentation of dissertations and theses apply in these regulations and any dissertation or thesis required for a graduate qualification must be presented in accordance with these regulations.
    2. Enrolment in a dissertation or thesis, or a qualification which requires the completion of a dissertation or thesis, is subject to the availability of a suitable supervisor for the dissertation or thesis.
    3. For dissertations and theses, one or more supervisors will be appointed by the Academic Board. If the chief supervisor is also an examiner of the dissertation or thesis, at least one other examiner (who is not also a supervisor) will be appointed.
    4. A dissertation or thesis must embody the results obtained by the candidate in an investigation relating to some branch of the subject or subjects being presented, or, with the approval of the Academic Board, shall take some other form proposed by the candidate’s supervisors and approved by the relevant Head of School or Dean concerned. The chief supervisor or sole supervisor will be required to certify that the dissertation or thesis embodies the candidate’s own work carried out under the supervisor’s direct supervision.
    5. Dissertations and theses are assessed in terms of the points value they represent.
  8. Date for submission of dissertations, theses and research reports
    1. The deadline for the submission of any dissertation or research report will be 4.00pm on the last working day of the paper occurrence which completes the candidate’s enrolment in the total points required for the dissertation or research report.
    2. The deadline for the submission of any thesis will be 11.59pm on the last day of the paper occurrence which completes the candidate’s enrolment in the total points required for the thesis.
    3. Candidates who expect that they will not submit their dissertation, thesis or research report by the due date may apply to the relevant Head of School or Dean or delegated authority for an extension of time without the requirement for re-enrolment, provided that the application for an extension is lodged prior to the deadline for submission.
    4. Extensions will not normally be awarded for periods of more than 21 days beyond the relevant due date.
    5. Candidates who do not submit their dissertation, thesis or research report by the due date, and who have not applied for and been awarded an extension, will be required to re-enrol for a minimum period to be determined by the relevant Head of School or Dean or delegated authority and will be liable for a further payment of tuition and any other fees and charges for the period of re-enrolment.
  9. Resubmission of dissertations and theses
    1. A dissertation or thesis for a graduate qualification that receives a narrow fail may be returned to the candidate with the offer of an opportunity to revise and re-submit. The decision to offer such an opportunity is at the discretion of the relevant Head of School or Dean and is based on a number of factors, including the likelihood that the revision will be successful, and the availability of suitable supervisors and examiners.
    2. An offer by a Head of School or Dean under subsection 13(1) of these regulations will be in writing, and any conditions attached to the offer will be explicit. The period allowed for the revision will be no more than the equivalent of one trimester and the deadline for submission will be prescribed. If the offer to revise and submit is accepted, the candidate will be eligible to receive a maximum grade of C and, in the case of a masters degree, will not be eligible for the award of Honours.
    3. A candidate’s acceptance of an offer to revise and re-submit and associated conditions must be in writing. The candidate must then re-enrol for the equivalent of one trimester and pay fees accordingly. For administrative and fees purposes, the candidate will enrol for the particular enrolment period in which the deadline for re-submission falls.
    4. A 'provisional fail' is recorded against the first dissertation or thesis enrolment for the period of revision. The ‘provisional fail’ grade is replaced by a final grade (either a fail grade or a C grade, depending on the outcome), after the revision and re-examination processes are concluded.
    5. The opportunity to revise and re-submit a particular dissertation or thesis may be offered to a candidate only once.
  10. Credit - transfer credit and cross credit
    1. Transfer credit means credit towards a University of Waikato qualification for papers passed at another tertiary institution.
    2. Cross credit means credit towards a University of Waikato qualification for papers passed towards another University of Waikato qualification.
    3. A candidate who has passed papers at an appropriate level at the University of Waikato or another tertiary institution may apply for credit in respect of those papers towards a University of Waikato qualification.
    4. Applications for credit must be submitted on the online qualification application, together with the prescribed fee.
    5. Applications for credit from another institution must be accompanied by a verified copy of an academic record. If the original document is not in English, the academic record must be accompanied by an official English translation of the record. The University reserves the right to request an original copy of an academic record.
    6. The policy on the level and amount of credit which may be awarded from a completed qualification is determined by the Academic Board and is set out below:
      1. Credit from a completed qualification is normally only available towards a bachelors degree.
      2. Credit is not normally awarded from a completed graduate or postgraduate qualification.
      3. Credit from a completed qualification will normally be limited to no more than one third of the completed qualification.
      4. Credit towards a University of Waikato bachelors degree from a completed qualification will normally be limited to no more than one third of the University of Waikato degree. For the purposes of this regulation, one third of a bachelors degree is considered to be 120 points at 100 and 200 levels, including a maximum of 60 points at 200 level. Where appropriate, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies may, at their discretion, permit 20 further points at 100 or 200 level to be credited towards a four-year bachelors degree where the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies deems a paper to be relevant to the candidate’s programme of study.
      5. Credit will not normally be awarded for 300 or 400 level papers required for a major in an undergraduate degree.
      6. No paper may count towards more than two qualifications.
    7. The decision to award credit in individual cases will be made by the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies.
    8. In making decisions on credit, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies will consider the relevance and level of the papers completed, the regulations of the University of Waikato qualification concerned, and the credit guidelines maintained by the Student Services.
    9. Regardless of the total number of papers which an applicant has passed at other institutions, the total credit awarded will not be more than half of the total requirement of the University of Waikato qualification concerned, unless this is approved under subsections 14(10) or 14(11) of these regulations.
    10. In individual cases, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies or delegated authority may vary subsection 14(9) of these regulations and award credit for up to two thirds of the University of Waikato qualification concerned.
    11. In individual cases, the Education Committee, under delegated authority of the Academic Board, may award credit for more than two thirds of a University of Waikato qualification, or for more than half of an undergraduate degree that includes 300 and/or 400 level papers for a major.
    12. Applicants wishing to appeal a Pro Vice-Chancellor's or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies decision on credit may apply to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic.
    13. The consideration of an appeal will involve the Pro Vice-Chancellor or the Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies concerned being requested to reconsider the decision. Further appeals against the outcome of a reconsideration will be referred to the Education Committee for consideration on behalf of the Academic Board.
  11. Completion of a University of Waikato qualification at another New Zealand university

A candidate who, based on the assessment of the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the relevant Division or the Dean of Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies, has completed the major part of a qualification at the University of Waikato and then moved to another district may, in some cases, complete the University of Waikato qualification by taking the remaining papers at another university in New Zealand. Prior approval of the specific papers, in writing, must be obtained from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic of this University and the prescribed charge paid. The candidate must advise the Registrar of the other university of the purpose of the enrolment and the papers concerned must be taken on a Certificate of Proficiency (COP) basis at that university. The candidate’s academic record will not be transferred.

  1. Completion of a qualification of another New Zealand university at the University of Waikato

A candidate who has completed the major part of a qualification at another New Zealand university may, in some cases, be permitted by that university to complete the qualification by passing specified papers at the University of Waikato. Any such approval must be given in writing by the ‘home’ university and the candidate will take the papers concerned on an Individual Paper Credit (IPC) basis at the University of Waikato. The candidate’s academic record will not be transferred.