Domestic tuition costs
To help you estimate your annual tuition fees and costs, set out below are the approximate fees and other costs you are likely to incur if you are enrolled in one year of full-time study.
Pre-degree Programmes
The following approximate tuition fees are based on one semester (full-time study) consisting of four papers.
| Programme | Tuition fee ($NZ) |
| Certificate of University Preparation | $3765 |
Please note:
- Students who enrol in papers worth more than 120 points will pay additional tuition fees.
- All fees are quoted in New Zealand Dollars ($NZ) and include New Zealand Goods and Services Tax (GST). Tuition fees are set annually by the University. Fees are subject to change.
Bachelors
The approximate annual cost of our bachelors degrees are listed in the 'Key information' table for each degree. To see the latest info, start by finding your course.
Popular examples
These figures are indicative only.
- Bachelor of Arts: $6,776 - $7,821
- Bachelor of Business: $7,302
- Bachelor of Laws: $7,302
- Bachelor of Science: $7,821
Fees are charged for each paper
Your final tuition fees depend on the papers you take.
- Find fees for every paper using Find a Paper.
Example: Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, first year
A BA in Anthropology could start with the eight 100-level papers below. As you can see, some papers have higher fees than others.
| Paper Code | Points | EFTS | Fees ($NZ) |
| ANTHY101 | 15 | 0.125 | $802 |
| ANTHY102 | 15 | 0.125 | $802 |
| ARTSC103 | 15 | 0.125 | $802 |
| ARTSC110 | 15 | 0.125 | $802 |
| HISTY107 | 15 | 0.125 | $802 |
| GEOGY101 | 15 | 0.125 | $926 |
| PSYCH101 | 15 | 0.125 | $926 |
| SOCPY100 | 15 | 0.125 | $802 |
| Total tuition fees | 120 points | 1 EFTS | $6,664 |
| Student Services Levy | (Full year) | $844.8 | |
| Total Fees Per Year | $7,509 |
Please note:
- Students who enrol in papers worth more than 120 points will pay additional tuition fees.
- All fees are quoted in New Zealand Dollars ($NZ) and include New Zealand Goods and Services Tax (GST). Tuition fees are set annually by the University. Fees are subject to change.
Bachelor (Honours), Masters, 1-year Postgraduate Diploma
The approximate annual cost of our degrees are listed in the 'Key information' table for each degree. To see the latest info, start by finding your course.
Research programmes
The approximate annual cost of our degrees are listed in the 'Key information' table for each degree. To see the latest info, start by finding your course.
Please note:
- Students who enrol in papers worth more than 120 points will pay additional tuition fees.
- All fees are quoted in New Zealand Dollars ($NZ) and include New Zealand Goods and Services Tax (GST). Tuition fees are set annually by the University. Fees are subject to change.
MBA and MBM
Programme fees for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Business and Management (MBM) are structured differently from other programmes at the University. Fees are inclusive of all papers and other study costs. There are still additional fees for these programmes.
| Programme | 2025 Tuition fee ($NZ) |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | $44,595 |
| Master of Business and Management (MBM) | $13,641 |
Please note:
- Students who enrol in papers worth more than 120 points will pay additional tuition fees.
- All fees are quoted in New Zealand Dollars ($NZ) and include New Zealand Goods and Services Tax (GST). Tuition fees are set annually by the University. Fees are subject to change.
Additional fees
The Student Services Levy is compulsory for all students and covers the services available to students while studying at the University. The levy varies on the location of the paper and duration of study. More information on this fee and the services it funds.
There may be other additional non-tuition fees you might need to pay.
Commonly asked questions about tuition fees
How will the fees-free policy affect my tuition fees?
From 1 January 2018, some students will be eligible for one year (120 points) of fees-free study. For more information, visit our fees-free information page.
How are my fees calculated?
Your tuition fees are calculated on a per-paper basis. You will enrol in a number of papers during each year of study. These can be found using Find a Paper. Each paper has a set fee based on the degree area and the level of the paper. You only pay for the papers which you choose to take. If you know the papers that you wish to study, you can use the Fees Calculator to work out the total cost for your programme of study.
What are EFTS?
EFTS stands for Equivalent Full-time Student. This is the measure by which all tertiary education providers report student enrolments to the New Zealand government. The EFTS value of a paper indicates what proportion of a normal full-time programme of study the particular paper makes up. At the University of Waikato 1 EFT equates to a student workload of 120 points.
How do I calculate my EFTS consumption?
Use the table below to convert your points into EFTS. You can find the points value of every paper using Find a Paper.
| Points | EFTS value |
| 5 points | 0.0417 |
| 7 points | 0.0625 |
| 10 points | 0.0833 |
| 15 points | 0.1250 |
| 20 points | 0.1667 |
| 30 points | 0.2500 |
| 60 points | 0.5000 |
| 90 points | 0.7500 |
| 120 points | 1.0000 |
These conversions cover most papers offered at the University of Waikato; however you may have enrolled in papers of other points/EFTS values. If the points and EFTS for your papers are not listed here, contact 0800 WAIKATO or info@waikato.ac.nz for help.
How many papers are considered full-time study?
120 points per year is considered full-time study. In first year this generally equates eight papers (15 points each) however this varies from across faculties.
Please note:
- Students who enrol in papers worth more than 120 points will pay additional tuition fees.
- All fees are quoted in New Zealand Dollars ($NZ) and include New Zealand Goods and Services Tax (GST). Tuition fees are set annually by the University. Fees are subject to change.