Understand our globalised world
Our interconnected world needs answers to pressing global problems. This unique degree combines knowledge from different fields to analyse the movements shaping everything from local behaviour to global events.
You’ll look critically at globalisation and other forces shaping our world from different perspectives. These include Māori and Indigenous knowledge, and the understanding of Aotearoa New Zealand's place in the wider world. Choose from areas like politics, human rights, languages and cultures, business, and environment and sustainability.
Develop your critical thinking, cultural understanding, and communication skills. Gain work experience and problem-solving skills with projects offered by external organisations.
Study for a Bachelor of Global Studies
The breadth and depth of the Global Studies degree has enabled me to really nurture my interest in how we organise and operate our societies, and how we can improve them.
What you’ll learn
The BGS is a flexible degree that lets you study global and cross-cultural issues from different angles. You’ll choose two minor subjects from the following:
Area and Cultural Studies
Explore the history and current issues of specific regions, their cultures, and the communities who've moved from them.
Cultures and Identities
Look at how attitudes to gender, sexuality, indigeneity, and culture have changed over time and around the world.
Environment and Sustainability
Examine how climate change affects cultures worldwide, and how people are working to solve environmental problems.
Ethical Leadership and Intercultural Communication
Learn how to communicate well across cultures and lead teams with diverse backgrounds.
Global Health and Wellbeing
Find out why some people have better access to healthcare than others, and how that could change.
Globalisation, Movement, and Change
Study why people migrate, and what that means for communities and cultures around the world.
Human Rights, Justice, and Peace
Learn how peace and human rights can be protected across countries with different legal systems.
World Affairs and Organisations
Explore how business and culture connect globally, and how a globalised economy affects developing nations.
Learn by doing
In our lectures and tutorials, we emphasise practical learning methods like team exercises, stakeholder role-playing, and debating to encourage you to challenge your own views and adapt them to the situation.
Year breakdown
First year
You will:
- explore the different subjects and approaches covered in the degree
- take a Māori Studies course to deepen your engagement with te ao Māori and language papers to build your skills in intercultural communication.
This work prepares you for the minors you’ll study later in the degree.
Second and third years
You’ll study the minors you’ve chosen, along with your core Global Studies courses.
You’ll also complete a practical research project in your third year, working directly with a partner organisation on a real problem they face.
In your third year, you can also apply for internships and exchanges.
Degree support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
How our degrees work
Flexible, or structured? Learn more about the different types of undergraduate degrees at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Get accepted into this degree
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed secondary school in:
If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.
To be accepted into this qualification, you need:
1. (a) The personal course of study of a candidate for the BGS degree shall, except as provided in the Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning Regulations, consist of courses from the BGS schedule and the schedules of any other first degrees at this university worth at least 360 points, of which:
(i) at least 180 points shall be for courses numbered 200–399; and
(ii) at least 75 points shall be numbered 300–399.
(b) Every personal course of study shall include:
(i) GLBL 101, 201, 301, ICOM 101
(ii) one of (MAOR 123, 126). A student who is not using MAOR courses to satisfy section 1(b)(iv) may substitute MAOR 101.
(iii) At least 15 pts from AIML 131, ARTH 101, ASIA 101, DATA 101, DSDN 173, ECON 130, EHUM
101, GEOG 112, GEOG 114, HLWB 101, INFO 101, INTP 113, LANG 110, LCCM 171, LSCI 101, PASI
101, PHIL 123, POLS 114, PUBL 113, QUAN 102, SAMO 111, SCIS 101, SARC 131, STAT 193, WRIT
101, WRIT 151
(iv) At least 60 points from one of CHIN, FREN, GERM, ITAL, JAPA, MAOR, NZSL, SAMO, SPAN, of
which at least 20 points must be above 100 level. Students may substitute 20 points from this list
with 20 points from one of LANG 210, 301, 310. Students who have the appropriate NCEA Level 3
requirements (or equivalent) may be admitted directly into 200-level language courses. Students
who have completed MAOR 101, 102 and 111 are not required to complete points above 100-level
to satisfy this requirement.
Note: The language courses required in section 1(b)(iv) may also be used to satisfy relevant
requirements in an additional minor.
Entry for domestic students
- Your acceptance to this programme is based on your previous qualifications or experience.
- If you’re not sure what admission type you are, you can use our tool to check.
Degree requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the BGS
For this degree, you'll need to complete at least 360 points. At least 180 points must be above 100 level, and at least 75 points must be at 300 level.
Complete four core courses:
- Introduction to Intercultural Communication (ICOM 101)
- Introduction to Global Studies: Collaboration in Global Contexts (GLBL 101)
- Leading Global Change (GLBL 201)
- Capstone Global Studies Project (GLBL 301).
Include either Te Iwi Māori me āna Tikanga / Māori Society and Culture (MAOR 123) or He Herenga Tāngata / Engaging with Māori in Professional Practice (MAOR 126).
Include one of:
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AIML 131)
- Art, Creativity and Identity (ARTH 101)
- Aotearoa New Zealand and Asia (ASIA 101)
- Introduction to Data Science (DATA 101)
- Microeconomic Principles (ECON 130)
- He Aronui Whenua - Green Humanities: Humanities and the Land (EHUM 101)
- (Re) Making Places: Geographies of Development, Equity and Social Change (GEOG 112)
- Sustainability: People and Environment (GEOG 114)
- Introduction to Health and Wellbeing (HLWB 101)
- My Digital Life (DIGI 101)
- Introduction to International Relations / He Tīmatanga Kōrero mō ngā Hononga Whenua (INTP 113)
- Exploring the World through Languages and Cultures (LANG 110)
- The Art of Writing (LCCM 171)
- Language and Society (LSCI 101)
- The Pacific Heritage (PASI 101)
- Critical Thinking (PHIL 123)
- Introduction to Comparative Politics / He Rohe Motuhake, he Tōrangapū Motuhake (POLS 114)
- Social and Public Policy: Values and Change (PUBL 113)
- Introductory Applied Statistics for Business (QUAN 102)
- Global Samoans: Dynamic Approaches to Samoan Society and Culture (SAMO 111)
- Introduction to Sustainability in the Designed Environment / He Timatanga Kōrero mō Te Whakaora i Te Taiao Hangahanga (SARC 131)
- Your Body, Your Data, Your World: Science in Everyday Life (SCIS 101)
- Statistics in Practice (STAT 193)
- Writing at University (WRIT 101)
- Writing in English as a Second Language (WRIT 151).
Choose a language and include three language courses from:
- CHIN 100-399
- FREN 100-399
- GERM 100-399
- ITAL 200-399
- JAPA 100-399
- MAOR 100-399
- NZSL 100-399
- SAMO 100-399
- SPAN 100-399
- Either Language Study Abroad (LANG 210), Languages and Cultures for Global Communication (LANG 301), or Study Abroad for Language Students (LANG 310)
Meet the requirements for at least two Global Studies minors.
Include a further 60 points.
Choose your minors
Choose at least two minors from the list below.
Some subjects are only available as minors. While most minors require 60 points at 200- and 300-level, there are a few minors with specific requirements.
Minor subjects and requirements
Start planning your study
Use the tiles to find out how you could include the selected minors in your degree. Not all combinations are available, so talk to us before you lock down your plan of study.
BGS minor subjects
Area and Cultural Studies
Chinese
Cultural Anthropology
Cultures and Identities
Environment & Sustainability
Ethical Leadership and Intercultural Communication
French
Gender and Sexuality Studies
Global Health and Wellbeing
Globalisation Movemnt & Change
Human Rights Justice and Peace
International Relations
Kaitiakitanga
New Zealand Sign Language
World Affairs & Organisations
No matching minors found.
Build your degree
To complete your BGS, you need to complete the requirements for core courses, a language, and at least two minors.
Core courses
You’ll do four core courses to build your leadership, teamwork, and cross-cultural skills. You’ll learn:
- how to look at major global issues from different subject perspectives
- how language and culture affect the way we communicate with each other
- how to lead ethically, looking at examples from New Zealand and the Indo-Pacific region
- how to do research as part of a team, working with a real organisation to help solve a global problem.
Minors
You’ll choose at least two minor subjects from the eight that are available in the BGS:
- 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
Languages
You also study a language as part of your degree. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced speaker, there are language courses to suit you.
Choose from these languages:
- Chinese
- French
- German
- Japanese
- New Zealand Sign Language
- Samoan
- Spanish
- Te Reo Māori.
Electives
You’ll choose at least three courses from a list of electives to complete the 360 points required for the degree.
- One of these must be from a selection of Māori Studies courses.
- You’ll also complete a course in skills, concepts, and ways of thinking that are useful for your degree.
Combine your BGS with another degree
The BGS combines well with other undergraduate degrees. By taking it as part of a conjoint degree, you’ll complete two degrees in less time than if you did them separately.
For example, you could combine a BGS with a:
A conjoint degree expands your career options by broadening your knowledge and connecting you with a wider professional network.
Future careers
The BGS is co-designed with partner organisations to give you skills and knowledge that will be useful to your future career. Through your study, you’ll gain the broad intercultural abilities that many industries seek.
Where you could work
Your BGS degree could lead to work in:
- foreign affairs and diplomacy
- policy and research
- international and community development
- global health
- advocacy, social entrepreneurship, and civil society
- journalism, communications, and media
- tourism, hospitality, and cultural industries
- teaching (with further postgraduate study).
More career information
Find out more about careers.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have first-year and school-leaver scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It's a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Humanities and Social Sciences
-
This scholarship is for students undertaking or intending to undertake an Honours or Masters degree at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in areas related to Peace Building or Peace Studies, Trust Building, Conflict Resolution, addressing Historical Injustice, Restorative Justice, Social Cohesion, Community building and promoting cross-cultural understanding, Change Making or Ethical Leadership.
-
The Brian Murray Fox Scholarship in History offers an opportunity to students who are intending to undertake their second, third or Honours year of their degree at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in the year following application.
-
The Brian Murray Fox Scholarship in English Literature offers an opportunity to students who are intending to undertake their second, third or Honours year of their degree at Te Herenga Waka Victoria—University of Wellington in the year following application.
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.
We also have specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It's a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Humanities and Social Sciences
-
This scholarship was established in 1980 by the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt. Hon. Sir John Marshall, GBE, CH, BA, LLM, Hon. LLD, to encourage the study of Political Science at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. The Scholarship was extended to include International Relations.
-
This scholarship was established to encourage students to complete a major in Language Sciences at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, and continue to further study or careers in this field.
-
This scholarship is to assist students in the last year of their first Bachelors degree at Victoria University of Wellington. The scholarship fund will be awarded equally between male and female students.
Globally ranked
We're ranked within the top 150 universities in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2026 for key areas of Global Studies: Politics and International Relations, Development Studies, and Geography.
Our History, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Earth Sciences, Social Policy and Administration, and Sociology subjects all rank in the top 150 globally.
The QS World University Rankings is an annual global publication that gives overall rankings and subject rankings for more than 1,500 universities worldwide.
Postgraduate study
A BGS prepares you for postgraduate study in several different areas, depending on the courses you’ve taken in your degree.
If you do well in your undergraduate degree, you could continue with Global Studies at Master’s level. The BGS also prepares you for smaller qualifications like the Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma in Global Studies.
Master’s-level study in related areas
After you complete the BGS, you might want to continue on to postgraduate study. We have a wide range of Master’s degrees that focus on different areas:
- Master of Communication
- Master of Development Studies
- Master of Global Business
- Master of International Trade
- Master of Migration Studies
- Master of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
- Master of Political Science
- Master of Public Management
- Master of Public Policy
- Master of Science
In general, to enrol in these degrees, you’ll need a grade point average of B or better in your Global Studies degree. But check each degree’s specific entry requirements.
Accommodation
Live in accommodation close to campus at one of our:
- catered halls of residence
- self-catered apartments or flats
- self-catered studios.
We provide care and support across our halls and flatting communities.
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
And if you're ever having trouble with money, talk with us. You could be eligible for government or community support, and we have a hardship fund for financial emergencies.
Apply for a New Zealand study visa
You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.
You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand
Wellington Global Exchange
If you're a current student at Victoria University of Wellington, you can complete part of your degree overseas. Choose from our 140 partner universities worldwide.
Study Abroad and Exchange Programme
If you're an overseas student, you can spend a trimester or a year at Victoria University of Wellington. You'll earn credits at your home university while you study here.