Combine two major subjects into one degree and expand your future career opportunities.

• Four years of full-time study
• Personalize your degree to suit your interests, strengths and career plans as you choose from hundreds of subject combinations

The Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom) at the University of Otago is an exciting new degree that will enable you to combine your passion for arts and business into one degree.

Today's workplaces demand a different kind of graduate. The ability to think critically, solve problems and work as a team could prove advantageous in your future career. 

Studying for a multidisciplinary degree demonstrates adaptability and resourcefulness – skills many employers seek.

The BACom will give you both a creative and business background to work in arts and business professions or related areas, such as consumer behaviour, ethics, international relations, leadership, and communication.

What your degree might look like

Choose two different majors from two study areas, one from Arts and one from Business. There are over 400 combinations of majors available. Here are some examples:

• Communication Studies and Marketing
• Geography and Economics
• English and Human Resources Management
• History and Tourism
• Music and Management
• Politics and Management
• Philosophy, Politics and Economics and Finance

How is the degree structured?

Majors and papers

Each major usually consists of between nine and eleven papers.

The BACom requires papers worth 486 points (usually 27 x 18-point papers). 

This must include at least 216 points (usually 12 x 18-point papers) for papers from Arts and Music and at least 216 points (usually 12 x 18-point papers) for papers from Business.

• Academic Transcripts
• Educational Credential Evaluators report (ECE) (If required)
• Proof of your identity (Full name, date of birth, and nationality)
• Certified/notarised copy (passport or birth certificate)
• English Language Proficiency (If Available)

Undergraduate entrance requirements

The university recognizes many other qualifications as equivalent to the New Zealand qualification for entrance. 

To check if the university recognizes your previous studies, determine the country where you gained the qualification. Countries entrance requirements example:

China entrance requirements:

Senior High School graduation and one year of successful study at a recognized institution of university standing; 
Or Senior High School graduation and completion of a diploma with high passing grades at a recognized institute or university.

Students with the requisite scores in Gaokao may be given direct entry to bachelor degree programme.

India entrance requirements:

Minimum overall average of 75% in the All India Senior School Examination (CBSE) or Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) with a minimum of 70% in English.

The scores are calculated on the best four academic subjects excluding local languages and non-academic subjects.

Iran entrance requirements:

One year of successful study at a recognized institution of university standing, or successful completion of a University of Otago Foundation Year programme or equivalent.

The university also accepts the following international qualifications:

• International Baccalaureate: IB Diploma with a minimum of 24 points.
• Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) GCE Advanced Levels: minimum Numerical Score of 8.
• Northern Consortium United Kingdom (NCUK) International Foundation Year (IFY)
• Satisfactory completion of one year's study at a recognized tertiary institution.

Pathway programme

Study in your chosen subject area and gain a university entrance qualification

The University of Otago Pathway programme offers a university entrance qualification within two 13-week semesters for domestic and international students. It is called the Foundation Studies Certificate (FSC).