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Bachelor of Applied Science

Bachelor of Applied Science with endorsements in: Biotechnology, Environmental Technology, Food Technology

SC0901

Course details

Summary

The Bachelor of Applied Science is an innovative, practically-orientated and future-focused degree.

In this programme, you will develop a broad and practical foundation in science and technology, with a specific endorsement in one of the following:
  • Biotechnology
  • Environmental technology
  • Food technology

These areas have been chosen for their alignment with local industry and the diverse range of opportunities available for employment.

Food technology is about the science of food. People who choose this pathway can work in positions as food technologists who develop new food products, analyse the components of food, or; food safety officers who audit the food manufacturing industry.

Environmental technology is about the science of conservation, biosecurity and environmental management. People who choose this pathway can work in positions as biosecurity officers who help manage pest animal and plant control, and help conserve local environments.

Biotechnology is about the 'doing' of science. This includes quality assurance of laboratory practices, analysis of samples, and reporting on sample results. People who choose this pathway can work in positions as researchers or laboratory technicians.

Studying will see you participate in group work, projects, student investigations, presentations, field trips and other interactive activities, and complete an industry-based project. The capstone (industry-based) project module enables you to be your own project manager - you will find an industry with a problem, design a solution, and then test the solution. The industry-based project is also a good way for you to build up networks, which can be useful for finding future employment.

Throughout the degree, you can base your assignments on your specific area of interest. There will be classroom or lab blocks five days a week, Monday to Friday, from 8am-4pm.


"I wasn’t sure which pathway to pursue initially, but my tutors helped me. I am now sure I want to pursue food technology as my career path. Food technologists research and develop food and drinks. How could you not love the idea of getting paid to eat food as part of your job!"

Read Braden's story


What you will learn

You will complete:
  • Nine core modules that are tailored towards each endorsement as the student progresses from Level 5 to Level 7. These modules give a broad background in technology and involve science, communication, and IT.
  • A further four to seven compulsory modules within your chosen endorsement. These modules complement the core modules to provide the specialist knowledge required to meet the criteria for a technologist in the field of your endorsement.
  • A final selection of elective modules from the fields of biotechnology, environmental technology and/or food technology. Four of these may be substituted with specific Wintec IT and/or business programmes modules.

View programme modules

Group A: Common Compulsory Modules for All Endorsements

Level 5 modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
NSCI5506 Microbiology in Industry
515  
NSCI5504Chemistry for Applied Science 515  
NSCI5502Quality Assurance in Applied Science515  

Level 6 modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
NSCI6107Quality Statistics for Applied Science615  

 

Level 7 modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
SCBT701Topics in Technology715
 
SCBT703BTechnology Project 745Three Level 6
Elective modules
 

Group B: Biotechnology Endorsement Compulsory Modules

Level 5 Modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
NSCI5509Biology for Applied Science 515  
NSCI5510Organic Chemistry for Applied Science515  

 

Level 6 modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
NSCI6109Analytical Chemistry for Applied Science615NSCI5504 
NSCI6120Biomolecules for Applied Science 615NSCI5510 

NSCI6113

Molecular Methodologies for Applied Science615NSCI5509 

 

Level 7 modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
SCBB704Microbial and Gene Technology715NSCI6113 

 

 

Group C: Environmental Technology Endorsement Compulsory Modules

Level 5 modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
NSCI5509Biology for Applied Science 515  

 

Level 6 modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
NSCI6119Ecology for Applied Science615NSCI5509 
NSCI6106Environmental Assessment for Applied Science615  
NSCI6114Conservation and Biosecurity for Applied Science 615  

 

Level 7 modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
SCBE704Environmental Management715NSCI6106 

 

Group D: Food Technology Endorsement Compulsory Modules

Level 5 modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
NSCI5510Organic Chemistry for Applied Science515  
NSCI5513Physics for Applied Science515  

 

Level 6 modules

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
NSCI6111Food Chemistry for Applied Science615NSCI5510 
NSCI6121Process Engineering615NSCI5513 
NSCI6112Sensory Evaluation for Applied Science615

NSCI6107

 

 

Level 7 modules

Module CodeModule TitleLevelCreditsPre-RequisitesCo-Requisites
SCBF704Food Process Technology715NSCI6121 

 

Group E: Elective Modules

Level 5

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
NSCI5509Biology for Applied Science515  
NSCI5510Organic Chemistry for Applied Science515  
NSCI5513Physics for Applied Science515  
NSCI5501

Professional Skills in Applied Science

515  
NSCI5503Practical Laboratory Skills515  
NSCI5514Environmental Issues in Applied Science515  
NSCI5515Applied Food and Nutrition Science515  

Level 6

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
NSCI6121Process Engineering615NSCI5513 
NSCI6119Ecology for Applied Science615NSCI5509 
NSCI6114Conservation and Biosecurity for Applied Science615  

NSCI6106

Environmental Assessment for Applied Science615  
NSCI6109Analytical Chemistry for Applied Science615NSCI5504 
NCSI6120Biomolecules for Applied Science 615NSCI5510 
NSCI6113Molecular Methodologies615NSCI5509 
NSCI6111Food Chemistry for Applied Science615NSCI5510 
NSCI6112Sensory Evaluation for Applied Science615NSCI6107 
NSCI6125Applied Microbiology for Applied Science615NSCI5506 
SCBT603Technology Special Topic615  
NSCI6101Applied Science Workplace Legislation615  
NSCI6102Applied Science Work Placement 1615  

Level 7

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
SCBA704Agricultural Process Technology715NSCI6113 
SCBC703Advanced Analytical Chemistry715NSCI6109 
SCBE704Environmental Management715NSCI6106 
SCBF704Food Process Technology715NSCI6121 
 Any additional Level 5, 6 or 7 modules relevant to the degree programme and endorsement and approved by the Team Manager or delegated authority.  as required by module 

 

 

Career/further opportunities

Graduates will be able to pursue technical-related careers in many areas including research and animal science, environmental management and ecology, biosecurity and conservation; as well as food technology, engineering, and health and safety.

Disclaimers

Entry criteria

Candidates are required to have obtained:

i) NCEA Level 3 comprised of 60 credits at NCEA Level 3 or above and 20 credits at NCEA Level 2 or above, including:
  (1) 14 credits each at NCEA Level 3 in Biology, Chemistry and a third approved subject, preferably English; and
  (2) A minimum of 20 credits at NCEA Level 2 in Mathematics; and 
  (3) Literacy (10 credits at NCEA Level 2 or above made up of 5 credits each in reading and writing); and
  (4)Numeracy (10 credits at NCEA Level 1 or above). 

or

ii) 80 credits at NCEA Level 2 including;

  (i) A minimum of 20 credits each in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics and  one other approved subject, preferably English; and
  (ii) Literacy (10 credits at NCEA Level 2 or above made up of 5 credits each in reading and writing); and
  (iii) Numeracy (10 credits at NCEA Level 1 or above)

or

iii) A relevant qualification at Level 3 on the NZQF or above.

or

iv) Equivalent.

Special admission

Domestic applicants aged 20 years or above who have not met the General Admission or entry requirements for a programme but whose skills, education or work experience indicate that they have a reasonable chance of success may be eligible for Special Admission. Special admission will be granted at the discretion of the relevant Head of School/Centre Director or designated nominee. Such applicants may be required to successfully complete a foundation, bridging or tertiary introductory programme as a condition of entry into higher level programmes.

Provisional entry

Domestic applicants aged under 20 years who have not met the general academic admission and entry criteria for a programme but who can demonstrate a reasonable chance of success through other educational attainment and/or work or life experience may be eligible for provisional entry at the discretion of the relevant Group Director or designated nominee. Provisional entry places restrictions on re-enrolment to be lifted if the applicant’s performance is deemed satisfactory by the relevant Group Director or designated nominee.

English language requirements

Candidates who have English as a second language are required to have an International English Language Test System (IELTS) score of 6.0, with no individual band score lower than 5.5; or equivalent.

Want to see full details of the entry criteria?
Don't meet the entry criteria?

Pathways

Applied Science pathway diagram

To check what you need to gain direct entry to a course, review the entry criteria available on each programme page. These assist you in understanding what qualifications or experience are typically required to gain entry. You can contact our team at info@wintec.ac.nz or 0800 2 Wintec at any time for further guidance.

Your first day

Are you ready for your first day of class? Check out your start date and where you need to be. You can also find useful information about studying at Wintec on our welcome page.

Semester 1 2026

Date: Monday 9 February 2026
Time: 9am-12pm
Venue: A2.04b, City Campus

Semester 2 2026

Date: Monday 20 July 2026
Time: 9am-12pm
Venue: A2.04b, City Campus

If you are a returning student, you are welcome to join us for the Induction session to meet the new students.   

After welcoming you on Campus at pōwhiri, at your induction (your first day), we will cover:
  • programme information and structure
  • timetables
  • how to access and use Moodle
  • helpful resources
  • take you on a campus tour
  • begin your first class. 

What you will need

Please bring a pen and notebook with you.

Timetable information

All Wintec timetables are available online here.

How to find your way around

Campus maps can be found here.

Parking and bus information

Both the Rotokauri and City campuses have parking available - payment and permits may be required. Learn more about parking and find out about bus services here.

He reo pōwhiri, your official welcome to Wintec

Tēnei te mihi mahana ki a koe e piki nei, e kake nei ki te Kuratini o Waikato.

You are warmly invited to attend the official welcome to Wintec for all new students, staff and whānau (family) at either our marae, Te Kōpū Mānia o Kirikiriroa or Rotokauri campus. The pōwhiri is a welcoming ceremony involving mihimihi (speeches), waiata (singing), and will conclude with kai timotimo (light refreshments). Please gather at the campus hubs, and a staff member will guide you through our pōwhiri.

Click here to find out when the next pōwhiri will be.

Paying for your study

Course-related costs

Students enrolled in any course with a practical laboratory component are required to purchase a laboratory coat from an approved supplier.

Laboratory coats can be purchased from NZ Safety Blackwoods, located at 56 Lake Road, Frankton, or online from the Uniform Centre, product code 4302. The approximate cost is $60-$80.

Additional information

Booklist

Purchasing textbooks

If your programme requires you to have access to textbooks, these can be purchased through a range of suppliers listed below:

    New Zealand-based suppliers

    General book suppliers

    First aid certificate

    Health status

    Uniform

    Equipment

    Clinical placement

    Prospectus (course guide)

    The Wintec Prospectus (otherwise known as a course guide) outlines everything you need to know about Wintec. It contains information about the Wintec campuses, student life, and the programmes that are on offer.

    Access your copy of the Wintec Prospectus

    The Wintec Prospectus (course guide) is available by downloading the file - click on the document below to access the file. Alternatively, to request a copy via email or the post, please complete the form below.

    Request an emailable or printed copy of the Prospectus

    Portfolio

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