BMS(Hons)
Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours

• If you have gained University Entrance or its equivalent, admission to the first year of the BMS(Hons) is guaranteed.
• Students must formally apply to be re-admitted into the third year of the BMS(Hons). This includes writing a personal statement that sets out your leadership/community involvement and your future career aspirations.
• Applicants for the third year of the BMS(Hons) need to have achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 6 (B+) or better in their first two years (240 points) of study. Selection will also take into account your leadership potential and community citizenship.
• Students who are not re-admitted to the BMS(Hons), but who meet the entry criteria for the BBus, can be transferred into the Bachelor of Business (BBus) instead.

University pathway programmes

If you don’t quite meet the academic or English language requirements for this degree, you can study a university pathway programme at the University of Waikato College. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree-level study.

The BMS(Hons) is not currently being offered in Tauranga. However, you can complete the first two years of the Bachelor of Business in Tauranga and then apply to transfer into Year 3 of the BMS(Hons) in Hamilton.

To be admitted to the BMS(Hons) in third year, you'll need to achieve a grade point average of 6 or better (B+) in your first two years of study. As part of the application process, you'll also need to write a personal statement that sets out your leadership/community involvement and future career aspirations.

During lectures, students will discuss case studies of New Zealand and overseas businesses, begin to apply key business theories and concepts to solve real problems, and work in teams to write reports and give presentations.

• In the paper ACCTN101 Accounting for Management, you'll research a company listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange and use financial statements and other information - such as news articles and the company's track record on sustainability - to make a decision about whether you'd be willing to invest in or lend money to this company.
• In the paper FINAN101 Introduction to Finance, you'll learn about the basic concepts of risk and return in relation to corporate finance and personal finance. For example, if you had $100, would you put it in a bank savings account, invest it in shares or Kiwisaver, or spend it on goods? You'll gain the skills to know which option provides you with the best return in the long run. For the first assignment, you'll examine case studies of well-known companies that have failed and discuss how to reduce agency conflicts between managers and shareholders. For the second assignment, you'll be asked to calculate the expected risk and return on two possible investment decisions, by using information sources such as the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges.
• In fourth year, BMS(Hons) students will act as management consultants and apply the business theories they’ve learnt in class to develop a growth strategy for a real New Zealand company, as part of the Waikato Management School Case Competition. The top four teams will compete for a cash prize by pitching their ideas to a judging panel of industry experts in front of a public audience.

Prepare yourself for a global business career and broaden your horizons by going on an overseas student exchange to one of our partner universities in Europe, Asia, North America or Mexico. You can study overseas for 1-2 semesters, pay your usual Waikato tuition fees, and then credit the points back to your BMS(Hons) degree.

An overseas exchange will enhance your personal development, enable you to explore new places and cultures, and make your CV stand out to employers.

We strongly encourage our students to apply for the Waikato Management School International Exchange Scholarship, offered twice a year and worth up to $2,500.

You can also apply for the Discover SWUFE International Summer Camp Scholarship, which provides a fully-funded trip to China for two weeks of business lectures and cultural activities, hosted by the South-Western University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE).

If you’re planning to travel and work in an Asian or Latin American country, you can apply for a Prime Minister's Scholarship.

Top 1% global ranking

Gain your world-class business education from Waikato Management School, which ranks in the top 1% of all business schools globally with our prestigious Triple Crown Accreditation from EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB.

We’re ranked in the world's top 300 universities for Accounting, Finance, and Business & Management Studies (QS World University Subject Rankings 2019).

The export-driven Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions are an ideal place to study business if you're interested in international trade, with two seaports, two inland ports, an international airport, and some of the best agricultural land in New Zealand.

We're also home to a growing cluster of biotechnology, IT, aviation, manufacturing and logistics companies. And we boast some of New Zealand's most popular tourism destinations, such as Rotorua, 'Hobbiton' (Matamata) and Waitomo Caves.

Waikato Management School has a vibrant student culture that offers plenty of social and learning opportunities. You can meet like-minded people through student clubs, such as:

• Waikato Management School Students' Association (WMSSA)
• Women in Business Association (WIBA)
• Beta Alpha Psi - Waikato Chapter (Accounting and Finance club)
• Economics Discussion Group
• Management Communication Students Association (MCSA)
• Te Ranga Ngaku - the Māori management student network
• Pacific Islands Management Students Association (PIMSA)

Check out the Waikato Management School Facebook page for the latest news and events.

1) BMS(Hons) degree requirements:

Please refer to the University of Waikato Calendar to read the qualification regulations for the Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours.

2) Single or double major requirements:

• Single major requirements: To complete a single major for the BMS(Hons), students must pass nine papers (135 points) in that subject, including two 100-level papers (30 points), three 200-level papers (45 points), and four 300-level papers (60 points).
• Double major requirements: You can choose to take a second major (double major) in almost any undergraduate major subject offered at the University of Waikato, instead of taking minors or elective papers. To complete a double major, students must pass eight papers (120 points) in each of the two subjects. This includes two 100-level papers (30 points), three 200-level papers (45 points) and three 300-level papers (45 points). A second major may not be included as part of a conjoint degree programme.

3) Conjoint degree requirements for the BMS(Hons) with an LLB or LLB(Hons)

The BMS(Hons) can be taken as a conjoint degree programme with either the LLB or the LLB(Hons). Alternatively, you can also take Law as a second major subject within your BMS(Hons) degree.

Please refer to the University of Waikato Calendar to read the full regulations for conjoint degrees.

Graduate or postgraduate study lets you develop advanced knowledge in an area of management that you are passionate about, giving you an edge in the job market.

Choose from the following options:

• Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma
• Master of Applied Finance
• Master of Digital Business (MDigiBus)
• Master of Management Studies (MMS)
• Master of Professional Accounting (MPAcct)

For more information about the best study pathway for you, please talk to an adviser in the Management Student Centre (MSC).