New global studies degree launching in 2023

In 2023, Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington will launch a new degree designed to meet a growing demand for interculturally confident and civic-minded graduates who can understand and shape solutions to important issues facing the world.

The Bachelor of Global Studies is an intercultural, multi-disciplinary degree which will provide students with the ability to work with people from across a variety of backgrounds and industries to think about how to solve complex problems and lead positive change.

“Students will enhance their abilities to work effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds,” says Associate Professor Sally Hill, Associate Dean of Academic Programmes in the Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

“They will be able to work across disciplinary areas to bring information, people, and perspectives together and formulate solutions to some of the thorny issues facing the world.”

The Bachelor of Global Studies draws on academic strengths from across the University including Politics and International Relations, Development Studies, Earth Sciences, Geography, History, Modern Languages, Philosophy, and Social Policy and Administration; offering students an exciting and stimulating variety of courses and subjects to choose from.

The flexible nature of the degree means that students can explore areas of interest and specialisation.

“As well as the core skills needed to work with people from different backgrounds and disciplines, students can explore areas of specialisation and tailor their degree based on their specific interests and future career aspirations,” says Associate Professor Hill.

The University enjoys long-standing relationships with government and non-government sectors, the diplomatic community, and international organisations.

Professor Simon Mackenzie, Acting Dean of the Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, says that Wellington is the ideal place for students to study towards a Bachelor of Global Studies.

“Our community links provide a raft of opportunities including internships and visiting speakers, which we’re excited to share with students,” says Professor Mackenzie.

“We live in an interconnected world. The Bachelor of Global Studies will help graduates to lead positive change and contribute to solving problems facing our society.”

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington is ranked in the top 100 universities in the world for key areas of Global Studies: Politics and International Relations, Development Studies, Geography, and Law. History, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Earth Sciences, Sociology, and Social Policy and Administration programmes all rank in the Top 1.5% globally.