Learn an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand
Learn to understand and use New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) in everyday conversations and develop your understanding of the past, present, and future of the language. Learn about the Deaf community in New Zealand by investigating contemporary perspectives and issues.
New Zealand’s Deaf community is united by a unique set of shared experiences. Sign language is one way this community communicates with one another and is an important cultural taonga.
If you want to express yourself and be understood in New Zealand’s third official language, then New Zealand Sign Language Studies is right for you.
Deaf Studies Research Unit
The Online Dictionary of NZSL and other resources and publications made by the Deaf Studies Research Unit have supported teaching, learning, and awareness of NZSL.
Our research has been foundational in NZSL being understood as a natural language with complex grammar, vocabulary and history. This played a pivotal role in NZSL being recognised as an official language of New Zealand in 2006.
Choose your study path
You can take New Zealand Sign Language Studies as your minor subject in a three-year Bachelor of Arts (BA). You’ll need to choose a complementary subject to focus on for your major.
Students often pair it with:
- Anthropology
- Criminology
- Film
- Language Sciences
- Media Studies
- Political Science
- Sociology.
If you’re studying for a double degree or conjoint degree, New Zealand Sign Language Studies goes well with Education, Health, or Law.
Our BA gives you many ways to structure your study and to combine New Zealand Sign Language Studies with other subjects.
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.
Study options
Find out how you can study New Zealand Sign Language Studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Future careers
Knowledge of Deaf culture and community can be useful when working at a government department, NGO, or social service agency in jobs like consulting, policy analysis, research, or social work.
A combination of Language Sciences and a modern language, including NZSL, can lead to employment as sign interpreters, translators, and web accessibility advisers or designers.
FHSS Internship
The FHSS Internship course run by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences helps develop practical workplace experience.
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.
We encourage you to apply—many scholarships don’t receive enough applications.
Scholarships for Humanities and Social Sciences
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This scholarship is designed to support second year students studying History at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington by removing financial barriers to study.
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This scholarship is designed to support second year students studying English at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington by removing financial barriers to study.
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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.
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 offer specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. We encourage you to apply—many scholarships don’t receive enough applications.
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.
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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.
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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
Our Modern Languages subjects are ranked in the top 250 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
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
If you choose to continue to postgraduate study with us after finishing your degree, you’ll join a talented team of internationally recognised researchers doing innovative work.
If you get good results in your undergraduate study, you could continue on to study a Master’s if you want to do independent research.
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.
If you're facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
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.