Open Day
Explore study options, take a campus tour, talk to staff and experience what it is like to be a student at Waikato.
Be in to win a PS5
Register for the Tauranga Open Day to go into the draw to win a PS5.
Join us for Open Day!
Start planning your next steps after secondary school at Open Day.
Tauranga campus Open Day
Wednesday 25 June 2025, 10am – 1pm
Register for the event you are interested in to receive Open Day updates.
Tauranga Programme
Get ready for Open Day in Tauranga - explore the programme and plan your perfect day!
Tauranga Open Day Information Sessions
Can we be fairer and greener at the same time?
10.20am in room TCBD.2.09
This presentation shows how contemporary human geography is utilised to further the UNDP Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Geographical perspectives and actions can create transformative change, sustainable and fairer communities at local and global scales.
Everything is Design, Design is Everything
10.40am in room TCBD.G.03
Designers have influenced everything we interact with today. From apps to animations, and print to products, design thinking and design processes enhance our daily experiences. In this talk, we will highlight how studying Design at the University of Waikato will prepare you to create positive experiences for Aotearoa and the global stage.
Good excuses for killing people (and other things Philosophy can do for you)
11am in room TCBD.2.08
Killing people is bad... Right?! We need courageous thinkers to grapple with life’s big questions. But be warned, once you start doing philosophy, you may never be the same again. Stop merely surviving; start living!
Why Study Law at Waikato?
11.20am in room TCBD.2.03
Studying law develops a wide range of analytical, communication, and writing skills applicable across all sectors. We’ll discuss the building blocks that are hard-wired into Te Piringa’s undergraduate Law qualifications that ensure success.
R v Dudley and Stephens - Is eating people ever legal
11.40am in room TCBD.2.08
Join us for a moot performance of R v Dudley and Stephens, where Te Piringa students question Captain Dudley about the cabin boy’s death and cannibalism. As the audience, you decide - is Captain Dudley innocent or guilty?
To regulate or not to regulate, that is the question
12pm in room TCBD.2.12
Explore the legal and ethical challenges of social media content regulation. We’ll unpack free speech vs. censorship, jurisdictional dilemmas, and the evolving landscape of online expression. Join us to discuss the future of digital discourse!
Are memes more than jokes?
12pm in room TCBD.2.08
Memes are good for ‘lulz’, but they can also have big consequences. We explore how memes communicate ideas that may not only influence our own beliefs and behaviors, but also the political world around us.
Studying the Social Sciences: Story-telling, research and identities
12.20pm in room TCBD.2.12
Discover the dynamic world of social sciences at the University of Waikato, exploring subjects like anthropology, sociology, criminology, and more. Learn how storytelling, research, and identity shape our understanding of society and drive change.
Supercharge your Career: Waikato Management School
10.40am in room TCBD.2.03
Discover Waikato Management School: Thrive where academic excellence, real-world experiences and global perspectives will supercharge your career.
"An economist, accountant and a financial analyst walk into a bar..."
11am in room TCBD.2.09
This presentation will cover questions that economics, accounting, and finance seek to answer, how the disciplines think differently about the world, and what skills you will develop if you study each of them.
Driving business success through Marketing and Strategic Management - Insights for tomorrow's business innovators
11.20am in room TCBD.2.12
Unlock the secrets of business success! Learn how marketing and strategy drive top companies, from understanding customers to making big decisions—perfect for future CEOs, entrepreneurs, or digital marketing pros!
Keep goods moving
11.40am in room TCBD.2.12
Discover the complex nature of freight operations and the critical role of Supply Chain Management in ensuring that goods are readily available on retail shelves when and where they are needed.
Big impact starts small: How early childhood education at the University of Waikato can change the world one child at a time
10.40am in room TCBD.2.09
Shape the future with a career in early childhood education! Gain the skills, knowledge, and passion to make a real difference for tamariki up to age 6. Your journey as an educator starts here!
Life in the classroom: Current Teachers share their journey (30mins)
11am in room TCBD.3.05
Being an educator: Everyone's story of teaching in kura/school is different. What could your story be?
International opportunities with teaching
12pm in room TCBD.2.09
Dream of studying overseas? Our Bachelor of Teaching exchanges offer amazing travel opportunities for selected students, with potential funding support and the chance to represent New Zealand education.
The New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine (NZGSM)
10am in room TCBD.2.03
Professional Healthcare programmes
10.20am in room TCBD.2.08
Study Health
10.40am in room TCBD.2.12
An introduction to the Health Promotion programme and career pathways.
Study Sport and Human Performance
11am in room TCBD.2.12
Learn more about the Bachelor of Sport and Human Performance and how you can develop a career in the sport, recreation, exercise and health industries.
Kaupapa Māori Psychology: Why and how we apply mātauranga Māori to psychology
10am in room TCBD.2.12
Come and hear how and why Māori ways of knowing, seeing, and being are being applied to the field of psychology by Dr Ririwai Fox (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa), who is a graduate of Kura Kaupapa Māori.
Study Computing at Waikato
10.20am in room TCBD.G.03
Explore the future of technology with Au Reikura - School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences! It's not just about coding; it's about problem-solving, creativity, and shaping the future. Computing skills are in high demand across industries, offering diverse career pathways.
What makes us tick: Psychology at Waikato
10.20am in room TCBD.2.03
Psychology explores human and animal behaviour and cognition in various environments. In this session, we will share information about our School, highlighting unique areas of teaching and research that distinguish our approach to psychology.
The spectrum of criminality
10.40am in room TCBD.2.08
Public perceptions of crime and criminals tend to be shaped by media rather than evidence. In this talk, we will explore findings from Forensic and Criminological Psychology that challenge the oversimplified notion that people are simply "good" or "bad."
Study Engineering at Waikato
11.00am in room TCBD.2.03
Be a part of the next generation of creative problem solvers, and innovators with Engineering at Waikato. Known for our project/practical based learning approach we build create technically competent engineers who have the professional skills sort after by industry.
Study Science at Waikato
11.20am in room TCBD.2.09
If you are curious about the world around you, a career in science could be for you. From the natural environment to our own health and well-being, to the technology that we use in our everyday lives – science is everywhere. Careers for science graduates are everywhere too, from the laboratory to work in the field, in industry, research and government. With excellent facilities and a strong commitment to "hands-on" practical learning, you will graduate from Waikato with the skills necessary to maximise your career potential.
Science Laboratory Tour
11.40am in the Science Lab
Using tools from behaviour analysis to hack your own behaviour
11.40am in room TCBD.2.03
In this mini lecture we will explore the underlying principle from the science of behaviour to help students identify the key variables at play that may be impacting their own behaviour.
Nau mai ki te Ao!
10.20am in room TCBD.2.12
Māori & Indigenous Studies isn’t a discipline, it encompasses real-life worldviews that inform how Māori & Indigenous peoples view themselves and the world. Come and learn more about how Māori & Indigenous Studies can impact your world!
International Student Information Session
10.20am in room TCBD.3.05
Are you an international student? Discover our guaranteed scholarship and learn how to apply to the University of Waikato. This session covers everything you need to know about support and services for international students.
Scholarships
10.40am in room TCBD.3.05
Join the University of Waikato Scholarships Team to discover more about school leavers scholarships. You will be guided through finding and applying for scholarships, what to include in your application, and crucial deadlines. This talk is a must attend for students and caregivers eager to unlock educational potentials and ease financial burdens.
Student Accommodation
11.00am in room TCBD.G.03
Learn about accommodation options in Tauranga, including Selwyn Street Studios, Durham Mews and flatting/renting in the community. Ask questions during the session and join a tour of Selwyn Street Studios at the end of the presentation.
On the job learning at The University of Waikato (WIL)
11.20am in room TCBD.G.03
Learn how we are committed to preparing our graduates to be ready for the workforce. Our work-integrated learning (WIL) papers create a link between academic learning and the practical applications of this learning in the workplace.
Māori Ki Waikato
11.40am in room TCBD.2.09
Tūtira mai ngā iwi! E ngā iwi, kia tapatahi, kia kotahi rā ki Te Toka a Tirikawa me Te Kāhui Pīrere! Come along to this session and find out what it means to be part of a Māori community on campus.
Student Support Services
11.40am in room TCBD.3.05
Learn about support services that will help you succeed in your studies, transport options like the Kaimai Shuttle and what to expect from the student experience at the University of Waikato in Tauranga.
Tauranga Open Day Zones
Location: TCBD.2.13
Subjects: Communication Design, Environmental Planning, Geography, Industrial Design, Interface Design, Law, Media Design, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, Social Policy
Location: TCBD.2.02
Subjects: Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Strategic Management, Supply Chain Management
Location: TCBD Level 1, The Hub
Subjects: Education & Society, Human Development, Teacher Education: Early Childhood Teaching, Primary Teaching and Secondary Teaching
Location: TCBD Ground Floor
Subjects: Biomedical Sciences, Health Promotion, Healthy Active Living, Human Performance Science, Medicine, Midwifery, Nursing, Pharmacy, Sport Development and Coaching
Location: TCBD Level 1, Poutokomanawa
Subjects: Māori and Indigenous Studies, Pacific and Indigenous Studies, Pacific at Waikato, Māori ki Waikato and Te Toka a Tirikawa, Te Reo Māori
Location: TCBD.1.07 (Te Manawaroa)
Subjects: Computer Science, Crime Science, Data Analytics, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Forensic Psychology, Marine Science, Mathematics, Psychology, Software Engineering
Location: TCBD Level 1, The Hub
Services: Accessibility Services, Accommodation, Scholarships, Sir Edmund Hillary & Student-Athlete Support Hub (SASH), Work Placements and Internships
Join us for Community Open Day!
We welcome whānau, friends and the wider community to The University of Waikato Community Open Day.
Whether you are attending university for the first time, considering a postgraduate qualification to upskill or change careers, or are supporting a family member interested in tertiary study, come and talk to our friendly staff and get your questions answered. Learn about our flexible learning options, scholarships and the support services that set our students up for success.
Community Open Day
Saturday 12 July 2025, 10am – 1pm
The Pā, Hamilton Campus
Be in to win an Outdoor Cinema
Register for Community Open Day to go into the draw to win an Outdoor Cinema.
Can't wait until Open Day?
Information sessions and events
The team are here to answer your questions about studying at Waikato, can offer advice with selecting a degree that best matches your career interests, support you with your application and answer any other questions you have about student life.
Campus tours
We would love to show you around the Hamilton campus or Halls of Residence. Register to come on one of our monthly tours.
Frequently asked questions
The Open Day Programme will be available on our website a few weeks before each Open Day.
It is completely free to attend. All you have to do is register for the event you are interested in.
Free WiFi will be available. Select the ‘waikato’ network to access Wi-Fi.
- Hamilton: Limited free parking will be available on campus in Gate 2B, off Knighton Road and in Gate 10, off Silverdale Road. Please note, we are expecting a large number of vehicles on Friday therefore we recommend carpooling, taking the bus, or arriving early.
- Tauranga: Parking on the day is limited to on street parking, so please keep this in mind when making travel arrangements as this will be on a first come first serve basis.
At Open Day, there will be a talk for parents and caregivers. Check the event programmes for more information.
Prospective students, and their families and whānau, can talk to the Future Students Team about subject and degree choices, University Entrance requirements and pathways to study. They can also provide information on the enrolment process, scholarships, accommodation, costs and support services.
Appointments are available via phone, Zoom or face-to-face (in either Hamilton or Tauranga) between 9am and 4pm on weekdays. Book an appointment.