Prerequisite study
Prior to studying at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic, you must first complete a minimum of one year of approved prerequisite study in basic health sciences. These sciences are:
- Human anatomy (15 credits)
- Human physiology (15 credits)
- Biological chemistry (15 credits)
- Microbiology (15 credits)
- Biophysics (15 credits)
- Elective courses (45 credits)
All 120 credits of prerequisite study must meet NZQA level 5 standards or equivalent.
Prerequisite study must total 120 credits or points. Learn more about the New Zealand tertiary education credit system (LINK) and how to compare it to overseas tertiary credits (LINK).
All prerequisite courses must be equivalent to the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF) Level 5 or higher, which is equivalent to the first year of a bachelor’s degree. Certain specific learning outcomes must be covered.
View our full list of prerequisite learning outcomes
There is no specific GPA (grade point average) you must achieve, as the benchmark can be different each year, as set by the cohort you are applying with.
Prerequisite programmes
AUT Diploma in Applied Science
Our recommended prerequisite programme is the one-year Diploma in Applied Science (Pre-Chiropractic Pathway) at Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
You must first apply to the New Zealand College of Chiropractic.
Once your application has been processed, the College will provide you with a Letter of Intent. This Letter must be included with your application for AUT’s Diploma in Applied Science (Pre-Chiropractic Pathway).
It is then your responsibility to apply for the Diploma in Applied Science (Pre-Chiropractic Pathway) and to meet AUT’s entry requirements.
See AUT’s website for more information on their entry requirements and what you will study in the Diploma in Applied Science (Pre-Chiropractic Pathway).
New Zealand Health Science Programmes
In New Zealand, the following programmes also cover the College’s prerequisite study. If you have not completed university level study in the science field yet, it is important that you first apply to the New Zealand College of Chiropractic for guidance and approval of these courses.
The University of Auckland Biomedical Common Year
Otago University Health Science First Year
Click here to read more on how you Health Science study could take you a step closer to a career in chiropractic.
Overseas Studies
You don’t need to complete a full undergraduate degree to qualify for entry into our programme. Parts of your undergraduate degree might cover our prerequisite courses, especially in the fields of general, health or medical sciences as well as kinesiology.
All prerequisite courses must be equivalent to the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF) Level 5 or higher. This is generally a first-year university study level.
In New Zealand, a total of 120 credits is considered an annual full-time study load for a student. New Zealand universities typically structure their academic year in two semesters with four 15-credit courses per semester.
120 credits is equivalent to 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) or 30 credits in an undergraduate degree in North America. You can find further information how to compare your overseas tertiary study credits to the New Zealand Framework here.
To assess your courses, our academic team will require your detailed course descriptor (or syllabus) and official academic transcript to be in English. If these are not in English, you will need to have them officially translated, and provide the original and translated copy.
For any questions about your particular study pathway, get in touch with our Admissions Team.
What if you have already studied something else?
If you have completed tertiary study in the health and/or science field, you may have met our prerequisite course requirements.
Our academic team will assess courses you have studied against our specific learning outcomes to determine whether you have met these requirements.
To gain approval for these courses, you must first apply to the College. You will need to provide a full course descriptor (also often called a syllabus) for each course you wish to have assessed.
To get an understanding of what the requirements are for the prerequisite courses, follow the link below for a detailed breakdown of what each course needs to cover.
Find out more
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Talk to our Admissions Team
Our admissions team are available to answer any questions you may have and help guide you through the application process.
Visit the College
Staff are available to show you around the College during business hours, however arrangements must be made prior.