Entry Requirements

There are two levels of entry into our programme.

You can choose to complete your entire chiropractic qualification with us by entering into Year 1 (foundation year) of our programme, or if you have completed approved prerequisite courses at an approved alternate provider, you can enter into Year 2 of the five-year programme.

Studying at the College – Foundation (Year 1)

The College offers the foundation year on campus, providing students an even stronger platform for success. This expanded on-campus experience will offer increased access to faculty members, personalised guidance, mentorship, and more opportunities to refine the practical skills crucial for excellence in chiropractic practice.

Foundation courses at the College include:

First semester

• Human Biology 1
• Life Sciences 1
• Knowledge management
• Chiropractic Foundations 1

Second semester

• Human Biology 2
• Life sciences 2
• Biomechanical principles
• Chiropractic foundations 2

All are level 5 courses with 15 credits per course.

If you are unsure if you meet our entry requirements or have further questions, we would love to talk with you personally.

Year 1 applicants with secondary education in the last three years

Entry requirements are:

• Completing Level 3 NCEA or equivalent
• A rank score of at least 200 at Level 3 or equivalent (click here to calculate your rank score)

There are no mandatory subjects you have to take at high school level, although Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Health or P.E. are a good base.

Year 1 applicants with work and life experience over 20 years of age

You may be eligible for direct entry to the College if you have work or educational experience relevant to the programme. You will need to demonstrate an ability to undertake study at the required level by providing evidence of one of the following:

1. Documented evidence of relevant work experience including evidence of reasonable prospect of success; or

2. A range of formal or informal completed or partially completed courses demonstrating a reasonable prospect of success.

Applicants may need to complete distance learning foundation courses at Level 3 minimum in basic science based on the evaluation of either of the two (1 or 2) mentioned above.

Alternate prerequisite pathways – Year 2 entry

The foundation prerequisite pathway continues to be available for those choosing to complete their requirements with one of the many approved external providers. These include completing five basic health science courses at an undergraduate level and three elective courses.

These prerequisite courses are:

• Human Anatomy and Physiology (30 Credits)
• Biochemistry (15 Credits)
• Biophysics (15 Credits)
• Microbiology (15 Credits)
• Three elective courses (45 Credits)

All 120 credits of prerequisite study must meet NZQA level 5 standards or equivalent.

If you have completed tertiary study in the science field, we will assess whether these courses meet the foundation requirements for entry to the College and help you find appropriate courses if you need further study. Please send your transcript to our admissions team for guidance.

In New Zealand, the following programmes also cover the College’s prerequisite Year 1 study:

• AUT Diploma in Applied Science
• The University of Auckland Biomedical Common Year
• Otago University Health Science First Year

If you have not completed university level study in the science field yet, please apply for the Year 1 foundation programme.

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 foundation 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.

View our full list of prerequisite learning outcomes

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.