Foundation study
Studying at the College
The College now 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
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 (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.
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 foundation study pathways
The foundation requirements pathway will continue 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 not completed university level study in basic health sciences, it is important that you first apply to the College for guidance.
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.
Some of our alternate foundation programmes include:
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 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.
Find out more
Ready to apply
Begin the application process.
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.