Summer Start Programme FAQs

Summer Start 2025 is a six and a half week programme that provides school-leavers with the opportunity to study one course as part of a Certificate of Proficiency to gain credits towards their degree and start their university journey early.

If you are a Year 13 student planning to study at university in Semester One 2025, this is a great opportunity to experience life at the University.

Summer Start classes are taught in the Summer School semester. In 2025 the dates for Summer School will be Monday 6 January 2025 through to Wednesday 19 February 2025.

Classes will run from 6 January–14 February 2025 with exams held 17–19 February 2025. 

Applications for Summer Start 2025 are open now, and you can apply by completing an online Application to Study. Please register with your personal email, not your school email.

When we receive your application, our Admissions team will assess your application and will send out any offers to your email address. When you receive an offer, you will be able to log back into your account to enrol for your chosen course.  We recommend that you get in contact with us to confirm your course choice and to make sure that this will fit with any future study plans. 

Applications for Summer Start 2025 will close on 8 December 2024 to allow us time to process your application and send out any offers before the programme begins on 6 January 2025.

If you would like to apply after the 8 December 2024 deadline, please contact us at summerstart@auckland.ac.nz, visit a Student Hub or phone us on 0800 61 62 63.

Please note that the University will be closed on the Christmas and New Year public holidays and will have limited services between 23 December 2024 and 6 January 2025.

Yes. You do need to submit an application for Summer Start so we can assess your application and send you an offer to enrol.

If you need help, please see our How to Apply video above and information page.

You will also need to provide verification of your ID before you can enrol into your course. Enrolments need to be completed by 3 January 2025 to be able to begin your studies on 6 January 2025.

• Enrolment in one credit-bearing course to help give you a head-start in your university studies
• Access to Summer Start leaders who will provide academic, pastoral and social support throughout the programme
• Additional study skill sessions to enable you to kick-start your University journey with an academic win!
• Orientation to both the University and Auckland city
• Accommodation scholarships in Grafton Hall (Applications are open 25 September – 13 November 2024).
• Study, tutorial and hangout spaces
• Fun activities such as sports and quizzes to introduce you to university life
• AT Hop card for travel during the programme

If you have questions about Summer Start 2025, please feel free to email us at summerstart@auckland.ac.nz , call us on 0800 61 62 63 or drop into our Student Hub in Auckland or Whangārei. 

We will be holding an Induction Day and Admissions and Enrolments clinic for any students who are in Auckland on Friday 6 December 2024. Please either register your interest or complete an application for the Summer Start programme and we will contact you with details closer to the time. 

This day is not compulsory, and if you cannot attend or are not based in Auckland, you are welcome to send any questions you may have to summerstart@auckland.ac.nz. 

Yes, there is a tuition cost and other charges for Summer Start courses and couse fees will be invoiced to students. 

The fees for 2025 have not yet been confirmed, but as a guide, the domestic student course fees for Summer Start courses in 2024 were from $847.35 to $1130.10 plus Student Services Fees of $133.20. Please note there is likely to be a change to this for 2025.

International fees will apply for international students.

To find out more about how to pay fees please see Fee payment methods.

Yes. For Kōkiri Raumati 2025 we will be offering both an Accommodation and Fees Scholarship and a Fees Scholarship. We encourage you to apply if you are considering  studying with us in Summer Start, UniBound or Tōia ki Waipapa in 2025.

Applications will be open from 25 September – 13 November 2024.

To be eligible for the scholarships, students must also have completed an application for the Kōkiri Raumati programmes before the closing date of the Kōkiri Raumati Scholarships.

If you intend to stay in accommodation regardless of the outcome of your application for the Kōkiri Raumati scholarship, then you can go ahead and accept your offer from Accommodation. Should you be unsuccessful with your scholarship application and do not wish to stay in accommodation at your own cost, please let us know right away and we can withdraw your accommodation application.

Students can enrol into one of the offered courses in the Summer Start 2025 course list. We encourage you to check your course selection with our team, to make sure that it fits with your future study plans.

For guidance on how to enrol into your Summer Start course, please see the video and how to guide on our How to Enrol page below. If you have any questions or problems completing your enrolment, please contact us at summerstart@auckland.ac.nz, visit a Student Hub or call on 0800 61 62 63.

Once you enrol in your course, you will be charged fees for the course. If you don't want to study a course anymore, make sure to drop the course before the enrolment closing date or you will be liable for the fees. 

Please note that the University will be closed on the Christmas and New Year public holidays and will have limited services between 23 December 2024 and 6 January 2025.

If there is a hold on your account and you cannot enrol, you may need to provide personal ID so we can verify your identity. You will not be able to enrol into your course until you have completed this step. If we are unable to verify your ID and enrol you into your course before the end of 2024, there may be a delay in your enrolment which may effect your access to course content. 

For more information on how to provide this ID, and what ID will be accepted, please see the information on our website on what can be accepted as identity documents. 

If you continue to experience difficulties enrolling into your selected course, please contact us for assistance. 

If you’d like to change the course you are going to study in Summer Start before 12 January 2025, we encourage you to check your course selection with our team, to make sure that it fits with your future study plans.

Please contact us at summerstart@auckland.ac.nz, visit a Student Hub or call on 0800 61 62 63. 

Although we would love to have you join us for Summer, we understand things change. If it will no longer work out, we encourage you to get in touch with us as soon as possible so that we can advise on the next steps. 

You will need to make sure you drop your course before the Add/Drop/Change date for Summer School. This will be 12 January 2025 for Summer Start 2025.

Once you enrol in courses, you will be charged fees for them. If you don't want to study a course anymore, make sure to drop the course before the enrolment closing date or you will be liable for the fees. 

Summer School is for existing University students, not school-leavers, who are looking to get ahead on their degree, catch-up on unsatisfactory performance in a previous semester, or spread their workload. Students from other tertiary institutions can also study in Summer School, and courses may be credited back to their degree at their home institution.

Summer Start is a specific programme designed for school-leavers. It lets them earn credits towards their degree, experience our campus and get started on their academic journey. The focus for Summer Start is not just on academic preparation. It also includes free, fun social and cultural activities outside of class time to help students settle into life on campus and meet new people.

Summer Start and Summer Start International both aim to increase students’ preparedness and success at university. The key differences are the associated programme fees.

Fees for International students currently in New Zealand and who are about to graduate from a New Zealand high school or foundation programme are in line with the University’s schedule of undergraduate fees for international students.

Fees for New Zealand citizens and permanent residents are in line with the University’s schedule of undergraduate fees for domestic students. 

Yes.

Yes, the Summer Start programme will begin before final secondary school results (NCEA/CIE/IB) are published.

Eligible students are able to participate in the Certificate of Proficiency – Summer Start in advance of having achieved UE.

For students whose secondary school results (NCEA/CIE/IB) indicate they have not achieved UE, the Summer Start Team will work with the student on appropriate options to help them continue their tertiary studies, which could include pathway programmes. Students will be able to complete the Summer Start programme.

Summer Start allows eligible students to attend University and take one credit bearing course as part of a Certificate of Proficiency, studying over a six-week period, rather than four credit bearing papers over a semester (12 weeks). You can experience University, and connect with peers, Summer Start Leaders and staff who can support you to decide your next steps. Summer Start is an opportunity to see if university is a good fit for you while having fun in a supportive environment.

No. Summer Start has been specifically designed to enable school-leavers to have an early entry pathway into the university and to assist in preparing them for academic success. Summer Start students will only enrol into one course in the summer. 

General Education is designed to complement and broaden your education.

Learn more about General Education for undergraduate students.

All participants in Summer Start are required to follow and respect the same rules that apply to all enrolled students at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. You can learn more about this by reading the Code of Conduct.

Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in your withdrawal from the Summer Start programme.