Summer Start Programme FAQs

Summer Start 2026 is a six and a half week programme that provides school-leavers with the opportunity to complete one course as part of a Certificate of Proficiency to gain credits towards their degree and start their university journey early.

If you're a Year 13 student planning to study at university in Semester One 2026, this is a great opportunity to experience life at the University.

Summer Start classes are taught in the Summer School semester. In 2026 the dates for Summer School will be Monday 5 January 2026 through to Wednesday 18 February 2026.

Classes will run from 5 January–13 February 2026 with exams 16–18 February 2026. 

Applications for Summer Start 2026 are open now, and you can apply by completing an online Application to Study. Please register with your personal email, not your school email. We are currently confirming the courses for 2026, so please note that these may be subject to change.

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. Please email us at summerstart@auckland.ac.nz

Applications for Summer Start 2026 will close on 8 December 2025 to allow us time to process your application and send out any offers before the programme begins on 5 January 2026. You must make sure you accept your offer before the programme begins on the 5 January 2026 to be able to enrol.

If you would like to apply after the 8 December 2025 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 2025 and 5 January 2026.

When you submit an application, our Admissions team will assess your application and if you meet the requirements for the programme, you will be sent an offer to enrol.

If you would like to be part of Summer Start 2026, you must accept your offer before the expiry date. You will not be able to accept your offer or join the programme after the expiry date. 

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

You will also need to provide your ID documents before you can enrol into your course.

Enrolments need to be completed by 11 January 2026 to be able to participate in the 2026 Summer Start programme.

• Enrolment in one credit-bearing course to help give you a head-start in your university studies
• Access to Summer Start mentors 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 available in a First-Year Catered Hall (Applications 6 August 2025 – 29 October 2025)
• 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 2026, 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, Tai Tonga (South Auckland) or Tai Tokerau Campus (Whangārei). 

You can also join us for our Induction Day later this year to meet our team and attend our Application and Enrolment Clinic in the afternoon for help with your application and enrolment. Keep an eye out for further information coming later this year. 

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

In the new year, our Student Hubs will be avaiable to help with any last minute support before classes begin on 5 January 2026. Further dates and details of opening hours will be confirmed later in 2025.

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

The fees and information on the Student Services Fee for 2025 can be found on the Fees by Faculty page. The fees for 2026 will be confirmed later in 2025. Please note these are subject to change. 

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 2026 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 2026.

Applications will be open from 6 August - 29 October 2025.

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 courses offered as part of Summer Start 2026. We are currently confirming the courses for 2026 and these will be updated soon. 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 2025 and 5 January 2026.

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 2025, there may be a delay in your enrolment which may effect your access to course content. 

For more information on how to provide 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 you must do this in the first week of Summer Start. We encourage you to check your course selection with our team, to make sure that it fits with your future study plans and that you are eligible to enrol into this course.

Please note that some courses have specific requirements that must be met before your enrolment is confirmed. If you enrol into this course without first checking with our team or Student Hubs, you may be removed from this course if you don't meet the requirements. 

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 2026.

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 released.

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

For entry into an Undergraduate programme, please note that University Entrance (UE) is the minimum standard needed to enrol at a New Zealand university and students are required to meet the University Entrance (UE) standard. Completion and passing of a Summer School course is not a replacement for gaining University Entrance (UE).

To gain entry to an Undergraduate programme, students must also meet the entry requirements for the programme they wish to study. You can meet entry requirements by meeting the required rank score for entry into the programme and taking specific subjects as stated in the entry requirements of the programme you want to study

To find out more about the guaranteed entry requirements for your intended programme(s), please visit the named programme page. For a list of all programme pages, please see Find a Study Option.

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 such as the Tertiary Foundation Certificate. 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 student mentors and staff who can support you to decide your next steps.

Summer Start is a great 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.