Exemptions and Regulations

General Education exemptions and regulations are briefly listed on this page. 

If you believe you are eligible for a General Education exemption, please discuss with Student Hubs. If you do not qualify for an exemption, you will need to fulfil your programme’s General Education requirements. 

Staff who are advising students of their General Education requirements should refer to the General Education Administrative Guidelines on the Staff Intranet.

April 2025 

Transdisciplinary courses can be used to fulfil a General Education requirement. 

1 January 2025

The new Faculty of Arts and Education and the expanded Faculty of Engineering and Design were established on 1 January 2025. Current regulations/schedules reflect the previous faculty names in existence in 2024. The information relating to individual programmes and courses has not changed and is correct.

12 June 2023

General Education fulfilment regulations have changed for all students with a General Education requirement in their programme.

Students are now allowed to take multiple General Education courses in the same subject to fulfill their General Education requirement, provided they do not pass any other non-General Education courses in that subject. All other General Education regulations still apply e.g. the General Education course must be from one of the Open and/ or their Faculty Schedule.

For example, if a student passes DANCE 101G and DANCE 201G, then subsequently enrols and passes DANCE 131, DANCE 101G and DANCE 201G will no longer meet their General Education requirement.

Language courses

If you would like to enrol into a General Education language course and have already previously studied that language, you must consult with a programme adviser prior to enrolling.

Note that if you have already passed a General Education language course, you may take another General Education course in the same subject, provided that it is not your Major and no other non-General Education courses in that subject have been completed.

Transdisciplinary courses

You are permitted to use any Transdisciplinary course (TD prefix) to fulfil your General Education requirement(s). 

LAW 121G 

LAW 121G does not meet the General Education requirement for any undergraduate law programme, including Law conjoints, and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) programme. 

Transferring undergraduate degree to University of Auckland

If you are transferring your undergraduate studies from another tertiary institution to the University of Auckland, you may be exempt from having to complete the General Education requirement depending on the number of points being transferred. 

Already completed an undergraduate degree

If you are studying an undergraduate degree at the University of Auckland, and have already completed another degree at a tertiary institution, you may be eligible for a General Education exemption. 

Undertaking an overseas exchange programme

If you undertake a semester of full-time overseas exchange studies, you may be eligible for up to 30 points General Education exemption. 

MBChB students transferring programmes

If you are enrolled in MBChB, have completed MBCHB 311 A/B, and are transferring to a different University of Auckland programme, you may be eligible for a 15-point General Education exemption. 

Academic English Language Requirement (AELR) 

If you are required to complete an AELR, you may be able to use an AELR course as also 15 points General Education. Your selected AELR course must be on the Open Schedule or your degree’s Faculty Schedule.