Waipapa Taumata Rau course

The Waipapa Taumata Rau (WTR) courses are a General Education option for most students while remaining compulsory for those studying accredited programmes, or pathways to accredited programmes.

What is a WTR course?

Your WTR course contains foundational knowledge and essential skills designed to help you succeed in your undergraduate study and beyond.

All courses introduce you to key elements of our Graduate Profile, which aspires to educate future scholars, global citizens, innovators and leaders. It introduces you to foundational faculty-specific knowledge systems and knowledge of place, central elements of the profile. Designed to support you into university life, all WTR courses teach essential skills to students in their first year of study.

It is a core requirement for accredited programmes or those that are pathways to an accredited programme. This includes: 

  • Bachelor of Education (Teaching) – BEd(Tchg)
  • Bachelor of Architectural Studies – BAS
  • Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – BE(Hons)
  • Bachelor of Urban Planning (Honours) – BUrbPlan(Hons)
  • Bachelor of Health Sciences – BHSc
  • Bachelor of Nursing – BNurs
  • Students who are commencing study in a Bachelor of Science and intending to apply for entry to a clinical programme in 2027 (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery – MBChB, Bachelor of Medical Imaging (Honours) - BMedImag(Hons), Bachelor of Optometry – BOpt, Bachelor of Pharmacy – BPharm.

For all other programmes, the WTR courses will be offered as part of a set of General Education options within each faculty. 

What is the meaning of Waipapa Taumata Rau?

Waipapa Taumata Rau is the Māori name gifted to the University of Auckland by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei. Waipapa locates us in central Auckland. It was the name of a settlement near to the University that was important in the development of early Auckland, Tāmaki Makaurau. In relation to the WTR core courses, Taumata relates to a point of achievement and Rau signifies many. Together, Waipapa Taumata Rau symbolises your many peaks of achievement at our university.

What will you learn in your WTR course?

In your WTR course, you’ll learn essential skills to support your future studies and beyond. You’ll also learn about different knowledge systems and knowledge of place underpinning your area of study to provide a foundation for your future learning. 

Essential skills
Coming to university can be a significant change for new students. Your WTR course provides you with essential skills to navigate first year and succeed in your future studies.

The specific skills vary between each course, but every WTR course will teach you the fundamentals of critical and ethical thinking, effective communication and the ability to work well with others.

What WTR course should you enrol in?

WTR 100

This course is only available to students who commenced in or prior to 2025.

WTRAED 100

Select this course if you are studying a BA, BC, BTheol or BGlobalSt.

WTRBUS 100

Select this course if you are studying a BCom or BProp.

WTRENG 100

Select this course if you are studying a BE(Hons), BAS, BDes, or BUrbPlan(Hons).

WTRMHS 100

Select this course if you are studying a BHSc or BNurs.

WTRSCI 100

Select this course if you are studying a BSc.

Please note:

  • Conjoint students can choose a WTR course from either component degree in their conjoint programme.
  • Non-conjoint LLB students can choose between WTR 100 or WTRSCI 100.