Overview

The Bachelor of Science - Plant Breeding at Massey University will help you understand the crucial biological processes that underpin the very basis of life on Earth.

Key facts

Studying plant science will give you a solid understanding of the fundamental elements of the structure and function of plants, how plants grow and interact with their environment, and how to apply this knowledge in both natural and managed ecosystems.

Nearly all life on Earth is ultimately dependent on the primary productivity of plants. The study of plants is a fascinating investigation of the history of life, the natural world and the future of life on Earth.

Our proud record dates back to 1927 when we offered New Zealand’s first degrees in agriculture and horticulture. As a student, you will benefit from our internationally-recognised capability and leadership in this area.

Massey has over 50 years’ experience in plant-based sciences and has the largest number of plant scientists of any New Zealand university. We have decades of experience and consistently revise our courses overtime to remain strategic for today’s employment opportunities.

Career

There is a steady demand for plant scientists in New Zealand and abroad. As a plant science graduate, you will have a wide range of career opportunities, including both pure research and applied work.

Students often find employment at research institutes - four Crown Research Institutes employ plant scientists (Plant and Food Research, AgResearch, Forest Research (Scion), and Manaaki-Whenua Landcare Research) as do the Department of Conservation and regional authorities.

Related areas of employment include:

agriculture
horticulture
grassland science
forestry
plant breeding
plant protection
crop research
plant conservation
re-vegetation
science management and policy.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Plant, Cell and Environment

Plant Diversity

Plants and People

Plant Improvement

Ecology and Conservation

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 36 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-06-29 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-06-19 00:00:00 , National
- Apply before 2026-05-01 00:00:00 , International
Starting 2027-02-09 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-02-05 00:00:00 , National
- Apply before 2026-10-31 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

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Credits

360 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Palmerston North, New Zealand

Disciplines

Soil Science Agriculture

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

105

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Birth certificate
Current passport
Residency visa
Citizenship certificate

English language proficiency documents

Knowledge gained in the following NCEA subject (or the equivalent in Cambridge International Examinations, International Baccalaureate, or similar) will give you the expected background knowledge to take this major.

At least 14 credits in NCEA Level 3 Biology

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items like Additional medical costs, Repatriation, Liability etc. Make sure your student insurance covers your needs.

Studyportals partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Massey University and/or in New Zealand, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

42300 NZD / year

≈ 42300 NZD / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

8420 NZD / year

≈ 8420 NZD / year

Living costs

Palmerston North

New Zealand

1100 - 2100 NZD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Plant Science.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Key facts

Career

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Living costs

Palmerston North

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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