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Learning Chemistry in New Zealand

Chemistry is one of those subjects that many of us either love or hate. There are plenty of reasons to not feel interested in chemistry, maybe science just isn't your thing. However, it is a really interesting subject that many of us love to learn, and like it or not you are going to have to study chemistry if you're a student that is about to enter level seven in New Zealand.

There are many students who don't have a problem with studying chemistry and even go on to learn chemistry in university as they would love to work in a profession that heavily involves the use of chemistry and what they learn in secondary school. So how exactly and where exactly do we learn chemistry in New Zealand?

Within New Zealand there are plenty of options for students to learn chemistry, at secondary school which is mandatory, as well as at university if you decide to learn chemistry because you want to work in a chemistry related field and even at home with some extra help of a tutor or with the internet.

If you really have decided that your future revolves around the science of chemistry then wherever you are in New Zealand, whether it be Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, or even a smaller place, learning chemistry can be a very managable challenge.

What Exactly Is Chemistry?

In secondary school in New Zealand you will most likely be obliged to learn about the subject, chemistry. So what exactly is the science of chemistry? Chemistry simply put is the study of the substance that matter is composed of.

In more detail it is a scientific study that has to do with properties, compositions, and the structure of substances, as well as the changes that they undergo and what energy is released when combining elements.

For all you soon to be chemists the periodic table of elements is our best reference point and tool regarding the science of chemistry, and a lot of people who study it for years and years go on to have successful jobs.

• Chemical Technician
• Toxicologist
• Pharmacist
• Forensic Scientist
• Nuclear engineer

You don't have to be Walter White (Breaking Bad) to do something with your chemistry title if you manage to do it and complete a study of chemistry whilst you are in uni.

Learning Chemistry in Secondary School in New Zealand

If you or your child is finishing level six in school then it will be time to start learning the first class of chemistry during the educational process. Although technically during level six students starts to learn some objectives of the chemistry curriculum, the true chemistry curriculum doesn't start until level seven.

Students are expected to use their scientific knowledge that they've acquired from their previous studies to

• Research and begin to understand the different ways that materials and chemical processes interconnect with people and nature.
• Perform a range of investigations to explore chemical behaviour.
• Understand chemical concepts and patterns of chemical behaviour.

Learning and investing different chemical concepts as part of the curriculum will give students a basis for chemical studies, and can then go on to continue studying at university or if they are not fans, leave secondary school with important and useful knowledge about chemistry.

Learning Chemistry at University in New Zealand

New Zealand may be a small country, however there are quality universities that you can find yourself studying at. After you've finished secondary school and if you have decided to go on and maybe find a profession that has to do with chemistry, in between that you'll have to research and study chemistry at university.

There are plenty of universities around New Zealand that offer different degrees in the chemistry field. There are degrees available in:

• Biochemistry
• Environmental Chemistry
• Industrial Chemistry

These are only several of the examples, and the different uni courses offer subtopics of the chemistry subtopics so as you can see studying chemistry at the university level is quite extensive.

There are even conjoint degrees, such as the one at Victoria University in Wellington, that combines a chemistry degree with a business degree.

Some of the best universities you can learn at are found in many parts of the country, from the larger cities to the smaller towns.

• University of Waikato
• Victoria University
• University of Canterbury
• University of Otago

These are some of the top universities in the whole of New Zealand when it comes to chemistry degrees. Then after studying a degree in a field of chemistry you can think about studying a master's degree and maybe even a doctorate in New Zealand.

Other Ways of Learning Chemistry

Don't forget that chemistry isn't only at secondary school or uni. You can take online courses through a university or another type of online program. Online programs exist in conjunction with universities or in a way where you can learn about chemistry at your leisure through a website that offers intensive courses or even just with Youtube.

Don't forget about other non formal ways of learning chemistry such as going to science fairs or science centres.

Studying Chemistry With a Private Tutor

Working with a private tutor is a fantastic way for you to improve your chemistry knowledge, whether working with a private tutor to help you understand concepts that you are having difficulty understanding, or simply to make sure you get the best marks possible.

Superprof is one of the best websites on the internet for finding private tutors. Private tutors on Superprof are experienced and you can check their ratings to see if he or she is the right fit for you.