All Year 7 and 8 students follow a core curriculum. There are 31 periods in the week.

Year 7 students also study six Units or Modules which comprise:

Year 8 students also study Food Technology for half a year (2 periods a week) and six Units or Modules which comprise:

Students take a core programme of:

All students also study six Units or Modules which comprise:

In addition, each student chooses three option subjects from the current list. Option subjects are studied for a full year.

Students take a core programme of:

All students also study four Units or Modules which comprise:

In addition, each student chooses three option subjects from the following list. Students may drop an option subject at the end of Year 9 and pick up another one at Year 10 level. Option subjects are studied for a full year.

Students are required to continue the study of an International Language at Year 10 level (exceptions are considered on a case by case basis). Learning Languages is one of the eight core learning areas up to Year 10 level inclusive specified in the New Zealand Curriculum Document.

Students are not permitted to study Level 1 Science and Level 1 Chemistry and Level 1 Physics (three Sciences).

There are also core courses in Health and Life Skills, ICT, Physical Education and Religious Studies.

In addition, students choose two or three option subjects from:

Students take five or six subjects, one of which must be English. A wide range of subjects is offered which lead to the NCEA level 2 qualification. The subjects offered are:

Specialisation is unavoidable at this level and students should consider carefully the course requirements for their proposed careers or tertiary study before making their course choice.

*Digital Technology with Programming is a separate course offered by Columba College through DunedinNet. It is taught by the Columba College Head of Digital Technology and Faculty of Technology. The NCEA Level 3 Digital Technology course is taught at Columba College (5 periods a week).

Students may take a NCEA Level 2 subject in place of a Level 3 subject, if the timetable permits.

Life Skills

Health, Life Skills, Religious Studies and Physical Education Units or Modules are undertaken by all girls at each senior form level (Years 11 to 13), plus Careers (Years 12 and 13).

The Life Skills Unit is an important part of the senior curriculum with every girl in Years 11 to 13 involved in it. The Life Skills programme includes topics such as women's health, young people and safety issues, CPR, alcohol and drug education, and the interface between school and university.