Faculty of Arts
Postgraduate study
Women’s Studies focuses on women, gender and sexuality, and draws upon knowledges from other academic areas. The interdisciplinary nature of Women's Studies means that if your background is in another subject, you may consider postgraduate work in Women's Studies.
Women’s Studies prepares you for a career where critical thinking, research and writing skills are needed.
Women's Studies graduates are pursuing careers in the media, government services, research, social services, law, business, and curatorship in museums and art galleries.
The BA(Hons) in Women's Studies is not available in 2012.
The MA in Women’s Studies is available as a 120-point, one-year option. Students who have completed a BA(Hons) or equivalent qualification in an appropriate subject, with an average grade of at least B, may be approved for enrolment in the MA in Women’s Studies.
120-point (one-year) MA
The 120-point MA requires one year of full-time study, with admission from a BA(Hons) or PGDipArts. The MA in Women’s Studies is available as a research masters.
Admission requirements
A BA(Hons) or PGDipArts in Women’s Studies with an average grade of B or higher, or approval of the Professor of Women’s Studies. There are higher requirements for some research options.
Required course of study
Consult the MA schedule for how to structure your study.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The PhD is an opportunity to engage in advanced research. This research can be carried out in any area within the Faculty of Arts, provided that supervision is available and the research proposal and supervision arrangements are approved by the University. The demands of PhD research require a significant commitment in terms of time and resources.
Women’s Studies is an area of academic study which focuses on women, gender and sexuality. It is interdisciplinary in that it draws upon the knowledges from traditional academic areas. As such, students who have graduate degrees in subjects other than Women’s Studies may consider postgraduate work in the Women’s Studies Programme.
Content
A thesis of an internationally recognised standard that makes an original contribution to knowledge or understanding in its field. Normally the thesis may not exceed 100,000 words or 250 pages. An oral examination takes place after the thesis has been submitted.
Duration
The PhD is expected to be completed in three or four full-time years, although it may be possible to complete on a part-time basis. A PhD Thesis must, by University Regulations, involve no less than two full-time years of study, but will generally take three to four years.
Admission
The usual requirement is a master’s degree with Honours (First Class or Second Class, First Division) from The University of Auckland, or an approved equivalent qualification. You must also have demonstrated an ability to pursue doctoral level research. All candidates must submit a research proposal and obtain registration.
The department must be satisfied that appropriate supervision is available and that adequate resources are accessible. Students should normally have a Master's degree acceptable to the University of Auckland. There is a provision for upgrading a Master's Thesis to a PhD, after the first year of research.
The PhD thesis
The thesis is a formal and systematic exposition of a coherent piece of research work - an original contribution to the field of study and is required to meet internationally recognized standards.
PhDs in our Programme are undertaken by research under two Supervisors. Additional course work may also be recommended.
The research proposal
PhD students are admitted to the Programme on the basis of a written research proposal. Proposals are considered by the academic staff members of the Women’s Studies Programme who assess them according to three criteria:
- Academic merit - clear expression of research problem, clarity of objectives and methodological coherence;
- Viability - projects must be capable of being carried out and written up within four years and must be financially viable;
- Availability of appropriate supervision.
Supervision
All research is supervised by a Women’s Studies staff member. PhD students are supervised by a team of two or three staff members. The Guidelines for Supervision (Doctoral) and Doctoral Policies and guidelines are available at the University postgraduate website
The Faculty of Arts PhD site provides information for potential and current PhD students.
