Master of Arts (MA)

Subjects available

Ancient History, Anthropology, Art History, Asian Studies, Chinese, Comparative Literature, Criminology, Development Studies, Drama, Economics, Education, Employment Relations and Organisation Studies, English, European Studies, Film, Television and Media Studies, French, Geography,  German, Greek, History, Italian, Japanese, Language Teaching and Learning, Languages and Literature, Latin, Logic and Computation, Linguistics, Māori Studies, Mathematics, Medieval and Early Modern European Studies, Museums and Cultural Heritage, Music,  Pacific Studies, Philosophy, Political Studies, Psychology,  Screen Production, Sociology, Spanish, Statistics, Women's Studies

Admission requirements

• A Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (or equivalent qualification) in the intended subject with an average grade of B or higher.
• Individual subjects and research masters may have higher or additional requirements. See the "Postgraduate study" webpage under our subject pages.
• Approval from the relevant Head of Department.

Duration

Research masters: one year full-time or up to two consecutive years part-time.

Taught masters: one year full-time or up to four consecutive years part-time. 

Required course of study

• Research masters: either a 120-point thesis or research portfolio, or a 90-point thesis and 30 points in 700-level courses as specified for the subject.

• Taught masters: 120 points in 700-level courses as specified for the subject, including a research component of at least 45 points.

 
You may be permitted to include up to 30 points from other MA subjects or 700-level courses at this University, with approval from the relevant Heads of Department.

To see the courses you may take and how to structure your study, refer to the MA schedule.

University regulations for the MA

University general regulations for masters degrees

How to apply

See our information for future postgraduates on how to apply.

Subjects available

Ancient History, Anthropology, Art History, Asian Studies, Chinese, Comparative Literature, Criminology, Development Studies, Drama, Economics, Education, Employment Relations and Organisation Studies, English, European Studies,  Film, Television and Media Studies, French, Geography, German, Greek, History, Italian, Japanese,  Language Teaching and Learning, Languages and Literature, Latin, Linguistics, Logic and Computation, Māori Studies, Mathematics, Medieval and Early Modern European Studies, Museums and Cultural Heritage, Music, Pacific Studies, Philosophy, Political Studies, Psychology, Screen Production, Sociology, Spanish, Statistics

Admission requirements

• A Bachelor of Arts or equivalent qualification.
• A pass in the prerequisite courses specified for the subject (usually a major in the subject) with an average grade of B or higher in at least 45 points above Stage II. 
• Individual subjects may have higher or additional requirements. See the "Postgraduate study" webpage under our  subject pages.
• Approval from the relevant Head of Department.
   

To progess to the second year of the MA

In the first 120 points of MA enrolment, you must achieve:

• An average grade of B, or
• For a research masters, the grade specified for enrolment in a thesis or research portfolio in your subject.

If you do not achieve the required grade, enrolment for the MA cannot continue.

Duration

Two consecutive years of full-time study or up to four consecutive years part-time.

Required course of study

• Research masters: the first year typically consists of 120 points of 700-level taught courses as specified for the subject. In the second year you will complete a 120-point thesis or research portfolio. For some subjects the second year may consist of a 90-point thesis and 30 points from 700-level courses.
• Taught masters: 240 points of 700-level courses as specified for the subject, including a research component of at least 45 points.

You may be permitted to include up to 60 points from other MA subjects, or other 700-level courses at this University, or from approved study at a university outside New Zealand.

To see the courses you may take and how to structure your study, refer to the MA schedule.

University regulations for the MA

University general regulations for masters degrees

How to apply

See our information for future postgraduates on how to apply.