At-a-glance 

Name: Master of Science by coursework and thesis

Abbreviation: MSc

Duration: 4 trimesters 

Duration details: 4-5 trimesters of full-time study or normally 8 if studied part-time

Schedule: Lectures and lab sessions

Intensity: Part time and full time

Type: Coursework and research

Study at: On-campus (Kelburn, Wellington)

Complete: 240 points (approximately ? courses)

Entry: Bachelor's degree in relevant subject

Start: Trimester 1 or 2

Apply by: Standard trimester dates

Costs: From database for international only at this stage

Impact of previous university study in same subject: Requires

Entry requirements

To be accepted into this programme you'll need:

• A Bachelor's degree or relevant graduate or postgraduate diploma 
• To have met the prerequisites for the subject you wish to study (see subject section below) and
• Acceptance by the relevant Head of the School as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.

Programme requirements

For this programme you’ll need to:

Complete at least 120 points from 400- and 500-level courses.

Complete one Master's thesis course worth 120 points.

Important information

The Master of Science by coursework and thesis consists of two parts, Part 1 comprising course totaling 120 points and Part 2 consists of a thesis course (XXXX 591) totaling 120 points, or a research course worth fewer points and other courses with a combined total of 120 points.

You will require permission from the relevant Head of School to start Part 2. 

Subject requirements

In addition to the programme requirements, for this subject you’ll need to:

Biotechnology

Have previously completed:

• BTEC 301
• TECH 302
• Further courses worth 35 points from:
  • BIOL 334-354
  • BMSC 301
  • BMSC 334-354
  • Either CHEM 305 or CHEM 306

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• BTEC 435
• One further course from BTEC 400-479
• BTEC 580
• Further courses worth 60 points from:
  • BTEC 400-479
  • BIOL 400-480
  • CHEM 400-480
  • MBIO 400-480

Complete BTEC 591.

Cell and Molecular Bioscience

Have previously completed:

• BIOL 340
• BMSC 339
• Further courses worth 40 points from:
  • BMSC 301
  • BIOL 329-354
  • BMSC 329-354

Complete CBIO 580 and

• Further courses worth 90 points from BIOL 430-440.

Complete CBIO 591.

Chemistry

Have previously completed 200- and 300- level courses worth 135 points from CHEM or other approved courses, including

• At least 60 points at 300-level.

Complete CHEM 580 and

• Approved courses worth 90 points from CHEM 400-489.

Complete CHEM 591.

Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience

Have previously completed nine courses:

• Either BIOL 114 or BMSC 114
• PSYC 232
• Three further courses from PSYC 200-299
• PSYC 325
• Three further courses from PSYC 300-399

Complete CBNS 580 and

• Further courses worth 90 points from:
  • PSYC 404
  • PSYC 417
  • PSYC 422
  • PSYC 424
  • PSYC 444
  • PSCY 445
  • PSYC 446
  • PSYC 448
  • BIOL 432 / BMSC 432
  • BIOL 433 / BMSC 433

Complete CBNS 591.

Computer Graphics

Have previously completed five courses:

• COMP 308
• MDDN 311
• Three further courses from:
  • COMP 300-399
  • NWEN 300-399
  • SWEN 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• CGRA 408
• CGRA 409
• Either MMDN 401 or MMDN 442
• Two further courses from:
  • CGRA 400-489
  • COMP 400-479
  • SWEN 400-479
• Further courses to total 120 points from:
  • CGRA 400-489
  • COMP 400-479
  • MMDN 400-479
  • SWEN 400-479

Complete CGRA 591.

Computer Science

Have previously completed four courses from:

• COMP 300-399
• NWEN 300-399
• SWEN 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points from:

• COMP 400-489
• NWEN 400-489
• SWEN 400-489

Complete COMP 591.

Conservation Biology

Have previously completed STAT 193 or equivalent and 

• Approved courses worth 60 points from BIOL 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• BIOL 420
• BIOL 580
• Further courses worth 60 points from:
  • BIOL 400-440
  • BIOL 519
  • ERES 525
  • ERES 526
  • ERES 527
  • Other courses approved by the Head of School

Complete CONB 591.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Have previously completed eight courses:

• PSYC 232
• Three further courses from PSYC 200-299
• PSYC 325
• Three further courses from PSYC 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• CPSY 580
• PSYC 433
• PSYC 434
• Two further courses from:
  • PSYC 423
  • PSYC 431
  • PSYC 432
• Further courses worth 30 points from PSYC 400-448

Complete CPSY 591.

Ecological Restoration

Have previously completed STAT 193 or equivalent and  

• Approved courses worth 60 points from BIOL 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• ERES 525
• ERES 526
• ERES 580
• Further approved courses worth 30 points from:
  • BIOL 403
  • BIOL 404
  • BIOL 421-440
  • BIOL 519
  • ENVI 503-529
  • Other courses approved by the Head of School

Complete ERES 591.

Ecology and Biodiversity

Have previously completed STAT 193 or equivalent and

• Approved courses worth 60 points from BIOL 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• EBIO 580
• Either BIOL 422 or BIOL 425
• Further courses worth 60 points from:
  
  • BIOL 400-440
  • BIOL 519
  • ERES 525
  • ERES 526
  • ERES 527
  • Other courses approved by the Head of School

Complete EBIO 591.

Electronic and Computer Systems

Have previously completed courses worth 60 points from:

• Approved 300- and 400-level courses listed for the Bachelor of Engineering with Honours
• PHYS 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• ELCO 580
• Approved courses worth 60 points from:
  • ECEN 400-479
  • ENGR 440
• Further approved courses worth 30 points from:
  • ECEN 400-499
  • ENGR 400-499
  • COMP 400-499
  • NWEN 400-499
  • SWEN 400-499

Complete ELCO 591.

Forensic Psychology

Have previously completed four courses:

• PSYC 325 or an approved substitute
• Three further courses from PSYC 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• FPSY 580
• PSYC 412 and PSYC 442.
• Further courses worth 60 points from:
  • FPSY 400-440
  • PSYC 400-488

Complete FPSY 591.

Important information

You may replace courses worth up to 30 points with the approval of the Head of School.

Questions

1. 30 points from which requirement? Replaced with what courses?

Geography

Have previously completed approved courses worth 60 points from GEOG 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• GEOG 580
• Courses worth 105 points from:
  • GEOG 400-488
  • PHYG 400-488

Complete GEOG 591.

Geology

Have previously completed

• ESCI 341
• ESCI 342
• Further courses worth 60 points from ESCI 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• ESCI 580
• Courses worth 105 points from:
  • ESCI 401-488
  • PGEO 401

Complete GEOL 591.

Geophysics

Have previously completed approved courses worth 60 points from:

• ESCI 300-399
• GPHS 300-399
• MATH 300-399
• PHYS 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• ESCI 580
• Complete courses worth 105 points from:
  • GPHS 400-488
  • ESCI 407
  • ESCI 411
  • MATH 461
  • PGEO 401
  • PGEO 414

Complete GPHS 591.

Marine Biology

Have previously completed STAT 193 or equivalent and 

• Approved courses worth 60 points from BIOL 300-399.

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• BIOL 423
• BIOL 580
• Further approved courses worth 90 points from:
  • BIOL 400-440
  • BIOL 519
  • ERES 525
  • ERES 526
  • ERES 527
  • Other courses approved by the Head of School

Complete BMAR 591.

Mathematics

Have previously completed four approved courses from MATH 300-399

Complete approved courses worth 120 points from MATH 400-489.

Complete MATH 591.

Molecular Microbiology

Have previously completed four courses:

• BIOL 340
• BMSC 301
• BTEC 201
• One course from:
• BIOL 236
• BMSC 334
• BTEC 301

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• MBIO 580
• BIOL 430
• MBIO 434
• Further courses worth 60 points from:
  
  • BIOL 400-439
  • BIOL 489
  • BMSC 401
  • MBIO 440

Complete MBIO 591.

Petroleum Geoscience

Have previously completed:

• ESCI 341
• ESCI 342
• Further courses worth 70 points from ESCI 300-399

Complete eight courses worth 120 points:

• PGEO 401
• PGEO 511
• PGEO 580
• ESCI 403
• ESCI 406
• ESCI 407
• ESCI 411
• One further approved course worth at least 15 points

Complete PGEO 591.

Physical Geography

Have previously completed

• Either GEOG 318 or GEOG 319
• GEOG 323
• Further approved 300-level courses worth 20 points from courses listed for the BSc

Complete course worth 120 points:

• PHYG 580
• Courses worth 105 points from PHYG 400-488

Complete PHYG 591.

Important information

You may replace courses worth up to 30 points with the approval of the Head of School.

Questions

1. 30 points from which requirement? Replaced with what courses?

Physics

Have previously four courses:

• PHYS 304
• PHYS 305
• PHYS 307
• PHYS 309

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• PHYS 490
• PHYS 491
• Further approved courses worth 90 points from PHYS 400-488

Complete PHYS 591.

Psychology

Have previously completed eight courses:

• PSYC 232
• Three further courses from PSCY 200-299
• PSYC 325
• Three further courses from PSCY 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• PSYC 489
• Courses worth 90 points from 
  • PSYC 400-488
  • CBNS 580
  • CPSY 580

Complete PSYC 591.

Statistics

Have previously completed courses worth 45 points from:

• MATH 353
• MATH 377
• OPRE 300-399
• STAT 300-391
• STAT 393-399

Complete courses worth 120 points, of which at least 60 points must be at 400 level, from:

• OPRE 400-489
• STAT 400-489
• STOR 400-489
• Other courses approved by the Head of School

Complete STAT 591, or

• STAT 592 and further approved courses worth 30 points.

Question

1. Is there a 'tight' definition of 'approved courses'?

Stochastic Processes in Finance and Insurance

Have previously completed:

• Courses worth 45 points from:
  • MATH 301
  • MATH 312
  • MATH 377
  • STAT 332
• Further approved courses worth 30 points from:
  • MATH 300-399
  • ECON 300-399
  • FINA 300-399
  • OPRE 300-399
  • STAT 300-399

Complete courses worth 120 points:

• Courses worth at least 45 points from:
  • MATH 441
  • MATH 442
  • OPRE 457
  • STAT 433
  • STAT 435
  • STAT 437
  • STAT 457
• Further courses to total 120 points from:
  • MATH 441
  • MATH 442
  • MATH 461
  • MATH 462
  • MATH 463
  • MATH 464
  • OPRE 400-489
  • STAT 400-489
  • STOR 400-489
  • Or approved alternatives

Complete SPFI 591, or

• SPFI 592 and further approved courses worth 30 points from courses listed for the BSc, MSc or other postgraduate degrees.

Question

1. Is there a 'tighter' definition of 'approved courses' for the research component? Do we have to print the whole long definition?

Find out more

If you want to enrol in this programme but don't meet some the entry requirements you should contact the Programme Director or Administrator to discuss your options.

The academic Calendar is the authoritative source of programme and course information.