Become a knowledge creator
Investigate topics to develop advanced expertise in your chosen subject. Learn to create and assess new ideas, all while enhancing your critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Working alongside some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading academic staff, you'll complete a research thesis of up to 40,000 words or coursework and a research project. You’ll emerge as an expert in your subject, with highly developed research skills.
A Master of Arts can expand your career options or prepare you for sustained research at PhD level.
Discover what’s possible
Hear from our students about their experiences of postgraduate study and the opportunities it has opened up.
Who can study for this qualification
You can study for the Master of Arts if you have a Bachelor’s degree with Honours with at least a B average in a relevant subject. For some subjects you’ll need at least a B+ average to study at this level.
Another way to get into the Master of Arts is if you have a lot of practical or professional experience, or a qualification in a different area. Contact the relevant head of school to talk about your options.
What you’ll learn
You'll build on your undergraduate degree through focused, self-directed research supervised by an academic staff member. Carry out in‑depth research in your specialisation and add to your field across nearly 40 subjects.
Investigate contemporary topics and hone your skills in:
- critical and conceptual analysis
- creative thinking and practice
- written, verbal, visual, and intercultural communication
- data and information analysis
- cultural knowledge and understanding of human behaviour
- interpretation and meaning-making
- problem solving and consequential thinking
- research design and methodology
- strategic thinking and planning.
How you’ll study
There are two distinct pathways to study the Master of Arts—research or coursework.
Research
To complete this 120-point degree, you’ll research and write a thesis of up 40,000 words. You’ll spend most of your time on guided individual research, supervised by an academic staff member. Your thesis will contribute to knowledge in your specialist area.
If you’re studying full time, you’ll complete your Master of Arts (MA) within 12 months.
Our postgraduate programmes are designed to fit around your schedule. You can study full time or—if you’re a domestic student—part time, and we offer both face-to-face and online pathways.
Coursework
If you’re studying full time, you’ll complete your Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(CW)) within 15 months.
In a typical coursework path, you’ll complete 120 points of 400-level courses, followed by a 60-point research project. There are four study pathways:
- Courses worth 120 points and one 60-point research project course.
- Courses worth 120 points and one 60-point internship course—subject to availability.
- Courses worth 120 points, one 30-point research project, and one 30-point work-integrated project or internship.
- Courses at worth 90 points and one 90-point thesis—this research-intensive pathway requires the programme director’s approval.
Part-time study options
If you’re a domestic student, you can study part time and complete your Master's in up to two years.
Why Wellington
We’ve offered the Humanities and Arts for over a century, with many of our subjects consistently ranked in the world’s top 100 in the QS World University Rankings. Whatever area you want to explore, you’ll be joining a community that values understanding people, culture, and society.
As the capital, Wellington sits at the heart of Aotearoa New Zealand’s political life and the creative economy. From Wētā FX, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Te Papa Tongarewa, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, connect with and learn from leaders making their mark.
Qualification support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser through our enquiry form.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
For the research portion of your study, you’ll need a supervisor to help guide your research. Your programme coordinator will work with you to find the right person.
Entry requirements for the research pathway
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed university in:
If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.
To be accepted into this qualification, you need:
1. (a) Before enrolment, a candidate for the MA degree shall have:
(i) satisfied the prerequisites listed in section 2 for the subject to be presented or been exempted from those prerequisites by the Associate Dean (Postgraduate Research) of the Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; and
(ii) been accepted by the relevant head of school as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.
(b) In exceptional circumstances, requirement (a)(i) may be waived if the candidate has either:
(i) completed a BA(Hons) degree with Third Class Honours (or a BA or another degree of a New Zealand university); or
(ii) produced evidence to the satisfaction of the associate dean of extensive practical, professional, or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind.
2. The subjects for the MA and their prerequisites are as follows:
Group I
Subjects: Art History, Asian Studies, Chinese, Classical Studies, Criminology, Cultural Anthropology, Economics , Education, English, Environmental Humanities / He Aronui Aotūroa, Film, French, Geography, German, History, International Relations, Italian, Japanese, Linguistics, Māori Studies, Mathematics, Media Studies, Music, Pacific Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Policy, Sociology, Spanish, Study of Religion, Theatre.
Prerequisite: A BA(Hons) degree with First or Second Class Honours in the subject being presented. The associate dean may waive this requirement for a candidate with another Honours degree or a BA(Hons) degree with First or Second Class Honours in a related subject.
Group II
Subjects: Applied Linguistics, Classics, Creative Writing, Development Studies, Literary Translation Studies, Museum and Heritage Studies, New Zealand Studies, Social Policy, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
Prerequisites: As shown below.
Applied Linguistics (ALIN)
(a) 60 points at 400 and/or 500 level in an approved area, or an approved postgraduate qualification; and
(b) At least two years of professional experience in language education or other aspects of applied linguistics.
(c) Requirement (b) may be waived by the programme director. Applicants with limited or no relevant experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be expected to complete some bridging courses depending on the nature of their previous qualifications.
Classics (CLAS)
A BA(Hons) degree with First or Second Class Honours in Greek or Latin.
Creative Writing (CREA)
A university degree and satisfactory written and/or published evidence of appropriate literary ability in English.
Development Studies (DEVE)
Completion of the PGDipDevStud or equivalent as approved by the head of school.
Literary Translation Studies (LITR)
A BA(Hons) degree or equivalent and satisfactory written and/or published evidence of literary translation skills.
Museum and Heritage Studies (MHST)
An Honours degree with First or Second Class Honours.
New Zealand Studies (NZST)
A BA(Hons) degree with First or Second Class Honours.
Social Policy (SPOL)
A BA(Hons) degree with First or Second Class Honours in Sociology
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TSOL)
(a) 60 points at 400 and/or 500 level in an approved area, or an approved postgraduate qualification, and
(b) At least two years of professional experience in language education or other aspects of applied linguistics.
(c) Requirement (b) may be waived by the programme director. Applicants with limited or no relevant experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be expected to complete some bridging courses depending on the nature
Entry requirements
Your acceptance into this programme is based on your previous qualifications and experience.
Qualification requirements for the research pathway
Excerpt from the regulations for this qualification
3. The course of study for the MA shall be a thesis in the subject being presented as listed on the MA Schedule.
Note: Thesis requirements are set out in the Master’s Thesis Regulations.
Subjects in the MA
Subjects are the areas you focus your degree on.
Subjects and requirements
Explore your research pathway subject options.
MA subjects
Applied Linguistics
Asian Studies
Classical Studies
Creative Writing
Cultural Anthropology
Development Studies
English Literature
Environmental Humanities
International Relations
Literary Translation Studies
Māori Studies
Media Studies
Modern Languages
Museum and Heritage Studies
New Zealand Studies
Pacific Studies
Political Science
Public Policy
Recreation and Leisure Studies
Social Policy
Study of Religion
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Translation Studies
21 of 46 major subjects shown
Change filtersNo matching majors found.
Get accepted into the coursework pathway
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed university in:
If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.
Entry requirements information is not available for the selected country and qualification.
Entry requirements
Your acceptance into this programme is based on your previous qualifications and experience.
Qualification requirements—coursework pathway
Excerpt from the regulations for this qualification
Subjects in the MA(CW)
Subjects are the areas you focus your degree on.
Subjects and requirements
Explore your coursework pathway subject options.
MA subjects
Applied Linguistics
Art History
Asian Studies
Classical Studies
Creative Writing
Criminology
Cultural Anthropology
Development Studies
Economics
Education
English Literature
Environmental Humanities
Geography
International Relations
Linguistics
Literary Translation Studies
Māori Studies
Mathematics
Media Studies
Modern Languages
Museum and Heritage Studies
Musicology
New Zealand Studies
Pacific Studies
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology
Public Policy
Recreation and Leisure Studies
Social Policy
Sociology
Study of Religion
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Translation Studies
21 of 46 subjects shown
Change filtersNo matching subjects found.
Globally ranked
Our Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences ranks within the top 120 in the world for Arts and Humanities in the latest QS World University Rankings.
This annual global rankings publication rates the world's universities and the subjects they teach.
Research an area that interests you
For your thesis or research project, you’ll research an area of your choice. You’ll need to find an academic supervisor who can support your research and guide your work.
Find out about supervising staff and their research areas on each school's staff page.
- International Institute of Modern Letters
- School of Arts and Media
- School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations
- School of Languages and Cultures
- School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies
- School of Social and Cultural Studies
- Te Kawa a Māui—School of Māori Studies
- Te Kōkī—New Zealand School of Music
Future careers
The MA builds advanced expertise critical and cultural analysis, research, and creative practice—skills that are valued in any field. Graduates are employed in every part of the workforce.
Career pathways for MA graduates span a wide range of sectors, such as:
- arts and cultural institutions
- environmental and resource management
- government and policy development
- media, communications, and cultural advocacy
- international development and human rights.
More career information
Find out more about careers.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas.
Scholarships in Commerce
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The scholarship will be awarded to a student who is undertaking research at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington on the interactions and relationship between the public and private sectors in the area of policy and management.
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Applicants must be of Māori descent, identify as female, enrolled or intending to enrol full-time or part-time in an undergraduate or postgraduate programme at Wellington School of Business and Government. Grade point average (GPA) or grade point equivalent (GPE) of at least 6.00 is required.
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This scholarship is for a Master's research project on the tensions concerning insurability and climate adaptation in Aotearoa New Zealand, ideally with a particular focus on marae-centred communities.
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Other scholarships
We also have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas.
Scholarships in Commerce
-
The scholarship will be awarded to a student who is undertaking research at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington on the interactions and relationship between the public and private sectors in the area of policy and management.
-
This scholarship is for a Master's research project on the tensions concerning insurability and climate adaptation in Aotearoa New Zealand, ideally with a particular focus on marae-centred communities.
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This scholarship is to assist Masters or PhD students undertaking a research degree in Information Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.
Join our postgraduate community
The Postgraduate Students’ Association provides a voice for you on campus and information on studying at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Postgraduate Students’ Association
MAI ki Pōneke
MAI ki Pōneke are part of an international network of Māori and Indigenous postgraduate students. They provide advice, support, and information to Indigenous postgraduate students of all levels, as well as those thinking about enrolling.
Related qualifications
Bachelor of Arts with Honours
Depending on your goals, background, and subject, you could opt for a shorter postgraduate research qualification by doing a Bachelor of Arts with Honours.
Further research or study
If you do well in your Master’s degree and show an aptitude for advanced research, you’ll be able to apply to do a PhD.
You’ll carry out original and sustained research under supervision from world-class academics in Te Wāhanga Aonui—Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
As a PhD candidate, you’ll also be supported by Te Here Tāura Rangahau—Faculty of Graduate Research.
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you’re facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Apply for a New Zealand study visa
You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.
You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.