Tohu Paerua, Mātauranga TaiaoMaster of Environmental Studies—MEnvStud

After Bachelor’s degree study

If you’re interested in creating a better environment and have a Bachelor's degree with a B+ average in a relevant subject, then the Master of Environmental Studies could be ideal for you.

You can study this subject at postgraduate level from a science, commerce, or arts background. Environmental Studies pairs well with:

• Geography and Development Studies
• Māori Studies
• Public Policy
• Law
• Management.

Because you’ll study with students from a variety of disciplines and professions, you’ll broaden your own understanding through their different viewpoints and experiences.

After a postgraduate diploma

You can also come to the Master of Environmental Studies if you studied the Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Studies and achieved a B+ grade or higher.

If you don’t meet the requirements

If you don't have a degree but do have significant relevant experience, you may still be able to enrol in one of our Environmental Studies qualifications. Talk with one of our Future Students advisers to explore your options.

The MEnvStud includes taught courses followed by a full year of research.

You’ll enjoy excellent academic supervision. And, through fieldwork, you’ll get first-hand experience of a range of urban, rural, and remote environments.

Part 1: Coursework

In Part One you’ll study both core courses and electives that you choose.

Core courses

In your core courses you’ll critically explore environmental decision making and engagement and study research methods. Courses cover research design, data collection and analysis, working with communities, and how to communicate research findings.

Further Environmental Studies courses

You’ll also select some further Environmental Studies courses. These courses cover a range of critical approaches to environmental issues, incorporating psychology, law, political ecology, environmental ethics, and mātauranga Māori. You’ll explore diverse case studies and contexts from around the world.

Electives

The remaining points in Part 1 can be made up of 400- or 500-level courses from across the University. Talk to the Environmental Studies postgraduate coordinator about what courses might align with your interests and ambitions.

Part 2: Thesis and practicum

In Part Two, you’ll complete a research thesis. You can choose to do one of the following:

• either a 40 000-word thesis
• or a 25 000-word thesis and a 30-point practicum. The practicum is a supervised work placement at an organisation that specialises in environmental or resource management.

Work placements—School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences

You can choose to study the MEnvStud part time, taking up to 5 years.

Part-time students doing two courses per trimester will need to do around 20 to 23 hours of work a week.

Wellington has the highest concentration of scientists and science organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand. Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington is New Zealand’s top-ranked university for intensity of high-quality research.

Read about our research rankings

Our Faculty of Science is one of New Zealand’s top research institutions, with our own research centres and strong links to many other organisations and universities.

Research centres and institutes—Faculty of Science

Choosing your topic

Choose a topic for the research portion of your study in an area you are passionate about that the University has the expertise to supervise.

The Environmental Studies team has experience supervising research that is engaged with communities and seeks to contribute to improving environments and societies. Your research could even take you around the globe—to the Pacific, Latin America, Antarctica, and beyond.

Academic supervision

You’ll work closely with at least one academic supervisor for your research year, meeting regularly to design and carry out a unique project.

You’ll be able to:

• present your research at an annual Environmental Studies mini-conference
• participate in reading groups
• receive guidance on securing ethics approval and conducting high-quality research.

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.

Find out more about MAI ki Pōneke

Make connections with the organisations that form the policy, conduct the research, and create the spaces we live in.

Take advantage of the University's relationships with the central government policy world and major research institutes like the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and the New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute.

You'll also hear from guest lecturers who are experienced professionals in:

• environmental planning
• economics
• policy
• law
• politics
• ethics
• indigenous development.

If you do well in your Master's research, you'll be able to apply to do a PhD.

A PhD is the highest academic qualification offered by the University. You’ll carry out original and sustained research under supervision from world-class academics in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

As a PhD candidate, you’ll also be supported by the Faculty of Graduate Research.