He mihi
Tēnei ka noho i te roro o tōku whare o Te Tumu Herenga Waka
‘Te pātaka kai iringa o te kupu o te kōrero’
Ka titiro whakawaho
Ki te pae tukutuku o te ao hurihuri
E rāhiri mai nei i a koutou e te tī, e te tā, o wīwī, o wāwā
Nau mai, haere mai, whakatau mai ki tēnei whārangi ipurangi
Tākina te kawa, ko te kawa o tūārangi
Tākina te kawa, ko te kawa o mohoa noa nei
Tākina te kawa, ko Te Kawa a Māui e!
Become an expert in Māori and Indigenous worldviews
The Master of Indigenous Studies (MIndS) positions Māori and Pacific cultures and histories in the global context of Indigenous colonial and post-colonial experiences, cultural rights, and self-determination.
The MIndS combines study in history, politics, anthropology, and the arts to see how Indigenous people have influenced—and continue to influence—identity, sovereignty, the environment, and social justice in Aotearoa and overseas.
You’ll learn to persuasively debate and negotiate Indigenous issues, while also being culturally appropriate and respectful. You’ll conceptualise and articulate your knowledge of Indigenous political and cultural relationships, as well as deepen your understanding of the ethical responsibilities of Indigenous research.
Who can study for this qualification
You can study for the MIndS if you have a Bachelor’s degree with at least a B average or similar in a relevant subject. Many students have Bachelor’s degrees in Education, Māori Studies, Pacific Studies, or Science.
You can also study the MIndS if you have professional experience, or if you have qualifications in a different field of study.
Our Postgraduate Indigenous Studies qualifications
We offer three Postgraduate Indigenous Studies qualifications. These are staircased so that courses completed for each qualification can count towards the next step.
The Master of Indigenous Studies provides the most comprehensive study as it includes four courses and a research dissertation.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Indigenous Studies has in-depth study over four courses, but no research dissertation.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Indigenous Studies is an opportunity for professional development over two courses.
What you’ll learn
The MIndS builds on your undergraduate degree by combining theory and research to broaden your understanding of forces which relate to, influence, and affect Indigenous peoples.
It includes:
- learning about local and international issues—gain a broad understanding of Māori, Pacific, and international Indigenous issues
- indigenous politics independent from the state—learn how Indigenous peoples engage with non-states, as well as how they maintain and develop their own forms of politics
- access—you’ll get to connect to a wide range of organisations such as iwi and hapū, government agencies, and diplomatic missions
- experience—we offer opportunities to our students such as internships with organisations that focus on Indigenous issues
- independent research—you’ll have opportunity complete a research dissertation into a topic you’re passionate about, supervised by an academic staff member.
How you’ll study
If you study full time, you'll complete the 180-point MIndS in about 12 months, which is three trimesters.
- The degree is delivered over three trimesters, which is one academic year. You’ll take two courses for two trimesters and one course for your final trimester.
- Classes are taught in person, on campus, so you can’t study for this degree online or by distance.
- Your courses are based on lectures held on weekdays, which are between two to three hours long.
- One of your core courses is taught in two weekend blocks from Friday to Sunday.
- You’ll take core and elective courses for your first two trimesters. For your final trimester, you can do a research dissertation.
- Courses are interactive and taught through lectures, case studies, and in-class presentations.
Degree content
This degree mixes core courses and electives. You can use your electives to broaden your qualification to specialise in a field like Education, History, or Resource Management.
To complete the degree, you’ll need to complete 180 points across three trimesters.
Part 1
You’ll study two courses which cover:
- theories and worldviews—Indigenous peoples’ political and cultural relationships, international contexts, resource management, policy, and governance
- research theory and methods—how to do research in ways led by Indigenous knowledge and practice.
You’ll study another two courses of your choice from a range of subjects including:
- Anthropology
- Education
- Environment Studies
- Health
- Māori Studies
- Pacific Studies
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Science
- Sociology.
Part 2
You have the option of completing a major research project dissertation, or an internship, along with one other course.
Part-time study options
If you’re a domestic student, you can study part time—which is one course each trimester—and complete your MIndS in up to four years.
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
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 MIndS degree shall have:
(i) completed a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant learning area with a B grade average or better; and
(ii) been accepted by the MIndS programme director as capable of completing the proposed course of study.
(b) Requirement (a)(i) may be waived by the Associate Dean (Students) of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences for a candidate who has had extensive practical, professional, or scholarly experience that provides an equivalent level of preparation.
Qualification requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the MIndS
2. (a) Except as provided in section 3, the course of study for the MIndS degree shall consist of 180 points including:
Part 1:
(i) Aro Taketake / Indigenous Theories (MAOR 501); one of Tā Te Māori Rangahau / Methodology of Māori Research (MAOR 408), Theory and Methods in Pacific Studies (PASI 401), Research as Praxis: Indigenous Perspectives (EDUC 440)
(ii) 60 further points from the MIndS Schedule.
Part 2:
Either
(i) Rangahau Pūtahi: Dissertation (MAOR 595); or
(ii) Kia Kautū / Internship (MAOR 512) or 521; 30 further points from the MIndS Schedule.
(b) Part 1 should normally be completed before a candidate proceeds to Part 2.
Future careers
Master’s students build cultural awareness, project management skills, analytical thinking, and the ability to work across cultures—skills that are valued in every field.
These skills, along with understanding belief systems and influences, make graduates valuable across many different industries.
More career information
Find out more about careers in.
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.
We encourage you to apply—many scholarships don’t receive enough applications.
Scholarships for Humanities and Social Sciences
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The Erasmus Scholarship is open to second year students at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington who want to major in Greek or Latin.
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This scholarship is offered to women graduates intending to study at Victoria University of Wellington in a course leading to a higher degree, which includes research in some field related to the general purpose of teaching or promoting the knowledge of home or domestic science among the women of New Zealand (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Education or Science).
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This scholarship has been established in honour of Sir Lloyd Geering to support students undertaking postgraduate study in Religious Studies. Sir Lloyd was the founding Professor of Religious Studies at Victoria University of Wellington in 1971. He contributed greatly to the study of religion in New Zealand and to thinking about transformations of religion in modernity. The horizons of his...
Scholarships for international students
We're 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.
We encourage you to apply—many scholarships don’t receive enough applications.
Scholarships for Humanities and Social Sciences
-
The Erasmus Scholarship is open to second year students at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington who want to major in Greek or Latin.
-
This scholarship is offered to women graduates intending to study at Victoria University of Wellington in a course leading to a higher degree, which includes research in some field related to the general purpose of teaching or promoting the knowledge of home or domestic science among the women of New Zealand (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Education or Science).
-
This scholarship has been established in honour of Sir Lloyd Geering to support students undertaking postgraduate study in Religious Studies. Sir Lloyd was the founding Professor of Religious Studies at Victoria University of Wellington in 1971. He contributed greatly to the study of religion in New Zealand and to thinking about transformations of religion in modernity. The horizons of his...
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.
Be immersed in Indigenous kaupapa while you study
Our facilities are informed by and reflect tikanga Māori, with our marae at the heart.
Ngā Mokopuna is our purpose-built teaching and learning space. It brings together mātauranga Māori and Western science innovations, including renewable energy and climate change transition technologies.
We first offered Te Reo Māori and Māori Studies in the 1960s, and in 1980 we became the first university in Aotearoa to establish a marae on campus.
We’ve been teaching Samoan Studies since 1989 and are the only university in the world outside of Samoa to offer this as a major. In 2000 we became the first university in the country to offer Pacific Studies as an undergraduate major.
Our Te Kawa a Māui staff are recognised for their expertise in te reo and mātauranga Māori. We have close ties to organisations leading the way for Māori and Indigenous development, including Crown agencies and diplomatic missions.
Our Va’aomanū Pasifika staff are world-leaders in research about Gagana Sāmoa | Samoan language and Samoan culture. We’re one of the only universities in the world to be able to examine postgraduate research written in Gagana Sāmoa.
Ngā mokopuna in action
Study for a PhD
If you do well in your Master’s degree and show an aptitude for advanced research, you could apply to do a PhD—the highest-level qualification we offer.
You’ll carry out original and sustained research, supervised by our world-class academics.
As a PhD candidate, you’ll also be supported by the Faculty of Graduate Research.
Academic staff research areas
Maria Bargh
Professor
April Henderson
Presenter
Symon Palmer
Lecturer
Kabini Sanga
Associate Professor
Annie Te One
Tumuaki, Head of School
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.