Master of Science–MSc 240 points Qualification regulations

1. (a) Before enrolment, a candidate for the MSc degree shall have:

(i) completed a degree or relevant graduate or postgraduate diploma of this university or, at the discretion of the Associate Dean, Academic (Postgraduate) of the Wellington Faculty of Science, another university;

(ii) satisfied the prerequisites listed in section 2 for the subject to be presented, or been granted exemption from those prerequisites by the relevant head of school; and

(iii) been accepted by the head of school as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.

(b) Requirement (a)(i) may be waived by the associate dean for a candidate who has had extensive practical, professional, or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind.

2. The subjects of examination and their prerequisites are as follows:

Artificial Intelligence (AIML)

One of (AIML 320, 331-335) and a further 45 points from (AIML 301-399, CGRA 301-399, COMP 301–399, CYBR 301–399, NWEN 301–399, SWEN 301–399)

Biotechnology (BTEC)

BTEC 301; 35 points from (BIOL 340, BMSC 301–399, CHEM 301–399, SCIE 310)

Cell and Molecular Bioscience (CBIO)

BIOL 340, BMSC 339; 40 points from BMSC 301, BIOL/BMSC 329–354

Chemistry (CHEM)

120 points in CHEM or other approved courses numbered 200–399, including at least 60 points at 300 level

Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience (CBNS)

PSYC 232, 242; two of PSYC 310, 327, 332, (340 in 2021–2024); at least 30 further 300- level PSYC points

Computer Graphics (CGRA)

30 points from CGRA 300–399; 30 further 300-level points from (ANFX/CGRA/COMP/ MATH/NWEN/SWEN)

Computer Science (COMP)

60 300-level points from (AIML/CGRA/COMP/CYBR/NWEN/SWEN)

Cross-cultural Psychology (CPSY)

PSYC 232, PSYC 242 (or 325); at least 60 300-level PSYC points

Data Science (DATA)

60 points in approved courses from COMP 309, DATA 301–399, or equivalent

Development Studies (DEVE)

60 points in approved courses from GEOG 300–399; or 60 points from 300-level in another degree as approved by head of school.

Earth Science (ESCI)

60 points from GEOS 301-399

Ecological Restoration (ERES)

60 points in approved courses from BIOL 300–399; STAT 193 or equivalent

Ecology and Biodiversity (EBIO)

60 points in approved courses from BIOL 300–399; STAT 193 or equivalent

Electronic and Computer Systems (ELCO)

60 points in approved 300- or higher-level courses from the BE(Hons) Schedule or 300-level PHYS

Environmental Science (ENSC)

60 points in approved 300-level courses from ENSC, BIOL, CHEM, ESCI, GEOG, GPHS, MATH, PHYG, PHYS, STAT

Forensic Psychology (FPSY)

PSYC 232; PSYC 242 (or 325); at least 60 300-level PSYC points

Geographic Information Science (GISC)

GEOG 215, 315

Geography (GEOG)

60 points in approved courses from GEOG 300–399

Geology (GEOL)

80 points from ESCI 301–399, GEOS 301–399, including at least 20 points from ESCI 341, 342, GEOS 310

Geophysics (GPHS)

60 points in approved 300-level courses from (DATA, ESCI, GEOS, MATH, or PHYS)

Marine Biology (BMAR)

60 points in approved courses from BIOL 300–399; STAT 193 or equivalent

Mathematics (MATH)

60 points in approved courses from MATH 300–399

Molecular Microbiology (MBIO)

BIOL 340, BMSC 301; 20 points from BIOL 236, BMSC 334, BTEC 301

Physical Geography (PHYG)

60 approved 300-level GEOG or GEOS points

Physics (PHYS)

PHYS 304, 305, 307, 345 (or 309) Psychology (PSYC)

PSYC 232; PSYC 242 (or 325); at least 60 further 300-level PSYC points

Renewable Energy Systems (RESY)

60 300-level points from BILD, EEEN, PHYS, RESE, or approved subjects including geography, environment, economics, policy

Science Education (SCED)

A BSc(Hons) degree

Science in Society (SCIS)

A science major

Statistics (STAT)

At least 45 points from (DATA 303, MATH 377, 378, STAT 300–399)

3. (a) Except as provided in (b) and (c) and in section 7, the course of study for the MSc shall consist of:

Part 1: Approved courses worth at least 120 points from the BSc(Hons) or other schedules;

Part 2: A Master’s thesis (see Part 2 of the Master’s Thesis Regulations), or an approved combination of courses, thesis and research project(s).

Parts 1 and 2 shall be as prescribed in section 5 with both parts being in the same subject, and shall include such practical work as may be determined by the relevant head of school. Each part shall contribute at least 40 percent of the total marks.

(b) A candidate who has completed a degree with Honours or other graduate study to an appropriate level may be admitted directly to Part 2 and need not then offer Part 1.

(c) A candidate may proceed to Part 2 only with the permission of the relevant head of school.

4. (a) A full-time candidate whose course of study includes both parts shall normally be enrolled for at least four trimesters (extended pro rata up to eight trimesters for students who are not full time) and shall complete the degree within two and a half years of first enrolling in it (extended pro rata up to five years for students who are not full time). The associate dean may extend the maximum period in special cases.

(b) The minimum and maximum periods of enrolment for Part 2 are specified in the Master’s Thesis Regulations.

5. The requirements for each MSc subject are as follows.

Artificial Intelligence (AIML)

Part 1:  AIML 430 and 45 further points from AIML 425–440; 30 further points from AIML 420–489, EEEN 422, EEEN 430; 30 further 400-level points from AIML/ COMP/SWEN/NWEN/DATA, EEEN 422, EEEN 430, STAT 432, STAT 452

Part 2: AIML 591 or 592

Biotechnology (BTEC)

Part 1: BTEC 580, BTEC 435; 75 further points from BTEC/BIOL/BMSC/CHEM/CLNR/ DRGD 401–479, MBIO 401–479

Part 2: BTEC 591 or 592.

Cell and Molecular Bioscience (CBIO)

Part 1: CBIO 580; 90 points in approved courses from BIOL 430–440, BMSC 433

Part 2: CBIO 591 or 592.

Chemistry (CHEM)

Part 1: CHEM 580; 90 points in approved courses from CHEM 401–488

Part 2: CHEM 591.

Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience (CBNS)

Part 1: CBNS 580, PSYC 465; 45 points from CBNS 448, PSYC 402, PSYC 408, PSYC 409, PSYC 411, PSYC 413, PSYC 415, PSYC 417, PSYC 420, PSYC 422, PSYC 424, PSYC 437, PSYC 444, PSYC 445; 30 additional 400-level points in relevant courses, including in other disciplines, as approved by the CBNS programme director

Part 2: CBNS 591.

Computer Graphics (CGRA)

Part 1: CGRA 408, CGRA 409; a further 90 points in an approved combination from CGRA 401–489, AIML 401–479, COMP 401–479, MDDN 401–479, SWEN 401–479, including at least 30 AIML/CGRA/COMP/SWEN points

Part 2: CGRA 591.

Computer Science (COMP)

Part 1: 120 points in an approved combination from AIML/COMP/CYBR/NWEN/ SWEN 401–479, CGRA 401–459

Part 2: COMP 591 or 592.

Cross-cultural Psychology (CPSY)

Part 1: PSYC 433 or 461; 434, CPSY 580; at least 30 points from PSYC 423, PSYC 431, PSYC 432, PSYC 462, PSYC 463; a further 30 points from PSYC 401–449, PSYC 460–470 or other approved courses

Note: With permission of the programme director, up to 60 points may be replaced by approved courses at the University of Hawai‘i or other approved institutions.

Part 2: CPSY 591.

Data Science (DATA)

Part 1: AIML 427, STAT 432, STAT 438, one of (AIML 425, AIML 426, AIML 429), 60 further points from AIML 400–479, COMP 400–479, DATA 400–499, DATA 501, MATH 400–483, STAT 400–483

Part 2: DATA 591 or 592.

Development Studies (DEVE)

Part 1: DEVE 515, DEVE 516; 30 points from GEOG 401–488; 30 further points from 400- or 500-level ANTH, CCSP, DEVE, EDUC, ENVI, ESCI, GBUS, GEOG, GOVT, HLWB, HLTH, INTP, MAOR, MGMT, PASI, PECO, PHYG, POLS, PSYC, SOSC, TOUR

Part 2: DEVE 592 or 593.

Earth Science (ESCI)

Part 1: GEOS 580; 60 points from GEOS 401–479; 30 further points from ENVI 520, ENVI 522, ENVI 525, GEOG 415, 
GEOS 401–479

Part 2: GEOS 591.

Ecological Restoration (ERES)

Part 1: BIOL 580; ERES 525, ERES 526; 30 further points in an approved combination from BIOL 401–424, BIOL 439, BIOL 440, BIOL 519, BIOL 529, ENVI 520–529, ERES 501–579 or other courses approved by the head of school

Part 2: ERES 591.

Ecology and Biodiversity (EBIO)

Part 1: BIOL 422; BIOL 580; 60 further points from BIOL 401–424, BIOL 440, BIOL 519, ERES 501–579

Part 2: EBIO 591.

Electronic and Computer Systems (ELCO)

Part 1: 60 approved 400-level points from (EEEN, RESE 401–479, ENGR 440); 60 further approved 400-level points from (AIML/COMP/EEEN/ELCO/NWEN/RESE/ SWEN, ENGR 440, ENGR 441)

Part 2: ELCO 591.

Environmental Science (ENSC)

Part 1: ENSC 401, ENSC 402, ENSC 485, ESCI 580; 45 points from BIOL 403–431, CCSP 401–402, CHEM 421–423, ENSC 410–421, ENVI 520, ESCI 401–488, GEOG 415, GPHS 441–448, PHYG 413–423, PHYS 415–447 and STAT 431–452

Part 2: ENSC 591 or 592.

Forensic Psychology (FPSY)

Part 1: PSYC 412, PSYC 442, FPSY 580; a further 60 points from (FPSY 401–440, PSYC 400–488); up to 30 of these points can be replaced by other courses with the approval of the head of school

Part 2: FPSY 591.

Geographic Information Science (GISC)

Part 1: GISC 420, GISC 421, and GEOG 580; at least two courses from GISC 422–424 and one or more courses from GISC 425–429

Part 2: GISC 591.

Note: Part 1 was closed to new students from 2024.

Geography (GEOG)

Part 1: GEOG 511, GEOG 512; 30 points in approved courses from GEOG 401–488, PHYG 401–488; 30 further approved points from 400- or 500-level ANTH, CCSP, DEVE, EDUC, ENVI, ESCI, GEOG, HLWB, MAOR, PASI, PHYG, PLAN, POLS, PSYC, SOSC, TOUR

Part 2: GEOG 591 or 592.

Geology (GEOL)

Part 1: GEOS 580; 45 points from GEOS 401, GEOS 407, GEOS 408, GEOS 409; 45 further points from GEOS 401–479

Part 2: GEOL 591.

Geophysics (GPHS)

Part 1: GEOS 580; 45 points from GEOS 401, GEOS 410, GEOS 411, GEOS 412; 45 further points from GEOS 401–479  

Part 2: GPHS 591.

Marine Biology (BMAR)

Part 1: BIOL 423, BIOL 580; 60 points from BIOL 401–440, BIOL 519, ERES 501–579 or other approved courses

Part 2: BMAR 591.

Mathematics (MATH)

Part 1: 120 points in an approved combination from MATH 401–489

Part 2: MATH 591, MATH 592 or 593.

Molecular Microbiology (MBIO)

Part 1: BIOL 430, MBIO 434, MBIO 580; 30 points from BIOL 400–429, BIOL 431–439, BMSC 405, BMSC 406, CLNR 413, CLNR 414, MBIO 440

Part 2: MBIO 591 or 592.

Physical Geography (PHYG)

Part 1: GEOS 580; GEOS 402, GEOS 405, GEOS 414; 45 further points from GEOG 415, GEOS 401–479 

Part 2: PHYG 591.

Physics (PHYS)

Part 1: PHYS 490, PHYS 491; 90 points in approved courses from PHYS 401–488

Part 2: PHYS 591.

Psychology (PSYC)

Part 1: PSYC 489; 90 points in approved courses from PSYC 401–488

Part 2: PSYC 591.

Renewable Energy Systems (RESY)

Part 1: RESE 451, RESE 452; two of (RESE 411, RESE 412, RESE 421, RESE 422); two further 400- or 500-level CCSP/RESE courses; 30 further approved points from 400- or 500-level AIML/CCSP/DATA/EEEN/ENSC/ENVI/ESCI/GPHS/RESE

Part 2: RESE 591.

Science Education (SCED)

Part 2: SCED 591.

Science in Society (SCIS)

Part 1: SCIS 410, SCIS 412 or approved alternatives; one of (SCIS 411, SCIS 414); SCIS 588, SCIS 589; and 15 further 400-level points approved by the programme director

Part 2: SCIS 591, SCIS 592 or 593.

Statistics (STAT)

Part 1: 60 points from MATH 477, STAT 401–489; 60 further points from MATH 401–489, STAT 401–489 or approved alternatives.

Part 2: (a) STAT 591, STAT 593 or 594; or

(b) STAT 592 with the addition of 30 points from approved courses.

6. Candidates completing the Marine Biology (BMAR) subject may obtain a specialisation in Fisheries Science by including courses as follows:

Fisheries Science (FISH): BIOL 410, BMAR 591 with head of school approval of subject area focus.

8. A candidate may be awarded the MSc with Distinction or Merit as described in the Assessment Handbook. To be eligible, a full-time candidate shall complete all work for Part 2 within one year and six months from the date of first enrolment in Part 2 (extended pro rata up to three years for students who are not full time).