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!
Deepen your understanding of Māori and Indigenous worldviews
Postgraduate Indigenous Studies explores the cultures, histories, and knowledge systems of Indigenous people.
Learn about local and international issues related to Indigenous people through interdisciplinary study in history, politics, anthropology, and the arts. Examine how Indigenous people have influenced—and continue to influence—identity, sovereignty, the environment, and social justice in Aotearoa New Zealand 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.
Choose your study path
We offer three Postgraduate Indigenous Studies qualifications—choose the one that suits your career goals, eligibility, time commitments, and financial situation.
These qualifications are ‘staircased’—they allow movement in both directions. If you begin by enrolling in the Certificate or Diploma programme, you may be able to continue on to complete a Master's degree. Or if you enrol in the Master's but can't complete it for some reason, you may have completed enough courses to graduate with the Certificate or Diploma.
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.
Study options
Find out how you can study Postgraduate Indigenous Studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
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
Future careers
Postgraduate Indigenous Studies helps you build abilities in communication, cultural awareness, 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.
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 for Humanities and Social Sciences
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The Brian Murray Fox Scholarship in History offers an opportunity to students who are intending to undertake their second, third or Honours year of their degree at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in the year following application.
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The Brian Murray Fox Scholarship in English Literature offers an opportunity to students who are intending to undertake their second, third or Honours year of their degree at Te Herenga Waka Victoria—University of Wellington in the year following application.
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The scholarship is open to graduates of any university in New Zealand or of the University of the South Pacific, who are enrolled or intending to enrol full-time or part-time, in a Master of Criminology (MCrim) or a PhD in Criminology at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
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 for Humanities and Social Sciences
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The scholarship is open to graduates of any university in New Zealand or of the University of the South Pacific, who are enrolled or intending to enrol full-time or part-time, in a Master of Criminology (MCrim) or a PhD in Criminology at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
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The purpose of the award is to assist postgraduate (full-time or part-time) students in the study of a Master’s of Linguistics, Applied Linguistics or TESOL by coursework at Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington. Applicant will be assessed on the basis of academic merit. Relevant prior experience may also be taken into account.
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Applicants for this scholarship must be enrolled, or be intending to enrol full-time, in a Master's by thesis or PhD in a topic in Latin American studies at Victoria University of Wellington. Selection will be based on academic merit.
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.
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.