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Master of Science (MSc)

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Overview

The Master of Science (MSc) is a two-year degree which encompasses both coursework and research. The first year involves mainly coursework and preliminary research preparation. Students will have the opportunity to contribute to existing fields of research, or to begin to develop new areas.

The MSc can be studied in any of the subjects listed below, and may be taken by a combination of coursework and thesis, or by thesis only. Students who have a Bachelor's degree will complete the MSc by papers and thesis (at least two years of full-time study). Students who have an Honours degree or postgraduate diploma can complete the degree by thesis only (minimum of one year of study).

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Subject areas

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Programme Requirements

Master of Science (MSc) in Anatomy

  • ANAT 495  Master's Thesis Preparation; and

  • Four papers from
    ANAT 451  Functional Human Anatomy
    ANAT 452  Reproductive Biology
    ANAT 453  Special Topics 1
    ANAT 454  Neurobiology
    ANAT 455  Research Topic
    ANAT 456  Developmental Biology
    ANAT 457  Special Topics 2
    ANAT 458  Current Topics in Anatomical Science,
    or other approved 400-level Science papers; and

  • ANAT 5 (thesis)

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Biochemistry

  • BIOC 495  Master's Thesis Preparation; and

  • Four of
    BIOC 451  Contemporary Technologies in Biochemistry
    BIOC 452  Metabolism and Regulation
    BIOC 453  Molecular Biology
    BIOC 454  Cell Biology and Development; and

  • BIOC 5 (thesis)

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Biostatistics

  • BIOS 501  Biostatistics Research Portfolio I
    BIOS 502  Biostatistics Research Portfolio II
    BIOS 503  Biostatistics Research Portfolio III
    BIOS 504  Biostatistices Research Portfolio IV
    BIOS 511  Clinical Trials
    STAT 411  Probability and Inference III
    STAT 412*
    STAT 436*
    STAT 440*; and

     * These papers are no longer offered

  • Either HASC 411  Research Design and Evaluation, or PUBH 701  Epidemiology and Biostatstics; and

  • Further papers from
    BIOS 505  Biostatistics Research Portfolio V
    BIOS 506  Biostatistics Research Portfolio VI
    HASC 415  Regression Methods: Health Science Applications
    PUBH 721  Advanced Epidemiology
    400-level STAT papers, or other approved 400-level papers to a total of at least 240 points

    Notes:(i) Research Portfolio papers: BIOS 501-504 are compulsory; BIOS 505 and BIOS 506 are optional. BIOS 501 and BIOS 502 must be taken in the first year of study.

    (ii) An appropriate background in Statistics is required.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Botany

  • BTNY 495  Master's Thesis Preparation,

  • Four of
    BTNY 461  Plant Physiology and Biotechnology
    BTNY 465  Plant and Environment,
    BTNY 467  New Zealand Plant Ecology and Evolution,
    BTNY 469  Principles of Nature Conservation,
    BTNY 470  Special Topics; and

  • BTNY 5 (thesis)

    Notes: With the approval of the head of Department, anouther 400-level papers my be substituted for one of BTNY 461-470.
    The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Clinical Biochemistry

  • CLIN 495*,
    CLIN 401*,
    CLIN 402*,
    CLIN 403*,
    CLIN 404*; and

    Note: * these papers are not longer offered.

  • CLIN 5 (thesis)

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Master of Science (MSc) in Environmental Science

  • ENVS 495 (this paper is no longer offered)

  • Four 400-level papers from appropriate subjects approved by the Programme Director; and

  • ENVS 5 (thesis)

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Genetics

  • GENE 411  Current Topics in Genetics,
    GENE 412  Current Topics in Genetics,
    GENE 495  Master's Thesis Preparation; and

  • Two of
    BIOC 451  Contemporary Technologies in Biochemistry,
    BIOC 453  Molecular Biology,
    BTNY 467  New Zealand Plant Ecology and Evolution,
    MICR 461  Molecular Microbiology,
    PLBI 401  Special Topics,
    ZOOL 410  Evolutionary Genetics;

    Note: With approval from the Programme Director, another 400-level paper may be substituted for one of the papers listed above.

  • GENE 5 (thesis)

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Geology

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Master of Science (MSc) in Human Nutrition

  • HUNT 495  Master's Thesis Preparation,
    HUNT 451  Nutritional Assessment,
    HUNT 452  Nutrition and Human Health,
    HUNT 453  Community and Public Health Nutrition,
    HUNT 454  Nutritional Biostatistics; and

  • One of
    HUNT 455  Special Topics,
    NUTX 407  Advanced Sports Nutrition,
    or other approved 400-level papers.

    • Note: any two of HASC 411, HASC 413, HASC 415, or PUBH 721 may be substituted for HUNT 454

  • HUNT 5 (thesis)

    • Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

Further information regarding the MSc in Human Nutrition is available from the Department of Human Nutrition website.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Information Science

  • INFO 490  Dissertation; and

  • Four papers from
    400-level INFO papers,
    SENG 401  Software Engineering,
    TELE 404  Wireless Networking; and

  • INFO 5 (thesis)

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Marine Science

  • MARI 495 MSc Research Proposal; and

  • MARI 401 Advanced Methods in Marine Science; and

  • Three of
    MARI 421  Specialist Topics in Physical Oceanography,
    MARI 427  Marine Conservation Biology,
    MARI 429  Coastal Marine Environment,
    MARI 431  Antarctic Marine Biology,
    MARI 432  Subtidal Marine Ecology,
    MARI 433  Deep-Sea Biology,
    MARI 451  Special Topic: Topics in Marine Biology,
    AQFI 421   Advanced Aquaculture and Fisheries;
    (one may be replaced with an approved BTNY, CHEM, ECOL, GENE, GEOL, WILM or ZOOL paper at 400-level); and

  • MARI 5 (thesis)

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Microbiology

  • MICR 495  Master's Thesis Preparation,
    MICR 461  Molecular Microbiology,
    MICR 462  Microbiology and Immunology Research,
    MICR 463  Trends in Microbiology,
    MICR 464  Medical Microbiology and Immunology; and

  • MICR 5 (thesis)

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Neuroscience

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Master of Science (MSc) in Physics

  • 120 points from 400-level PHSI or MATH papers, including at least 100 PHSI points;

    Note: Only one of PHSI 480 or PHSI 490 may be included.

  • PHSI 5 (thesis)

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Physiology

  • PHSL 495  Master's Thesis Preparation,
    PHSL 471  Systematic Physiology,
    PHSL 472  Neurophysiology,
    PHSL 473  Cellular Physiology,
    PHSL 474  Research Topics; and

  • PHSL 5 (thesis)

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Plant Biotechnology

Papers

  • PLBI 495  Master's Thesis Preparation,
    PLBI 401  Special Topics,
    BTNY 461  Plant Physiology and Biotechnology,
    BTNY 465 Plant and Environment; and

  • One further approved 400-level BIOC or BTNY paper; and

  • PLBI 5 (thesis)

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Psychology

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Master of Science (MSc) in Surveying

  • 500-level SURV papers worth at least 120 points; and

  • SURV 5 (thesis)

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Toxicology

  • PHAL 495  Master's Thesis Preparation; and
    PHAL 421  General Pharmacology and Toxicology; and

  • Three of
    PHAL 427  Special Topic: Cancer Pharmacology,
    PHAL 428  Current Research Literature in Toxicology,
    PHAL 430  Advanced Topic in Pharmacology and Toxicology
    PHAL 431  Special Project

  • PHAL 5B (thesis)

    Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Zoology

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Regulations for the Degree of Master of Science (MSc)

  1. Admission to the Programme

    1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).
    2. Every applicant must either
      1. be a graduate, or
      2. have alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).
    3. In considering an applicant's qualifications, regard will be had to the detail of the course of study followed to gain the qualification, as well as the applicant's performance in the programme.

  2. Structure of the Programme

    1. The degree may be awarded in any of the subjects listed above. With the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences) the degree may be awarded in a subject not listed above.
    2. The programme of study shall be as prescribed for the subject concerned.
    3. A candidate whose qualification for entry to the programme is the degree of Bachelor of Science with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Science or equivalent may achieve the degree after a minimum of one year of further study, normally by completing a thesis or equivalent as prescribed in the MSc Schedule.

    4. A candidate may be exempted from some of the prescribed papers on the basis of previous study.

    5. A candidate shall, before commencing the investigation to be described in a thesis, secure the approval of the Head of the Department concerned for the topic, the supervisor(s), and the proposed course of the investigation.
    6. A candidate may not present a thesis which has previously been accepted for another degree.
    7. A candidate taking the degree by papers and thesis must pass both the papers and the thesis components.
    8. For the thesis, the research should be of a kind that a diligent and competent student should complete within one year of full-time study.

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  3. Duration of the Programme

    A candidate achieving the degree by papers and a thesis shall normally follow a programme for the equivalent of not less than two years of full-time study and not more than three years of full-time study, and a candidate achieving the degree by thesis alone shall normally follow a programme of study for the equivalent of not less than one year of full-time study and not more than two years of full-time study. Exceptions shall be permitted only with the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

  4. Withdrawal from the Programme

    1. A candidate taking both papers and thesis whose paper results are not satisfactory, as defined by the department or subject area concerned, shall be required to withdraw frm the programme
    2. Where a candidate withdraws from the programme, whether voluntarily or otherwise, after completing the prescribed papers, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences) may recommend the award of the Postgraduate Diploma in Science or determine which papers shall be credited towards the Diploma.

  5. Examination of the Thesis

    1. The thesis shall be assessed by at least two examiners, at least one of whom shall be external to the University.
    2. The candidate's supervisor shall not be an examiner but may make a report on the work of the candidate to the Head of Department concerned.
    3. Each examiner shall supply a written report on the thesis and recommend a mark and grade on the basis of the thesis as submitted, and an overall result selected from the options specified in clause (d) below.
    4. The examiners may recommend that a thesis:
      1. be accepted without amendments;
      2. be accepted subject to amendments being made at the discretion and to the satisfaction of the Head of Department concerned;
      3. does not meet the criteria for the award of the degree, but may be revised and resubmitted for examination;
      4. does not meet the criteria for the award of the degree, and should be rejected without right of resubmission.
    5. Amendments 5(d)(ii) and revisions 5(d)(iii) shall be completed by a specified date to be determined by the Head of Department concerned.
    6. A candidate shall be permitted to revise and resubmit a thesis for examination once only.
    7. If a revised and resubmitted thesis is finally accepted, the result shall be either Pass or Fail (i.e. ungraded) and without eligibility for the award of the degree with credit or distinction.

      Note: This provision applies only to students who first enrol for the degree in 2009 or subsequently.

    8. Where examiners cannot agree on a result, the Head of Department concerned should so report to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences) or nominee who shall arrive at a decision after consulting a referee who should normally be external to the University.

  6. Level of Award of the Degree

    The degree may be awarded with distinction or with credit.

  7. Variations

    The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.

    Note: The due date for applications for first enrolment in the programme is 10 December. Late applications will be considered.

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