Graduate and Postgraduate Qualifications and Programmes

At the University of Waikato our graduate degrees include Bachelors with Honours degrees and Masters degrees. The timeframes noted in this list are for full-time study (unless otherwise indicated), but most graduate programmes can also be taken part-time.

For more detailed information on our degrees, see the University of Waikato Calendar.

BACHELORS DEGREES WITH HONOURS

Bachelors degrees with Honours are one-year fulltime programmes normally comprising four graduate papers and continuing the subject taken as a major in a Bachelors degree. While the degree is a qualification in its own right, it may also be an intermediate step leading on to a one-year Masters degree. Admission is generally open to students with a B/B+ average in a Bachelors degree in the major subject. The degree is awarded with a class of honours.

MASTERS DEGREES

The University of Waikato offers one and two year Masters degree programmes. The one-year Masters normally follows a Bachelors with Honours degree in the same subject, while the two-year programmes follow an undergraduate (Bachelors) degree. Masters degrees may be awarded with a class of Honours or, in some cases, Distinction. One-year Masters degrees comprise four papers while two-year degrees require eight papers. In each case the programme may combine taught papers with a research thesis or dissertation.

GRADUATE DIPLOMAS

Graduate Diplomas are generally a one-year full-time programme consisting of undergraduate papers. Graduate Diplomas are intended to provide the equivalent of a major in a subject other than that in which the student has majored for their first degree. Admission to these programmes generally requires a B average in the applicant's first degree.

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMAS

Postgraduate Diplomas generally comprise a one-year full-time programme of graduate papers. They are regarded as equivalent to an honours degree, and build on attainment in a prior degree, and demonstrated practical, professional or scholarly experience. Admission to these programmes generally requires a B average in the applicant's first degree.

MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY

The Master of Philosophy is a pre-eminent one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which: critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance; demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship; displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned; is of publishable quality.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is the highest degres awarded by the University for research which is carried out under the immediate supervision of staff members. The research, which must be the candidate's own work, is written up as a thesis. The thesis will be required to demonstrate the research process, and arguments, the findings and the conclusions drawn. There is no course work for this degree. The original contribution to knowledge required of candidates must be consistent with at least two years of supervised research and significant parts of the work should be worthy of publication at international level.

DOCTOR OF EDUCATION AND DOCTOR OF JURIDICAL SCIENCE

Professional doctorates are designed for students who have had relevant professional experience or who wish to combine doctoral studies with continuing employment in a professional setting. Professional doctorates include a series of directed studies or course work in addition to a thesis. The Doctor of Education and Doctor of Juridical Science consist of a research portfolio and a thesis which makes a contribution to knowledge consistent with at least two years of full-time research.

HIGHER DOCTORATES

Higher doctorates, the Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Literature and Doctor of Science of the University of Waikato are the most advanced degrees offered by the University. They are awarded on the basis of published work of high originality and merit, usually carried out over a number of years. These degrees are awarded for work which is not carried out under academic supervision.

ACADEMIC PRE-REQUISITES FOR RESEARCH DEGREES

Candidates for higher degrees will be expected to have a bachelors degree with first class or upper second class honours, or a masters degree with first or upper second-class honours, or an equivalent qualification. In special circumstances, a candidate who does not have the required formal academic qualifications, but who has appropriate research experience, may also be considered.

Acceptance as a candidate for a research degree is also dependent upon the University being able to provide expert supervision in the intended area of research and being assured that the resources required for that research are available.