Philosophy - Graduate Study

Qualifications Available

Graduate Certificate (GradCert(Phil))
Graduate Diploma (GradDip(Phil))
Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours (BSocSc(Hons))
Master of Social Sciences (MSocSc)
Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert(Phil))
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip(Phil))

Graduate study in Philosophy enables students to extend and deepen their understanding of philosophical issues and texts and to develop their own research interests. With a focus on Philosophy undertaken in the analytic tradition, staff members have wide-ranging research interests and expertise and (subject to staffing) can offer supervised research projects in addition to offering the taught papers detailed here. Students are encouraged to pursue research projects in collaboration with staff and to present their work at conferences in New Zealand and overseas. All thesis students are expected to present a paper at our seminar series.

Students in the programme form a friendly group that acts co-operatively rather than competitively. They have excellent access to staff and their contribution to the Programme’s intellectual life is highly valued. Desk space, computers and limited internet access are usually available.

BA(Hons) and BSocSc(Hons) in Philosophy, PGCert (Phil) and PGDip(Phil)

To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in graduate Philosophy papers, a student should normally have at least a B average in either the best three of their 300 level Philosophy papers or all their undergraduate Philosophy papers.

Students enrolling in the BA(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in Philosophy must

1. have majored in Philosophy for their undergraduate degree,
2. have passed papers equivalent to the core papers in Philosophy at Waikato (PHIL102 or PHIL103, PHIL250, PHIL350) and
3. have gained a minimum B average or better (65%) in their undergraduate Philosophy papers, and no less than that in the 300 level Philosophy papers.

Students who wish to pursue graduate study in philosophy but whose undergraduate programme did not include all these papers should consult the graduate adviser.

Students who do not have a philosophy major may be admitted to individual papers on a case by case basis.

MA and MSocSc in Philosophy

A student who has completed an Honours degree in Philosophy with a minimum B+ average (70%) in their graduate Philosophy papers is eligible to apply for admission to a Master’s degree in Philosophy (either MA or MSocSc).

Students for the MA and MSocSc in Philosophy must take either a 120 point thesis, a 90 point thesis and 30 points from approved Level 5 papers, or a 60 point dissertation and 60 points from approved Level 5 papers.

GradCert(Phil) and GradDip(Phil)

A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available in Philosophy for graduates who have not included the subject at an advanced level in their first degree

Papers

Graduate Philosophy Papers (Catalogue of Papers)

Useful Links:

Graduate Adviser
More Graduate Information
Staff Research Interests and Expertise