Social and Community Leadership FAQ

Where can I find further information about the programmes?
First of all please check out the recorded webinars and slides on the programmes here. You can also view interviews with some of our previous students on the programme which may prove useful (please note the core courses have since been expanded and there is no longer a need for electives).

If you have any other questions, you are welcome to contact the Programme Director Dr. John Fenaughty at: j.fenaughty@auckland.ac.nz

Am I eligible for these programmes?
The eligibility criteria for these programmes can be found below:

Postgraduate Certificate in Social and Community Leadership
Master of Social and Community Leadership

Do I need to be working in the sector/have experience to enrol?

No. The programme is designed to suit multiple entry levels, and social innovation and leadership benefit from diversity of experience and ideas. However, students who have had experience of working in organisations, and/or working in the social and community space, will be able to use this knowledge in conceptualising concepts more concretely. To date around three quarters of the students have had experience working in the sector, and a quarter are coming directly from undergraduate degrees or are transitioning from working in other sectors and want to move into the social and community space.

Effectively however, we do require that students understand some fundamental concepts associated with working in this space. Primarily an understanding of social justice, that inequality exists, and that structures and privilege can produce and exacerbate inequality, are mainstays of effective attitudes for social and community leadership and innovation. It may be that someone has done an unrelated degree, but has however volunteered or worked in an organisation that is committed to improving social and/or community outcomes (including faith, youth, justice, environmental, etc. organisations). These students are welcome and valued in the programme.

I am thinking the Masters, but should I enrol in the Certificate first?

This is completely up to you. The Certificate has lower entry requirements and this is an option for people who do not have the 5.0 GPA (B Average) to go straight into the Masters. The idea is that Certificate students then need to get a B average in their first 60 points (two courses) before they can move on into in the Masters.

Effectively, the first 60 points of the Certificate and the Masters are identical so you are not at a disadvantage of enrolling in either, and you can change your enrolment accordingly. So in summary please do whatever suits you, if you enrol in the Masters and decide you want to leave with the Certificate after you’ve done both SOCCLEAD 703 and SOCCLEAD 706 (the two core courses), you can do this or you can enrol in the Certificate and then “upgrade” to a Masters (as long as you meet the 5.0 GPA requirement).

Note:
There is no full-time certificate option at this stage, so if you want to be full time enrolled you will need to enrol in the Masters and do a research methods course in your first semester.
Students who enrol directly into the Masters programme are also required to achieve a B average in their first 60 points in order to continue in the masters programme.

What sort of jobs can I get with this degree?
Unlike a professional qualification you do not come out of this degree with a “profession”, but instead a set of transferable skills that are relevant to achieving social and community change, and leadership. The webinar and the University site provide a non-exhaustive list of possible jobs that people may move onto.

Traditionally there have been students in each cohort who have gotten work through other students in the programme, either directly in their organisations, or via their networks. For this reason, playing an active role in the course can be useful to develop relationships with others already working in the sector and improve your chances of finding work.

For students not currently working in the sector, or who are returning from a long break, or coming from working in another sector, the options include networking to identify internship and volunteering opportunities. Additionally, those who decide to go on to the Masters, may wish to partner with an organisation in their desired sector and/or identify a research topic that will be relevant to the sector, which will also improve future employability if you have advanced knowledge on an aspect relevant to organisational or sector growth.

Can I take a break or suspend my studies?

If you have exceptional circumstances which are impacting your studies and you are needing to take a break, you may be able to apply for a suspension for a maximum of two semesters. Requirements do apply for suspension requests and approval is not guaranteed.

Note:
Suspensions are only available to those in an Honours or Masters programme and not a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.
 

Do I need to be “continuously enrolled” if I want to change from the Certificate to the Masters?
Yes, you must be continuously enrolled if you are wishing to change from the Certificate to the Masters. This means you need to make sure that you are enrolled in courses in each semester without any breaks/no semesters of non-enrolment.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to apply for a suspension for a maximum of two semesters. Please note that requirements do apply for a suspension and approval is not guaranteed.

Do I need a supervisor?
Yes, if you are studying the Master of Social and Community Leadership, you must find a supervisor before you start your thesis in the second half of the programme. Prior to starting a thesis, you will also need to complete the two core courses (SOCCLEAD 703 and SOCCLEAD 706), a Research Methods Course (EDUCSW 700) and submit a research proposal for approval. For more information, please see: Thesis enrolment process.

Can the thesis be done completely online or remotely?
This may be possible, however you must find a supervisor who agrees to supervise you online/remotely which is not guaranteed. Although a thesis is mostly done off-campus/remotely, there is generally a requirement for you to regularly meet with your supervisor in-person from time to time so you will need to find a supervisor willing to do this completely online/remotely if you wish to go down this path.

Can I study part-time?
Yes, the Master of Social and Community Leadership can be done full-time or part-time and the Postgraduate Certificate in Social and Community Leadership is only available part-time.

How do I apply?
You are able to submit an application for admission online. Please see: Apply now.

How long do I have to complete the degree?
The time-limit to complete these programmes are as follows:

Master of Social and Community Leadership:
3 semesters (1.5 years) for full-time study
6 semesters (3 years) for part-time study

Postgraduate Certificate in Social and Community Leadership:
This programme is only available part-time and can be completed in 2-4 semesters.

Can I book an appointment to speak with an adviser?
If you wish to speak with an adviser, you are welcome to drop into one of our Student Hubs or make an online appointment here. (Appointments are available face-to-face and online)

What is the workload like?
Full-time students should expect to commit an average of 40 hours per week to their studies. As a general rule, a 15 point course involves 150 hours of student work across a semester, a third of which is for with lectures/classes. The remaining time is for self-directed study including work for assignments and tests/examinations. This is an average figure, and individuals may spend more or less time than that. Your workload may vary a little from week to week depending on your course commitments and assignment due dates. Part-time students should expect to commit to half of the workload for a full-time student specified above.

What is considered an international student and domestic student?
Domestic students

You will be considered a domestic student if you are:
a New Zealand citizen, or
a New Zealand permanent resident, or
a New Zealand resident visa holder, or
Australian permanent resident, or
An Australian citizen residing in New Zealand
International students

You will be considered an international student if you are not:
a New Zealand citizen, or
a New Zealand permanent resident, or
a New Zealand resident visa holder, or
Australian permanent resident, or
An Australian citizen residing in New Zealand
 

What are the fees?

The fees for these programmes can be found below:
Master of Social and Community Leadership
Postgraduate Certificate in Social and Community Leadership

What scholarships are available?
We offer a wide range of scholarships and encourage you to please search and apply for as many as you believe you may be eligible for . For more information, please see: Scholarships and awards - The University of Auckland

Do I qualify for a student loan or allowance?
Please see: check your eligibility for a student loan and allowance.

Are these programmes available to international students?
Our Master of Social and Community Leadership is available to international students. However, the Postgraduate Certificate in Social and Community Leadership is only available to domestic students as this is a part-time only programme which would not qualify international students for a student visa.

How do I find a supervisor?
For more information, please see: Find a supervisor

Can I study online?
Our Social and Community Leadership programmes are generally only available at our Epsom campus in Auckland.

What is the structure of the programme?
The Master of Social and Community Leadership is a 180 point research programme with the following structure:

Core courses: SOCCLEAD 703 and SOCCLEAD 706
Research Methods Course: EDUCSW 700
90 point thesis
This programme can be completed in either 1.5 years full-time or 3 years part-time. Prior to enrolling into the thesis, you will need to first complete the Research Methods Course, find a supervisor and submit a research proposal. For further information, please see: Thesis enrolment process.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Social and Community Leadership is a 60 point taught programme with the following structure:
Core courses: SOCCLEAD 703 and SOCCLEAD 706
This programme is only available part-time and can be completed in 2-4 semesters. If you complete this certificate with a GPA of 5.0 or higher (B Average), you will be able to have these courses transferred over to the masters programme (provided the certificate has not been awarded and there has been no break in study/continuous enrolment).