We offer two masters degrees that will enable you to increase your knowledge in your chosen field, gain a professionally accredited qualification or follow your passion for research while gaining an advanced qualification. We also offer the Master of Nursing Science, which is a pre-registration programme that enables non-registered nurses with a relevant undergraduate degree, the opportunity to become a registered nurse in Aotearoa.

This programme is aimed at registered nurses seeking to advance their clinical knowledge and skills.  Students have the option of undertaking a Master of Nursing (research) or a Master of Nursing (taught). The chart below demonstrates that there are three options for students to achieve their 120 points in the Master of Nursing (research) and three primary ways for students to achieve their 120 points in the Master of Nursing (taught). 

Entry requirement

Students must hold current registration as a nurse in Aotearoa and have a B average (GPA 5) or higher in one of the following qualifications:

• Bachelor of Nursing (Honours)
• PGDipHSc specialisation in Advanced Nursing (or their equivalent)
  

Please note, if you are interested in the MNurs but do not have the required GPA (B average), please contact the School of Nursing so that we can help you explore eligibility options.

Options

Students can decide between the following two options:

• Research (120 points)
• Taught (120 points)

Option 1: Master of Nursing (Research)

Structure/content

Research 120 points (study must be continuous)

• NURSING 796 Thesis (120 points, must have completed an approved research methods course prior to entering the programme)
  

OR

• NURSING 797 Research Portfolio (120 points, must have completed an approved research methods course prior to entering the programme)

OR

• NURSING 790 Research Portfolio (90 points) + NURSING 782 Research Methods in Nursing and Health (30 points or equivalent research course)

What does a research masters entail?

Option 2: Master of Nursing (Taught)

Structure/content

Taught 120 points (study does not have to be continuous, but needs to be completed within the regulatory timeframes).

• NURSING 795 Dissertation (60 points) - this course is the preferred pathway for those students not on the Nurse Practitioner pathway.
• And 60 points from MNurs Schedule.

Or

30 points from either:

• NURSING 701 Research Project (30 points) - the preferred pathway for students on the Nurse Practitioner pathway. 
• HLTHSCI 789 Research Project (30 points).

And 30 points from either:

• NURSING 785 Clinical Reasoning in Pharmacotherapeutics (30 points).
• NURSING 746 Evidence-based Practice and Implementation (30 points).
• NURSING 740 Nurse Practitioner Prescribing Practicum (30 points).

And 60 points from MNurs Schedule.

The key to being eligible to graduate with your MNurs is to ensure that your Taught Master’s degree includes a minimum of 60 points of level 9 courses. There are three primary ways to achieve this, demonstrated in the chart above.

Note, if you are not completing NURSING 795 A/B (Dissertation), it becomes mandatory to include HLTHSCI 789 (Research Project) in your MNurs qualification. The 60 more points of taught courses can be chosen from the MNurs Schedule.

This programme is aimed at health professionals who wish to pursue postgraduate study and work in a range of settings, not necessarily clinical nursing practice, such as education, research and management. This qualification is also appropriate for other health professionals who wish to pursue postgraduate study and advanced roles in health-related fields. They may select from a broader range of courses, including multidisciplinary courses.

Entry requirements

To be eligible to enter a 120 point MHSc, an applicant must have completed a PGDip (or equivalent qualification) with a B average (GPA 5) or higher.

Options

Students can decide between the following two options:

• Research (120 points)
• Taught (120 points) 
   

Option 1: Master of Health Sciences (Research)

Structure/content

• HLTHSCI 796 Thesis (120 points, must have completed an approved research methods course prior to entering the programme) 
  
  Or
  
  
• HLTHSCI 797 Research Portfolio (120 points, must have completed an approved research methods course prior to entering the programme)
  
  Or
  
  
• HLTHSCI 793 Research Portfolio (90 points) and 30 points from approved courses listed in the MHSc Schedule (available online).
   

Option 2: Master of Health Sciences (Taught)

Structure/content

Taught 120 points

• HLTHSCI 790 Dissertation (60 points)
• And 60 points from the courses listed in the MHSc Schedule, including an approved research methods course if such a course has not already been passed.

This full-time two-year pre-registration programme gives graduates with a relevant undergraduate degree the opportunity to complete the requirements to become a registered nurse in Aotearoa.

Entry requirements

Students must have completed a relevant undergraduate degree (such as health sciences or science with some human science subjects, such as physiology and anatomy) with a B average (GPA 5) or higher in 75 points above stage II.
Eligible applicants will also be required to attend a selection interview.
English language proficiency and Fitness to Practice requirements also apply.