Course details

Summary

Drawing on UC's teaching and research strengths in Political Science and International Relations, graduates can now obtain a professional capstone qualification in policy analysis and strategic decision making. This master's programme will provide advanced interdisciplinary training in just one year for those wishing to progress in local, regional, national and third sector/not-for-profit roles in policy and governance.

Features of the Master of Policy and Governance

• Advanced academic principles are investigated through applied tasks such as case studies and field trips.
• In collaboration with strategic partners, a panel of experts from outside the university will provide real-world informed mentoring of participants. Mentors will come from organisations such as the New Zealand Parliament and Business Trust, Local Government New Zealand, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, NZ Treasury, the McGuinness Institute NZ and the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.
• UC's Department of Political Science and International Relations has attained national and international visibility for the strength of its teaching and academic research.
• UC has particular expertise in policy processes and community leadership in New Zealand-Pacific contexts, in East and Southeast Asia and in science, environment and technology policy.

Qualification structure

The Master of Policy and Governance (MPAG) comprises 180 points. Students can decide on the level of research that makes up their programme, choosing one of two options:

Option1: 120 points of coursework plus a 60-point dissertation

Option 2: 90 points of coursework plus a 90-point thesis (Note: this is normally only open to students with a GPA of 7.5 or with the approval of the Head of Programme).

Further study

Doctor of Philosophy

Career opportunities

The MPAG caters perfectly for students interested in policy and governance careers in local, regional and national government, and not-for-profit/volunteer sectors.

Graduates will leave UC having:

• built their knowledge in a chosen area
• engaged with senior staff and leading professional mentors
• conducted field-based learning
• conducted independent specialist policy research.

Entry criteria

A candidate will:

a) Either:

• hold a bachelor's degree in any subject, normally with at least a B average in 60 points of 300-level courses in the majoring subject; or
• have been admitted ad eundem statum as such;

and

• b) Been approved as a candidate by the Programme Director and the Dean of Arts.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade; CAE or CPE score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 64 and no PTE communicative skills score below 58.