Regulations for the Degree of Master of Science (MSc)

  1. The Personal Programmes of Study Regulations apply in these regulations.

Admission

  1. Candidates for the Degree must have
    1. qualified for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Science (Technology) of the University of Waikato with at least a B grade average across the 300 level papers, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
    2. qualified for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, or Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours, or Bachelor of Science with Honours with at least second class honours (second division), or for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma of the University of Waikato in a relevant subject with at least a B grade average, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, and
    3. satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree, at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board.
  2. In exceptional circumstances, based on academic merit and relevant experience, candidates who do not meet the requirements of section 2 of these regulations may be considered for admission subject to the completion of any qualifying papers the Academic Board may prescribe which must be completed either prior to admission or concurrently.

Requirements for the Degree

  1. The normal minimum period of enrolment for completion of the Degree for candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations is one calendar year or one and a half academic years. The normal period of enrolment for completion of the Degree for candidates admitted under section 2(b) of these regulations is one academic year.
  2. Candidates must enrol in the Division of Health, Engineering, Computing and Science and follow an approved programme of study.
  3. Candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations must gain at least 180 points at 500 level or above. Candidates admitted under section 2(b) of these regulations must gain at least 120 points at 500 level or above.
  4. Candidates must gain at least 60 points from one of the following subjects, including any compulsory papers prescribed in the relevant subject entry in the University of Waikato Subject Regulations:

Subjects

Artificial Intelligence2
Biomedical Sciences
Chemistry
Computer Science
Data Analytics2
Earth Sciences
Ecology and Biodiversity
Electronics
Environmental Sciences
Materials and Processing
Mathematics
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Physics
Psychology1

  1. Candidates must include a dissertation in their subject equivalent to 45 or 60 points.
  2. Candidates may take up to 60 points from outside their subject. Where necessary, candidates may use these 60 points to satisfy the pre-requisites of their subject papers.
  3. If a candidate fails a paper or papers (worth not more than 30 points in total), they may repeat the paper or papers or take an alternative paper or papers with the same total points value on one occasion only. A candidate who fails a paper or papers worth more than 30 points in total will not be permitted to proceed with the Degree.

Award of Honours

  1. The Degree may be awarded with
    1. First Class Honours, or
    2. Second Class Honours (first division), or
    3. Second Class Honours (second division), or

or without honours.

  1. Except with the approval of the Academic Board, the level of honours will be calculated on the basis of the grades of the papers presented for the Degree, including any failed paper.

Variations

  1. The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Division or delegated authority may vary or waive these regulations in individual cases.

Notes:

  1. This subject will not be available to candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations.
  2. There will be no intake into this subject in 2025.