Regulations for the Degree of Master of Science (Research) (MSc(Research))

  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 Computing and Mathematical Sciences, 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 a Postgraduate Diploma of the University of Waikato in a relevant subject with an average grade of at least B, or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
    3. qualified for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours or Bachelor of Science with Honours of the University of Waikato with at least Second Class Honours (second division) or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
    4. demonstrated to the Academic Board that they have adequate training, experience and ability to proceed with the degree, and
    5. satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree, at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board, and
    6. be subject to the completion of any qualifying papers or additional work as may be required by the Academic Board, 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) or 2(d) of these regulations is one and a half academic years. The normal minimum period of enrolment for completion of the Degree for candidates admitted under section 2(b) or 2(c) 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) or 2(d) of these regulations must gain at least 180 points at 500 level or above. Candidates admitted under section 2(b) or 2(c) of these regulations must gain at least 120 points at 500 level or above.
  4. Candidates must gain at least 60 points of taught papers from one of the following subjects, including any compulsory papers prescribed in the relevant subject entry found using the University of Waikato's Find a Paper.1

Subjects

Artificial Intelligence2
Biomedical Sciences
Chemistry
Computer Science
Data Analytics5
Earth Sciences
Ecology and Biodiversity
Electronics
Environmental Sciences
Materials and Processing
Mathematics
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Physics
Psychology3

  1. Candidates must include a thesis equivalent to 120 points.
  2. Candidates admitted under sections 2(a) or 2(d) of these regulations must pass all of the papers taken for the first 60 points for the Degree with an average grade of at least B in order to be eligible to continue with the Degree.4
  3. Candidates admitted under sections 2(b) or 2(c) of these regulations will be granted exemption from up to 60 points of taught papers.
  4. 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.

Examination of thesis

  1. The University will appoint two examiners for the candidate's thesis; one examiner external to the University and active in the research field of the thesis; and one examiner internal to the University, with a good grounding in the research field, who is not directly connected to the candidate, or the candidate's thesis research or supervision.

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. Candidates who fail a paper will not be eligible for the award of honours.
  2. Except with the approval of the Academic Board, the level of honours will be calculated on the basis of the grades of the papers passed by the candidate on the first attempt while enrolled for the Degree.

Variations

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

Notes:

  1. Candidates admitted under sections 2(a) or 2(d) of these regulations who intend to complete the Degree in a subject without a substantive relationship to their undergraduate major are required to gain at least 120 points of taught papers in their chosen subject.
  2. This programme will only be available to candidates who have qualified for an award listed in Section 2 in a relevant subject.
  3. This programme will not be available to candidates admitted under section 2(a) of these regulations.
  4. Candidates who are ineligible to continue with the Degree may be eligible to graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in a relevant subject.
  5. There will be no intake into this subject in 2024.