Why Study / Key Benefits

The Master of Health Science (MHSc) is a postgraduate programme designed primarily to help registered nurses and other health professionals develop advanced clinical practice, professional leadership and research capabilities. The programme combines academic study with a strong health-professional focus and allows students considerable flexibility in selecting papers aligned with their career interests.

Key benefits include:

• Development of advanced clinical and professional skills.
• Development of evidence-based practice and research capability.
• Opportunities to build clinical and professional leadership skills.
• Flexible study choices across areas such as mental health, primary/community/rural healthcare, acute care, M?ori health, older-person health and rehabilitation.
• Additional areas of interest can include child health, cancer care, death and dying, education and health management.
• Opportunities for M?ori and Pasifika nurses to develop clinical, cultural and leadership practice through Indigenous worldviews.
• Students can undertake a substantial research component through a dissertation or thesis, depending on their approved study plan.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The MHSc requires 240 points at 500 level under the standard entry route. Students follow an approved programme of study within the Division of Health.

The current Health Science subject regulations list a broad range of postgraduate papers. Examples include:

• HLTSC501 – Health Assessment and Clinical Decision-Making for Registered Nurses
• HLTSC502 – Applied Science
• HLTSC503 – Specialty Knowledge in Nursing Practice
• HLTSC506 – Special Project
• HLTSC507 – Pharmacological Therapy
• HLTSC508 – Registered Nurse Prescribing Practicum
• HLTSC509 – Advanced Clinical Practicum
• HLTSC510 – Advanced Practice Role Development
• HLTSC511 – M?tanga Tapuhi (Nurse Practitioner) Prescribing Practicum
• HLTSC520 – Mental Health Nursing Practice
• HLTSC521 – Psychological Therapies
• HLTSC530 – Gerontological Studies
• HLTSC535 – Managing People in the Health Sector
• HLTSC536 – Finance and Data Analytics in Health
• HLTSC540 – Education and Development for Practice
• HLTSC541 – Supervision and Mentorship
• HLTSC545 – Child Health Assessment
• HLTSC546 – The Biological Basis for Child Health
• HLTSC547 – Youth Health
• HLTSC550 – M?ori, Pacific and Indigenous Professional Health Practice
• HLTSC551 – M?ori, Pacific and Indigenous Health Leadership
• HLTSC560 – Improving Health Outcomes for People with Long-term Health Conditions
• HLTSC561 – Primary Healthcare Practice
• HLTSC562 – Primary Mental Health.

Research options include:

• HLTSC592 – Health Science Dissertation, 60 points
• HLTSC593 – Health Science Thesis, 90 points
• HLTSC594 – Health Science Thesis, 120 points. 

Disciplines / Specialisations

The programme does not present a fixed list of formal majors or specialisations on its qualification page. Instead, students can customise their postgraduate study through available Health Science papers.

The University specifically identifies study interests including:

• Mental health
• Primary healthcare
• Community healthcare
• Rural healthcare
• Acute care
• M?ori health
• Older-person health
• Rehabilitation
• Child health
• Cancer care
• Death and dying
• Health education
• Health management.

Programme Highlights

• 240-point postgraduate Health Science qualification.
• Two-year standard duration.
• Hamilton campus.
• March and July intakes.
• Flexible choice of advanced Health Science subjects.
• Strong focus on advanced clinical practice and professional leadership.
• Research dissertation or thesis options.
• Dedicated Nurse Practitioner pathway.
• Study options covering mental health, primary/community/rural healthcare, M?ori health, acute care, rehabilitation and other health disciplines.
• Opportunities to develop evidence-based practice, research capability and health leadership.
• Focus on health equity and engagement with M?ori, Pacific and other Indigenous communities.

Career Outcomes

The programme is designed to support career progression for registered nurses and other health professionals, particularly into advanced clinical practice, leadership, education, research and health-service development roles.

Potential professional directions may include:

• Advanced clinical practice
• Nursing leadership
• Health-sector management
• Health education and professional development
• Clinical research
• Health-service development
• Community and primary healthcare
• Mental health practice
• Rural healthcare
• M?ori, Pacific and Indigenous health practice
• Nurse Practitioner pathway for eligible registered nurses. 

International Student Visa Requirements

International students intending to study the MHSc in New Zealand generally need a Fee Paying Student Visa unless another immigration status permits study.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that the Fee Paying Student Visa:

• Can allow study in New Zealand for up to 4 years.
• Costs from NZD 850.
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Requires sufficient funds to pay tuition or evidence of a scholarship.
• Requires sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Requires acceptable medical/travel insurance.
• Requires applicants to satisfy health, character and genuine-intention requirements.
• Requires evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.

The University of Waikato requires international students in New Zealand to:

• Remain enrolled in full-time study.
• Attend classes.
• Make satisfactory academic progress.
• Maintain approved insurance from enrolment through visa expiry, unless an applicable exception applies.