Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Master of Education (MEd) is a postgraduate NZQF Level 9 qualification designed to update professional education knowledge and develop advanced research skills.
• Massey uses an enquiry-based and inter-professional learning model, with learning designed to be relevant to contemporary education practice.
• The programme is flexible and can be studied through distance and blended-learning options.
• Students can choose a formal subject/specialisation or complete the MEd without a specialisation.
• The programme is suitable for education professionals who want to investigate an education issue, improve professional practice, move into leadership or specialist roles, or develop research capability.
• Students can choose between a professional/coursework pathway and a research/thesis pathway.
• Massey describes the MEd as having the largest number of endorsements of its kind among postgraduate degrees in New Zealand.
• Important: the MEd does not itself qualify a student to become a teacher.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The MEd is a parts-based qualification. Students must complete Part One before progressing to Part Two.

Part One core course:

• 254710 Ruia Taitea: Transforming Education – 15 credits
  • Critical issues in education within a neo-colonial/settler society.
  • Social justice.
  • Cultural location.
  • Collective wellbeing.
  • Education in the Aotearoa New Zealand context.

Research methods:

Students select the required research-methods credits from approved courses, including:

• 267721 Research Methodologies in Education – 15 credits
  • Quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods research design.
  • Research context.
  • Research design.
  • Data collection and analysis.
• 267741 Indigenous Research Methodologies – 15 credits
  • M?ori research frameworks, philosophies and processes.
  • Indigenous scholarship relevant to educational settings.

The current programme page notes that research-pathway planning is being updated and that students need only one 15-credit research-methods course under the current programme structure.

Part Two – Coursework pathway:

• 267860 Professional Inquiry – 60 credits
• Critical evaluation and inquiry into a significant professional issue.
• Uses relevant theory and literature to investigate a professional education question.

Part Two – Research pathway:

• 267881 Thesis 90 Credit Part 1 – 45 credits
• 267882 Thesis 90 Credit Part 2 – 45 credits
• The thesis enables students to conduct and report education research using academic research conventions.

Progression requirements:

• Coursework pathway: minimum B average across the first 120 credits of Part One.
• Research pathway: minimum B+ average across the first 90 credits of Part One.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The MEd can be completed with or without a specialisation.

Current subjects formally listed in the MEd regulations are:

1. Digital Education
2. Early Years
3. Educational Administration and Leadership
4. Inclusive Education
5. Literacy Education
6. Maori Education
7. Mathematics Education.

Examples of current subject content include:

Digital Education:

• Digital Education and Design for Learning
• Innovations and Critical Issues in Digital Education
• Teaching and Digital Education.

Early Years:

• Informed Practice in Early Years Education
• Young Children, Families, Whanau and Communities
• Fostering Children's Learning Through Play-based Pedagogy.

Educational Administration and Leadership:

• Valuing Relationships and Practices in Educational Contexts, Settings and Communities
• Educational Leadership in Action
• Theory and Process in Educational Leadership.

Inclusive Education:

• Manarite in Education
• Equity and Inclusion in Education
• Neurodiversity in Education.

Literacy Education:

• Foundations of Literacy Education
• Understanding and Addressing Literacy Needs
• Teaching and Digital Education
• Advanced Studies in Motivation and Learning
• Assessment for Learning and Teaching.

Programme Highlights

• NZQF Level 9 master's qualification.
• 180 credits.
• Flexible distance and online delivery.
• Blended-learning options.
• Designed for education professionals and graduates with relevant professional experience.
• Seven current formal subjects/specialisations.
• Option to study without a specialisation.
• Coursework/professional inquiry pathway.
• Research/thesis pathway.
• 60-credit Professional Inquiry in the coursework pathway.
• 90-credit thesis in the research pathway.
• Research methods training.
• Possibility of advanced entry with recognised prior postgraduate study.
• Opportunity to graduate with Merit or Distinction where the academic requirements are met.
• International students can study online from outside New Zealand.
• The degree itself does not qualify a student to become a teacher.

Career Outcomes

Massey states that the MEd can enhance and advance careers depending on the student's chosen subject.

Potential areas include:

• Education settings
• Early childhood education
• School education
• Educational leadership
• Inclusive education
• Special education
• Literacy education
• Digital education
• Learning and instructional design
• Professional training and development
• TESOL-related settings
• Maori education
• Leadership in schools, centres and post-school settings
• Research
• Education policy development.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current MEd is a 180-credit Level 9 qualification.
• The current regulations list seven subjects: Digital Education, Early Years, Educational Administration and Leadership, Inclusive Education, Literacy Education, Maori Education and Mathematics Education.
• The programme may be completed with or without a specialisation.
• Coursework progression requires a B average across the first 120 credits.
• Research progression requires a B+ average across the first 90 credits.
• Research-pathway applicants must submit a research-interest summary of 200 words or less.
• Applicants without a Bachelor of Education/equivalent need to provide a CV showing relevant professional experience.
• The MEd is not an initial teacher-education qualification and does not itself qualify graduates to become registered teachers.
• The current programme page says the Professional Inquiry pathway is not available for full-time study and normally takes 2 years part-time.
• The programme page also contains a current note that the research-methods requirement for the thesis pathway is being updated; applicants should therefore check the final course plan issued by Massey before enrolment.
• Transitional provisions for students enrolled under earlier MEd regulations continue through 31 December 2027. These provisions primarily concern existing students rather than new applicants.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student studying the MEd entirely online from outside New Zealand:

• Massey explicitly states that international students can study the MEd online from outside New Zealand.
• A New Zealand student visa is therefore generally not required simply to study the programme remotely from the student's home country.
• If the student intends to enter New Zealand and undertake physical study, the appropriate New Zealand student visa must be obtained before commencing that arrangement.

For physical study in New Zealand, the relevant visa would generally be the Fee Paying Student Visa. Immigration New Zealand requirements include:

• An Offer of Place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of tuition-fee payment or acceptable evidence of funds to pay tuition.
• Evidence of sufficient living funds.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Meeting health and character requirements.
• Evidence of genuine study intentions.
• Evidence of onward travel or sufficient funds for onward travel.