Why Study / Key Benefits

Massey describes Politics and International Relations as an interdisciplinary area concerned with how political decisions are made, how power is exercised, how competing ideas and values shape society, and how international events affect countries and communities.

Key benefits include:

• Focused study of politics and international relations without completing a second bachelor’s degree.
• Study of contemporary and historical political issues.
• Exposure to New Zealand politics and government alongside global politics.
• Opportunities to examine international conflict, geopolitics, peace, democracy and political thought.
• Small, interdisciplinary teaching environment with lecturers who are active researchers.
• Development of analytical, research, critical-thinking and communication skills.
• Flexible distance and online study, including availability to international students studying outside New Zealand.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The qualification contains 60 credits overall.

For the Politics and International Relations endorsement, the current programme page provides the following course options.

Up to 15 credits from the following

150201 Te Kawenata o Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand Society – 15 credits

Topics include the Treaty of Waitangi's background, texts, principles and contemporary application, including land, legislation, courts, social policy, environmental issues, constitutional matters, Waitangi Tribunal claims and Treaty settlements.

200215 Interrogating Foundations of Political Thought – 15 credits

Focuses on the history of political thought from antiquity through the nineteenth century.

200261 World Affairs in Crisis – 15 credits

Introduces major theories, issues, events and institutions in contemporary world politics.

200262 Political Power in Aotearoa New Zealand – 15 credits

Examines political institutions, formal and informal political power, political actors and the relationship between politics and economics in policy development in Aotearoa New Zealand.

At least 30 credits from the following

145318 Geopolitics – 15 credits

Advanced study of geopolitics, with emphasis on geographical processes across different topics.

200300 Peace Studies – 15 credits

Examines how violence, conflict and peacebuilding are understood within politics and the development of peace studies as a sub-discipline.

200301 Contemporary International Conflict – 15 credits

Examines contemporary international conflicts using case studies from different parts of the world.

200303 Global Democratic Politics – 15 credits

Examines contemporary democratic theory and practice globally, including political participation and challenges facing contemporary democracies.

200315 Contemporary Political Thought – 15 credits

Studies major developments and debates in contemporary political thought.

200361 Aotearoa Now: Issues in New Zealand Politics – 15 credits

Examines selected themes in contemporary New Zealand politics and government, particularly from 1984 onwards.

230302 Practicing Fieldwork: Doing Qualitative Research – 15 credits

Provides practical experience in social-science fieldwork and qualitative research methods.

294381 Terrorism and Transnational Crime – 15 credits

Examines terrorism and transnational crime, including New Zealand's responses and issues such as terrorist financing.

Disciplines / Specialisations

Formal specialisation:

Politics and International Relations.

Key areas available within the course selection include:

• political thought
• political power
• New Zealand politics and government
• international relations
• world politics
• geopolitics
• international conflict
• peace studies
• democracy
• qualitative research and fieldwork
• terrorism and transnational crime
• Treaty of Waitangi and New Zealand society.

Programme Highlights

Key features include:

• 60-credit Graduate Certificate in Arts.
• NZQF Level 7.
• Politics and International Relations endorsement.
• Approximately one semester of full-time study.
• Distance and online delivery.
• International students can study from outside New Zealand.
• No second bachelor's degree is required.
• Flexible selection of politics, international relations and related courses.
• Coverage of both Aotearoa New Zealand politics and international affairs.
• Opportunities to study geopolitics, democracy, political thought, peace and conflict, and qualitative research.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies a range of career areas associated with the Graduate Certificate in Arts (Politics and International Relations), including:

• academia
• business and commerce
• diplomacy
• finance
• journalism and media
• policy advising and analysis
• public service
• research.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The current programme page confirms that the Politics and International Relations specialisation remains available as a distance-and-online Graduate Certificate in Arts.

Important current requirements and conditions include:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
• Official transcripts required for previous study completed outside Massey.
• English-language requirements must be satisfied.
• At least 60 credits are required for the Graduate Certificate.
• At least 45 credits must be at 300 level under the general qualification regulations.
• At least 45 credits must be completed within the Politics and International Relations endorsement, including at least 30 credits at 300 level.
• Not all courses are offered in every mode or teaching period.
• Students who did not complete previous study at Massey may need to use the Special Request function when attempting to enrol in certain 200-level courses.
• Electives outside Politics and International Relations can have their own prerequisite requirements.

International Student Visa Requirements

The current programme page explicitly states that international students can study this qualification online from outside New Zealand.

Therefore, an international student who remains outside New Zealand for the entire programme does not normally need a New Zealand student visa simply to undertake the online qualification.

If a student intends to travel to New Zealand and undertake the course physically, the visa situation is different. The appropriate visa would depend on the actual study arrangement and immigration requirements at that time.

For full-time study physically in New Zealand, the relevant general route for a self-funded international student is the Fee Paying Student Visa. Immigration New Zealand currently states that this visa:

• costs from NZD $850
• can allow a stay of up to 4 years, depending on the circumstances
• requires an offer of place from an approved education provider
• requires evidence of tuition-fee funding or an applicable scholarship
• requires evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor
• requires acceptable medical and travel insurance
• requires applicants to meet health and character requirements
• requires evidence of a genuine reason for study
• requires evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of the stay.