Why Study/Key Benefits

The Graduate Diploma in Arts (Politics and International Relations) is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and want to gain substantial undergraduate-level study in politics and international relations without completing a second bachelor’s degree. Massey describes it as a way to develop knowledge equivalent to an undergraduate major in the subject.

Key benefits include:

• Understanding how political decisions are made and how power operates in society.
• Examining New Zealand's political system alongside global political developments.
• Studying political philosophy, political thought, democracy, geopolitics, peace and conflict.
• Exploring contemporary international conflicts and their causes and consequences.
• Examining inequality and the relationship between public policy and society.
• Developing analytical, research, critical-thinking and communication skills.
• Learning in a small interdisciplinary subject area with lecturers who are active researchers.
• Using the qualification as a pathway to further study such as the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts or Master of Arts, subject to the relevant admission requirements.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The Politics and International Relations endorsement is 90 credits within the 120-credit Graduate Diploma.

The current regulations provide the following subject structure.

Subject courses include a maximum of 30 credits selected from:

• 150201 Te Kawenata o Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand Society – 15 credits. Covers the Treaty of Waitangi, its historical and contemporary application, legislation, court decisions, social policy, constitutional matters and Treaty settlements.
• 200215 Interrogating Foundations of Political Thought – 15 credits. Examines 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, political actors, political power and the interaction of politics and economics in policy development.

At least 60 credits are selected from areas including:

• 145318 Geopolitics – advanced study of geopolitical processes.
• 200300 Peace Studies – violence, conflict and peacebuilding.
• 200301 Contemporary International Conflict – contemporary international conflicts using global case studies.
• 200303 Global Democratic Politics – contemporary democratic theory, practice and political participation.
• 200315 Contemporary Political Thought – key developments and debates in contemporary political thought.
• 200361 Aotearoa Now: Issues in New Zealand Politics – contemporary New Zealand politics and government, particularly from 1984 onwards.
• 230302 Practicing Fieldwork: Doing Qualitative Research – practical social-science fieldwork and qualitative research methods.
• 294381 Terrorism and Transnational Crime – the relationship between terrorism and transnational crime, including New Zealand responses and issues such as terrorist financing.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The programme's named endorsement is:

• Politics and International Relations

Within this specialisation, students can develop academic interests in:

• Political thought and political philosophy
• New Zealand politics and government
• International relations
• Geopolitics
• Democracy and political participation
• Peace studies
• International conflict
• Terrorism and transnational crime
• Treaty of Waitangi and politics in Aotearoa New Zealand
• Political power and public policy
• Qualitative social-science research.

Programme Highlights

• NZQF Level 7 qualification.
• 120-credit Graduate Diploma.
• Normally completed in 1 year full-time.
• Designed for students who already hold a bachelor's degree.
• Provides a substantial academic specialisation in Politics and International Relations without requiring a second bachelor's degree.
• 90-credit Politics and International Relations endorsement.
• Minimum 60 credits at 300 level within the endorsement.
• Distance and online delivery.
• Specifically open to international students studying online from outside New Zealand.
• Small interdisciplinary teaching environment.
• Academic staff are active researchers.
• Topics range from New Zealand politics and political thought to geopolitics, democracy, peace, conflict and global politics.
• Can provide a pathway to further study such as a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts or Master of Arts, subject to the applicable admission requirements.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies potential career areas including:

• Academia
• Business and commerce
• Diplomacy
• Finance
• Journalism and media
• Policy advising and analysis
• Public service
• Research.

Massey also identifies organisations and sectors employing graduates from this area, including:

• New Zealand Defence Forces
• Ministry of Social Development
• Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
• Treasury
• Air New Zealand
• Reserve Bank
• United Nations
• Amnesty International.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The current programme remains listed as Distance and online.
• International students are currently accepted when studying online from outside New Zealand.
• The qualification requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• No Politics and International Relations-specific prior bachelor's major is stated as an entry requirement.
• Official transcripts from universities other than Massey must be supplied.
• The qualification is NZQF Level 7 and therefore uses Massey's undergraduate English-language standard.
• The endorsement is currently 90 credits, while the complete Graduate Diploma requires at least 120 credits.
• At least 75 credits of the overall Graduate Diploma must be at 300 level.
• At least 60 credits within the Politics and International Relations endorsement must be at 300 level.
• Not all listed courses are necessarily offered every year.
• Students entering with previous study outside Massey may need to use Massey's Special Request process for certain 200-level courses.
• If electives are chosen from areas such as Languages, Economics, Mathematics or Statistics, additional prerequisite requirements may apply.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student who intends to travel to New Zealand to study, the relevant visa is generally the Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to the student's individual circumstances. However, this particular programme is currently offered to international students studying online from outside New Zealand, so a New Zealand student visa is not normally required simply to undertake the online programme from overseas.

If the student's study arrangement requires them to be physically in New Zealand, Immigration New Zealand's current Fee Paying Student Visa requirements include:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of sufficient funds to pay tuition fees or an applicable scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance for the required period.
• Meeting health and character requirements.
• Demonstrating a genuine reason for studying in New Zealand.
• Evidence that the student can leave New Zealand at the end of the authorised stay.
• Online visa application.
• Immigration New Zealand recommends applying at least three months before intended travel.