Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Graduate Diploma in Arts (Security Studies) is designed as a bridging qualification for graduates who already hold a degree in another subject and want to gain the equivalent of an undergraduate major in Security Studies without completing a second bachelor’s degree.
• It addresses contemporary local, national and international security issues, including interstate conflict, nuclear proliferation, religious disputes, resource security, globalisation and environmental change.
• The programme covers both traditional and emerging security challenges, including cyber security, intelligence, terrorism and transnational crime, biosecurity, emerging technologies, defence and warfare.
• Massey states that its Security Studies offering is unique in New Zealand as specialist education in this field. The programme is designed with input from an advisory board involving New Zealand defence and security officials.
• The qualification can also provide a pathway towards further postgraduate study in security-related subjects.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Security Studies specialisation is structured around 90 credits of Security Studies courses plus 30 credits of electives. The current programme page lists the following Security Studies courses.

Security Studies subject options include:

• States, Borders and Resource Security – 15 credits
  • Examines states' efforts to secure resources and the protection and sustainability of global resources, including oceans and polar regions.
• Global Defence and Security Challenges – 15 credits
  • Covers emerging and re-emerging defence and security challenges, strategic competition, conflict, emerging technologies and climate-related security implications.
• Intelligence in the Security Environment – 15 credits
  • Examines contemporary global and New Zealand security risks, intelligence cycles, intelligence models, information collection and analysis, and intelligence products used for decision-making.
• The Psychology of Security – 15 credits
  • Explores how psychology can contribute to understanding and responding to contemporary security challenges.
• Cyber Security and Emerging Technologies – 15 credits
  • Covers cyber-security development, actors in cyberspace, cyber threats and the security implications of emerging technologies.
• The Future of Security and Warfare – 15 credits
  • Examines global trends shaping future security and warfare and their effects at individual, societal, state and international levels.
• The History of Defence and Security Intelligence – 15 credits
  • Covers the development of defence and security intelligence from ancient times to the present, including intelligence organisations, technological change and political, social and ethical issues.
• Terrorism and Transnational Crime – 15 credits
  • Examines the relationship between terrorism and transnational crime, including New Zealand responses and terrorist financing.
• Advanced Biosecurity – 15 credits
  • Examines contemporary biosecurity issues and their management from a social-science perspective.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The specific specialisation is:

• Security Studies

The subject is interdisciplinary and incorporates areas including:

• Security policy
• Defence and warfare
• Intelligence
• Cyber security
• Terrorism and transnational crime
• Biosecurity
• Resource and border security
• Emerging technologies
• Psychology of security
• International and global security issues

Programme Highlights

• NZQF Level 7 graduate qualification.
• 120-credit qualification that can normally be completed in one year full-time.
• Designed for students who already have a bachelor's degree but want to change or broaden their academic specialisation.
• Provides the equivalent of an undergraduate major in Security Studies without requiring a second bachelor's degree.
• Auckland campus and distance/online study options.
• International students can study on campus in New Zealand or online from outside New Zealand.
• Focuses on both conventional and non-conventional security challenges.
• Includes contemporary topics such as cyber security, intelligence, emerging technology, biosecurity and transnational crime.
• Potential progression to postgraduate study in security-related disciplines.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies a range of potential professional areas for graduates, including:

• Government and non-government agencies
• Security organisations
• Commercial companies
• Business
• Foreign affairs
• Trade and law
• Intelligence
• Border protection
• Law enforcement

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

Current information indicates:

• The qualification is NZQF Level 7.
• The current programme contains 120 credits.
• Not all courses are necessarily offered every year.
• Students entering the qualification are not required to complete 100-level prerequisite courses for the Security Studies specialisation.
• Students may need to use Massey’s Special Request process when enrolling in some 200-level courses if their previous study was not completed at Massey.
• If students choose electives in areas such as Languages, Economics, Mathematics or Statistics, they may have to satisfy the relevant 100-level prerequisites.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student physically studying in New Zealand, Massey states that most students studying full-time for more than three months require a Fee Paying Student Visa. Students must:

• Hold an Offer of Place from Massey.
• Pay the required tuition fees before applying for the first student visa, according to Massey’s process.
• Provide the Offer of Place and tuition-fee payment receipt to Immigration New Zealand.
• Maintain a valid visa for the period of study in New Zealand.
• Meet Immigration New Zealand's financial, health, character, insurance and other requirements.

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

• Costs from NZD 850.
• Can allow study for up to four years, depending on the circumstances.
• May allow work up to 25 hours per week during study and full-time during eligible holidays, depending on the conditions attached to the visa.
• Requires evidence of sufficient tuition funding and living expenses.
• Requires acceptable medical and travel insurance.