Regulations for the Degree of Master of Arts (MA)

1.	The Personal Programmes of Study Regulations apply in these regulations.
Admission
2.	Candidates for the Degree must have
	(a)	qualified for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours of the University of Waikato or for a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, and
	(b)	satisfied the prerequisites for graduate study in the subject(s) being presented for the Degree at levels considered appropriate by the Academic Board.
3.	In exceptional circumstances, based on academic merit and relevant experience, candidates who do not meet the requirements of section 2 of these regulations may be considered for admission subject to the completion of any qualifying papers the Academic Board may prescribe which must be completed either prior to or concurrently.
Requirements for the Degree
4.	The normal minimum period of enrolment for completion of the Degree is one year. The requirements of the Degree must be completed within four consecutive years of first enrolling for the Degree.
5.	Candidates must enrol in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences or the School of Māori and Pacific Development and follow an approved programme of study.
6.	Candidates must gain 120 points at 500 level or above.
7.	Candidates must gain at least 60 points from one of the following subjects, including any compulsory papers prescribed in the relevant subject entry in the University of Waikato Calendar:
	(a)	Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences subjects
			Anthropology
			Chinese
			Education Studies
			English
			French
			Geography
			German
			History
			International Relations and Security Studies¹
			Japanese
			Mathematics
			Music
			Philosophy
			Political Science
			Psychology
			Screen and Media Studies
			Theatre Studies
	(b)	School of Māori and Pacific Development subjects
			Māori Media and Communication
			Te Reo Māori/Māori Language
			Tikanga Māori/Māori Cultural Studies
8.	Candidates must include
	(a)	a dissertation equivalent to 60 points, or
	(b)	a thesis equivalent to 90 points, or
	(c)	a thesis equivalent to 120 points.
9.	Candidates may take up to 30 points from outside the field of the Degree.
10.	The field of the Degree comprises all the subjects listed in section 7 of these regulations.
11.	If a candidate fails a paper or papers (worth not more than 30 points in total), he or she may repeat the paper or papers or take an alternative paper or papers with the same total points value on one occasion only. A candidate who fails a paper or papers worth more than 30 points in total will not be permitted to proceed with the Degree.
Award of Honours
12.	The Degree may be awarded with
	(a)	First Class Honours, or
	(b)	Second Class Honours (first division), or
	(c)	Second Class Honours (second division),
	or without honours.
13.	Except with the approval of the Academic Board, the level of honours will be calculated on the basis of the grades of the first 120 points completed by the candidate while enrolled for the Degree, including any failed paper.
Variations
14.	The Dean or delegated authority may vary or waive these regulations in individual cases.
Note:
1.	Students who wish to present International Relations and Security Studies for the Degree are normally required to have completed the Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations and Security Studies.