Master of Philosophy

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree is a one-year, research-only master's degree.

The Master of Philosophy enables you to expand your research capabilities by focusing on a particular area of interest, under the supervision of AUT's expert academic staff. It can provide a pathway to more advanced research at doctoral level.

Explore our research expertise

AUT's academic supervisors are recognised world-class researchers who have the expert knowledge in their fields to guide you throughout your studies.

Browse research expertise

Minimum entry requirements

Must have completed one of the following with the equivalent of a B grade average or higher:

  • Four-year bachelor’s degree OR
  • Bachelor’s honours degree OR
  • Bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate diploma OR
  • Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of experience relevant to the proposed programme of research

An interview may be required for particular research areas.

International student entry requirements

English language requirements

  • IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with a minimum score of 6.0 in each band

English language requirements

Other requirements

  • May be required to complete an approved research methods course

How to apply for the Master of Philosophy

  1. Apply online and submit all required documents at least three months prior to the intended start date
  2. The Graduate Research School will assess your eligibility and forward to the relevant faculty to confirm possible research areas and supervisors
  3. Where the faculty confirms the availability of resources, including supervision, they will request for you to complete the formal research proposal and application for enrolment
  4. Once the research proposal is confirmed by the faculty, it will be sent to the Graduate Research School for approval and to issue an Offer of Place

For general enquiries for the Master of philosophy programme please contact doctoral.and.mphil.admissions@aut.ac.nz.

Preparing a research proposal

Prospective MPhil applicants are required to prepare a formal research proposal, specifying the field of research and a general research question you wish to investigate.

Postgraduate Research Proposal

Information we need to assess your application

We require the following information:

  • Faculty and/or field you wish to conduct your study in
  • Academic transcripts
  • Grading scale for postgraduate qualification
  • Degree certificates (undergraduate and postgraduate)
  • 1-2 page document (maximum) outlining your proposed research project
  • Curriculum vitae (CV)
  • If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of English Language proficiency – IELTS (Academic) test results or recognised equivalent. If your postgraduate study was completed in English within 3 years, this may be waived

Once the required information is received, we will forward your enquiry to the relevant faculty who will communicate to you about the outcome of your application, possible research areas and supervisors.

Requirements for specific subjects

Art & design

We require a portfolio (between 10-15 annotated images as a pdf or PowerPoint file or a URL for a website)

You complete an original thesis during this year of study.

AUT staff are available to supervise MPhil research on a wide range of topics.

Skills you will develop as part of the Master of Philosophy

The outcomes for graduates of the Master of Philosophy are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.

Graduate Profile

Quick facts
Programme code:
AK3720
Level:
9
Points:
120
Duration:
1 year full-time / part-time available
Campus:
City Campus
North Campus
South Campus
Starts:
1 May 2024
1 Jul 2024
1 Oct 2024
1 Feb 2025
1 May 2025
1 Jul 2025
1 Oct 2025

Key semester dates
Apply by:
1 Nov (for Feb intake)
1 Feb (for May intake)
1 Apr (for Jul intake)
1 Jul (for Oct intake)

Applications received after the application date will be considered on a case-by-case basis otherwise the application will be held over for the subsequent start date.

Fees
Domestic
$8,623 (for 120 points)
($7,477 tuition fees + $1146 student services levy)
International
$43,046 (for 120 points)
($41,900 tuition fees + $1146 student services levy)
  • Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
  • Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
  • There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
  • International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.

Scholarships

The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.