Master of Science (Research)
The Master of Science (Research) is a great opportunity to gain advanced research skills and explore an area within science through the one-year research thesis.
You study in a friendly, professional environment and can choose the generic Master of Science (Research) or select one of: Biomedical Science, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Food Science, Geospatial Science, Marine Science, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics.
In the second year, you focus on your thesis (120 points), gaining advanced skills in critical analysis and expertise in research methods, communication, analysis and evaluation. The thesis is your opportunity to research an area of your interest, working closely with your supervisor.
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Minimum entry requirements
One of the following (or equivalent) with a B grade average in courses at level 7:
- Bachelor of Science OR
- Graduate Diploma in Science
International student entry requirements
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with all bands 6.0 or higher; or equivalent
You need to complete a total of 240 points, including 120 points from advanced-level courses.
In the first year (or equivalent part-time) you complete courses from our vast range of courses.
In the second year, you complete your thesis, gaining advanced skills in critical analysis and expertise in research methods, communication, analysis and evaluation.
Choose from a wide range of courses
You can complete the 240-point Master of Science (Research) without a specialisation, and choose from a wide range of courses.
At the heart of this master's degree is the research thesis, which you complete in your second year.
Applicants transferring from the AUT Postgraduate Diploma in Science (or equivalent) must complete the requirements of the postgraduate diploma with a minimum of a B grade average before starting the thesis.
If you choose to complete this degree without a specialisation, you need to complete:
- SCIE805 Quantitative Analysis (15 points)
- SCIE806 Scientific Research and Communication (15 points)
- SCIE999 Thesis (120 points)
- Another 90 points of courses from the Master of Science
Courses offered
- BIOL801 Biomedical Science & Technology (30 points)
- BIOL803 Introduction to Medicinal Cannabis (15 points)
- CHEM801 Physical Chemistry I (15 points)
- CHEM803 Chemistry for Drug Discovery (15 points)
- CHEM804 Organic Chemistry II (15 points)
- CHEM805 Biological Inorganic Chemistry I (15 points)
- CHEM806 Biological Inorganic Chemistry II (15 points)
- CHEM808 Molecular Spectroscopy (15 points)
- CHEM809 Metabolites and Proteins (15 points)
- CONS801 International Conservation Biology (15 points)
- CONS802 Applied New Zealand Conservation (15 points)
- CONS803 Socio-Ecological Systems (15 points)
- CONS804 Global Change Biology (15 points)
- ECOL801 Advanced Ecology (15 points)
- ECOL802 Macroecology and Biogeography (15 points)
- ENVS801 Applications of Geographical Information Systems (15 points)
- ENVS802 Advanced Applications of Geographic Information Systems (30 points)
- ENVS803 GIS Programming (15 points)
- ENVS804 Geospatial Science for Conservation (15 points)
- ENVS805 Advances in Remote Sensing (15 points)
- ENVS806 Advances in Geospatial Analysis (15 points)
- ENVS807 Geospatial Customisation and Visualisation (15 points)
- ENVS808 Geospatial Internship (15 points)
- FOOD801 Food Science (30 points)
- FOOD802 Frontiers of Food Microbiology (30 points)
- FOOD803 Recent Trends in Food Science (15 points)
- FOOD804 Current Topics in Food Science (30 points)
- FOOD805 Advanced Sensory Analysis of Food (15 points)
- GENE802 Contemporary Molecular Genetics (30 points)
- GEOL801 Environment, Hazards and Society (15 points)
- INFS812 Bioinformatics (15 points)
- MASC801 Advanced Biological Oceanography (15 points)
- MASC802 Fisheries Science (15 points)
- MASC803 Marine Ecosystem Functions (15 points)
- MASC804 Marine Spatial Planning (15 points)
- MICR801 Selected Topics in Microbiology (15 points)
- MELS801 Biomedical Ethics (15 points)
- MELS802 Quality Assurance in Laboratory Services (15 points)
- PHIL880 Ethics of Biotechnology (15 points)
- SCIE803 Specialist Readings in Applied Science (30 points)
- SCIE804 Selected Topics in Applied Science (30 points)
- SCIE809 Selected Topic (15 points)
Specialisations
To specialise in one of the areas listed below, complete the courses listed for this specialisation.
Complete the following course:
And complete 30 points from:
- GENE802 Contemporary Molecular Genetics (30 points)
- MELS802 Quality Assurance in Laboratory Services (30 points)
- PHIL880 Ethics of Biotechnology (30 points)
And complete 30 points from:
- SCIE806 Scientific Research and Communication (15 points) or SCIE808 Advanced Scientific Enquiry (15 points)
- SCIE805 Quantitative Analysis (15 points) or SCIE807 Advanced Statistical Modelling (15 points)
And complete:
And the remaining points from other courses in the Master of Science.
Complete at least 60 points from:
- CHEM801 Physical Chemistry I (15 points)
- CHEM803 Organic Chemistry I (15 points)
- CHEM805 Biological Inorganic Chemistry I (15 points)
- CHEM807 Environmental and Analytical chemistry (15 points)
- CHEM808 Molecular Spectroscopy (15 points)
And complete 15 points from:
- SCIE806 Scientific Research and communication (15 points) or SCIE808 Advanced Scientific Enquiry (15 points)
And complete:
And the remaining points from other courses in the Master of Science.
Complete the following courses:
- ECOL801 Advanced Ecology (15 points)
- ECOL802 Macroecology and Biogeography (15 points)
- ENVS801 Applications of Geographical Information Systems (15 points)
- MASC803 Marine Ecosystem Functions (15 points)
And complete 30 points from:
- SCIE806 Scientific Research and Communication (15 points) or SCIE808 Advanced Scientific Enquiry (15 points)
- SCIE805 Quantitative Analysis (15 points) or SCIE807 Advanced Statistical Modelling (15 points)
And complete:
And the remaining points from other courses in the Master of Science.
Complete at least 60 points from:
- FOOD801 Food Science (30 points)
- FOOD802 Frontiers of Food Microbiology (30 points)
- FOOD803 Recent Trends in Food Science (15 points)
- SCIE801 Specialist Readings (15 points)
- FOOD805 Advanced Sensory Analysis of Food (15 points)
And complete 30 points from:
- SCIE806 Scientific Research and Communication (15 points) or SCIE808 Advanced Scientific Enquiry (15 points)
- SCIE805 Quantitative Analysis (15 points) or SCIE807 Advanced Statistical Modelling (15 points)
And complete:
And the remaining points from other courses in the Master of Science.
Complete at least 60 points from:
- ENVS801 Applications of Geographical Information Systems (15 points)
- ENVS802 Advanced Applications in Geographic Information Systems (30 points)
- ENVS803 GIS Programming (15 points)
- ENVS804 Geospatial Science for Conservation (15 points)
- ENVS805 Advances in Remote Sensing (15 points)
- ENVS806 Advances in Geospatial Analysis (15 points)
- ENVS807 Geospatial Customisation and Visualisation (15 points)
- ENVS808 Geospatial Internship (15 points)
And complete 30 points from:
- SCIE806 Scientific Research and Communication (15 points) or SCIE808 Advanced Scientific Enquiry (15 points)
- SCIE805 Quantitative Analysis (15 points) or SCIE807 Advanced Statistical Modelling (15 points)
And complete:
And the remaining points from other courses in the Master of Science.
Complete the following courses:
- MASC801 Advanced Biological Oceanography (15 points)
- MASC802 Fisheries Science (15 points)
- MASC803 Marine Ecosystems Functions (15 points)
- MASC804 Marine Spatial Planning (15 points)
- SCIE805 Quantitative Analysis (15 points)
- SCIE807 Advanced Statistical Modelling (15 points)
And complete:
And the remaining points from other courses in the Master of Science.
Complete at least 60 points from:
- FOOD802 Frontiers of Food Microbiology (30 points)
- GENE802 Contemporary Molecular Genetics (30 points)
- MICR801 Selected Topics in Microbiology (30 points)
And complete 30 points from:
- SCIE806 Scientific Research and Communication (15 points) or SCIE808 Advanced Scientific Enquiry (15 points)
- SCIE805 Quantitative Analysis (15 points) or SCIE807 Advanced Statistical Modelling (15 points)
And complete:
And the remaining points from other courses in the Master of Science.
Complete 60 points from:
- GENE802 Contemporary Molecular Genetics (30 points)
- INFS812 Bioinformatics (15 points)
- PHIL880 Ethics of Biotechnology (30 points)
- SCIE801 Specialist Readings (15 Points)
And complete 30 points from:
- SCIE806 Scientific Research and Communication (15 points) or SCIE808 Advanced Scientific Enquiry (15 points)
- SCIE805 Quantitative Analysis (15 points) or SCIE807 Advanced Statistical Modelling (15 points)
And complete:
And the remaining points from other courses in the Master of Science.
Not all courses are offered each year. To see if your chosen course is offered and to view its timetable use our course search.
Skills you will develop
The outcomes for graduates of the Master of Science (Research) are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.
More information about this programme
($9,461 tuition fees + $1146 student services levy)
($41,600 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.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.