Master of Health Science
This programme is designed to prepare registered nurses for advanced clinical practice and is also focused on developing leadership potential in nurses and other health professionals.
Students who enroll in the Master of Health Science programme can choose from several specialty pathways including mental health, primary and rural healthcare, acute care, Māori health, older person health and rehabilitation. They also have significant flexibility to choose papers aligned to other areas of interest, like child health, cancer care, death and dying.
From clinical mentors to academic supervisors, Waikato is invested in helping you to set yourself a professional development pathway through postgraduate study. We combine Waikato’s high academic standards with real healthcare settings and our programmes are unique and customisable.
Māori and Pasifika nurses are also able to undertake study that supports and develops their clinical and cultural practice and leadership development using indigenous worldviews.
Nurse Practitioner Pathway
Registered nurses who enrol in the Master of Health Science may choose to pursue registration as a Nurse Practitioner. This is a professionally accredited pathway leading to eligibility to apply for registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand in addition to an academic qualification.
Key information
| Years: | 2 years (full-time study) |
|---|---|
| Study Locations: | Hamilton |
| Start Dates: | Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July) |
| Estimated Fees* (Domestic): |
$7,416 - $9,039 per year
See if you're eligible for fees-free study in your first year |
| Entry Requirements: | Postgraduate International |
| Area of Study: | |
| *Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. | |
Degree Planner
Degree planner — Master of Health Science
To complete a Master of Health Science (MHSc) students must complete 240 points at 500 level.
Students must include one of:
- HLTSC592: Health Science Dissertation (60pt)
- HLTSC593: Health Science Thesis (90pt)
- HLTSC594: Health Science Thesis (120pt)
Nurse Practitioner pathway
Students undertaking the Nurse Practitioner pathway are not required to complete a dissertation or thesis and should instead complete the following papers: HLTSC501, HLTSC502 , HLTSC503, HLTSC507, HLTSC509 , HLTSC510 and HLTSC511.
For information on the below recommended study pathways please view the Health Sciences entry in the Catalogue of Papers:
- Education Pathway
- Clinical Pathway
- Māori, Pacific and Indigenous pathway,
- Leadership and Health Management pathway
- Primary Care pathway
- Mental Health pathway
- Gerontology pathway
Choose a main subject
Entry requirements
To enrol in the Master of Health Science you should have completed a Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent) and have achieved a B average across your final year of study.
Scholarships and prizes
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships