Do I have the time?

Master's papers are each typically six days class time per semester. How this is achieved can vary from paper to paper. Commonly it's either 2 x 3-day noho or 3 x 2-day noho, and increasingly these are supported by Zoom evening sessions. A master's paper typically has 3 to 4 assessments culminating in 8,000 to 10,000 words or the equivalent.

Being able to read and write critically is a key skill required of students at this level. Technically, you need to be comfortable using MS-Word and many of the functions within this word processing package.

Thesis or Dissertation

• A thesis is a research and writing project that is equivalent to four papers.  A master's degree by thesis is needed if you want to continue your studies to a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy).  
• If enrolled on the thesis full-time and, therefore, trying to complete it in one year – then Dr Gary Leaf, the Master's Programme Coordinator offers the following advice: "You need to treat a thesis like a full time job. Do not take on new committee roles at, for example, your marae or sports club. Maybe give up kapa haka for a year. Don’t make any major life changes. Instead – the thesis is the new thing in your life. Focus on it!"
• A thesis is a significant undertaking and some students are finding it a better option to do six papers and a two paper dissertation.  A dissertation is equivalent to two papers, and is, therefore, half the size of a thesis. You can choose to do this full-time over six months or half-time across a year. While a dissertation is half the size of a thesis it still requires solid focus and the same level of writing skills as for a thesis. If you complete your degree with a dissertation (instead of a thesis) you can continue to one of the professional doctorate degrees.

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