Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in German

• The degree can be undertaken as a 240-point Program of study comprising papers and a thesis for students with a bachelor’s degree or as a 120-point thesis-only Program for students with appropriate postgraduate level study (see Section 1(c)).
• The degree may be awarded in any of the subjects listed in the MA(Thesis) Schedule. With the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) the degree may be awarded in a subject not listed in the MA(Thesis) Schedule.
• The student’s course of study shall be approved by the Dean, Head of School, Program or Department. In the case of the 240-point Program, the Dean, Head of School, Program or Department will confirm that the combination of papers will provide adequate preparation for the thesis component.
• A candidate shall, before commencing the investigation to be described in the thesis, secure the approval of the Dean, Head of the School, or Head of Program or Department concerned for the topic, the supervisory team, and the proposed course of the investigation.
• A candidate may not present a thesis which has previously been accepted for another degree.
• A candidate taking the degree by papers and thesis must pass both the papers and the thesis components.
• For a thesis, the research should be of a kind that a diligent and competent student should complete within one year of full-time study.

Subject areas

The degree may be awarded in any of the following subjects:

• Anthropology
• Childhood and Youth Studies
• Chinese
• Classics
• Communication Studies
• Computer Science
• Development Studies
• Economics
• Education
• English
• Film and Media Studies
• French
• Gender Studies
• Geography
• German
• History
• Human Services
• Indigenous Development / He Kura Matanui
• Information Science
• Japanese
• Linguistics
• Māori Studies
• Mathematics
• Music
• Peace and Conflict Studies
• Philosophy
• Politics
• Psychology
• Religious Studies
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Statistics
• Theatre Studies

Level of Award of the Degree

The degree may be awarded with distinction or with credit.

A degree with a major in German will open job opportunities in both the private and public sectors – in business, trade, consultancy, tourism, education, as well as in foreign affairs and other government agencies.

Recent Otago graduates who have included German in their degree now work as consultants, marketing managers, journalists, teachers and librarians, all around the world.

German studies graduates are generalists and have many transferable skills. Your ability to analyse and communicate effectively as well as the international perspectives that you will have gained by studying German at Otago will certainly give you an edge.

Application details

Applicants must apply online. They should also attach all the necessary supporting documents which includes scanned copies of their official high school or foundation transcripts (awards gained, marks, grades); scanned copies of the relevant official transcripts of previous university study; and provide proof of their identity this is usually achieved by providing a certified copy of the personal details page of their passport or a birth certificate (in English). Applicants may also be required to submit an Educational Credential Evaluators report (ECE). As soon as applicants have completed their online application, their proof of identity document must be posted to International Office, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. International student applications for semester 1/summer school study close: Oct-31; Semester 2 study close: Apr-30.