Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in History
MA
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in History
The Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA (Thesis))
The MA by thesis
The thesis option normally requires at least one year of full-time study and entails completion of a thesis. The thesis is a major piece of supervised research of up to 40,000 words on a topic of current interest.
The primary aim of the MA by thesis program is to develop in a candidate skills needed to identify a significant topic, design and implement an extended piece of research, and present the findings in a form acceptable to an expert readership.
Why study History?
Above all, History investigates human societies across time and space – few things are more fascinating. Studying History is about questioning the past imaginatively. Historians take nothing for granted: they search behind the facade of the present to uncover multiple ‘truths’ about the past.
Yet History is also firmly grounded in the realities of daily life, and studying History helps prepare you for almost any conceivable career. In the rapidly changing world of the 21st century, it is more important than ever to understand human diversity and the complexity of social structures, and to understand why they change. Because of its broad-ranging nature, no discipline is better suited to this task than History.
The historian’s skills of research, analysis, synthesis and communication are also essential in the modern job market. History graduates work in a range of exciting fields that are as diverse as history itself.
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the university website for more information.
- 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* (thesis only)
- Chinese
- Classics
- Communication Studies
- Computer Science
- Development Studies* (thesis only)
- Economics
- Education
- English
- Film and Media Studies
- French
- Gender Studies
- Geography
- German
- History
- Human Services* (thesis only)
- Indigenous Development / He Kura Matanui
- Information Science
- Japanese
- Linguistics
- Māori Studies
- Mathematics
- Music
- Peace and Conflict Studies* (thesis only)
- Philosophy
- Politics* (thesis only)
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Statistics
- Theatre Studies
Level of Award of the Degree
The degree may be awarded with distinction or with credit.
Employers value History graduates for their ability to research, analyse and communicate. History graduates know how to deal with large amounts of information and sift out the essential. As well as becoming teachers and researchers, historians find jobs in areas ranging from journalism and public affairs to management and finance.
Examples of positions held by Otago history graduates include: Analyst, Wigram Capital Advisors; Diplomat, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Community Engagement Executive, History curator, Te Papa Tongarewa; Curator, Human History, Canterbury Museum; Digital Content Analyst, University of Canterbury; Historian, Waitangi Tribunal; Data Analyst, AgResearch; Event and Marketing Manager, Southland Chamber of Commerce; Social Media and Content Analyst, Bank of New Zealand; Freelance Book Publicist; Heritage Advisor, Heritage New Zealand, etc.
Application details
Applicants must apply online. They should also attach all the necessary supporting documents which includes scanned copies of their previous official academic transcripts (awards gained, marks, grades) with their application, 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 must also submit detailed research proposal that shows they are familiar with current literature surrounding their topic; an up-to date curriculum vitae; and name of the academic staff member with whom they have been in contact; and with an approximate start date. They 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.