A postgraduate diploma is the stepping stone to a research-based degree such as a master’s.
Find out more about the Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Technology parent structure
Massey University’s Postgraduate Diploma in Science (Animal Science) is suitable for those who would prefer a predominantly taught postgraduate qualification. Or it gives you the opportunity to join the pathway to in-depth research at a masters level. The programme consists of 90 credits of taught programmes and 30 credits of research.
The programme gives you the opportunity to show your analytical thinking and high-level research capability. If you complete the programme at a satisfactory level you may be able to proceed to the Masters of Science (Animal Science). If so, credits you have gained through this qualification may be credited to the masters programme.
Massey University’s proud record in land-based study dates back to 1927 when we offered New Zealand’s first degrees in agriculture.
Massey is world-ranked and New Zealand’s No 1 university in agriculture according to the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) rankings and ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.
At Massey you will not just be studying animal science, you will be part of this world-leading animal and agricultural science hub. Massey’s Manawatu campus is surrounded by working farms and state-of-the-art animal science research facilities.. You are able to access our extensive research and working facilities as part of your study. These include:
We also host The International Sheep Research Centre which leads the world with its investigations into sheep husbandry and related areas.
Postgraduate study is hard work but hugely rewarding and empowering. The Postgraduate Diploma in Science (Animal Science) will push you to produce your best creative, strategic and theoretical ideas. The workload replicates the high-pressure environment of senior workplace roles. Our experts are there to guide but if you have come from undergraduate study, you will find that postgraduate study demands more in-depth and independent study.
Postgraduate study is not just ‘more of the same’ undergraduate study. It takes you to a new level in knowledge and expertise especially in planning and undertaking research.
International trends are for employers to reward postgraduate study well, especially in larger enterprises. The skills you learn are increasingly recognised as setting you apart from other potential employees.
A 2017 Ministry of Education publication The post-study earnings and destinations of young domestic graduates, found that in New Zealand earnings and employment rates increase with the level of qualification completed.
Massey’s animal science staff are internationally renowned for their research and teaching and learning methods. You will be working with animal science specialists, for example:
Dr Jennifer BurkeDr Burke is interested in all aspects of the dairy production system, with a specific focus on nutrition and feeding within the New Zealand pasture based dairy production system. More recently her focus has been on reducing the environmental footprint of dairy, for instance reducing methane and reducing the nitrogen excreted by dairy cows.
Her recent research has looked at feeding palm kernel expeller to ruminants, methane emissions from ruminants on ryegrass and white clover, seasonal pattern of milk urea concentrations on pasture-fed cows and the effect of milk composition.
Postgraduate students that she supervises are investigating once-a-day milking systems, feeding and efficiency of high genetic merit cows, digestion and fermentation of forages.
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