Overview
Think critically. Solve problems. Find work. Change the world.
With a Massey BA, you can study subjects that you enjoy, while learning to be a creative, critical and independent thinker. You’ll also get the transferable skills that today’s employers are looking for in a rapidly changing world.
Level
- Undergraduate, NZQF Level 7
Credits
- 360
Duration
- 3 year(s) full-time. Available part-time.
A Massey Bachelor of Arts is your passport to discovering, questioning and understanding the big issues and big ideas. Discover new ways of making sense of life in the 21st century. You’ll explore humanity’s richness and diversity, its conflicts and cataclysms, its triumphs of art and knowledge.
With 26 majors to choose from, there’s something for everyone. You can also select your major in your second year, so there’s plenty of time to make a choice.
What you – and employers – are looking for
- Give you the transferable skills demanded by employers
- Position you for any career path you choose
- Be intellectually stimulating
- Offer you a rich diversity of subjects
- Complement your major(s) and/or minor(s)
- Help you make sense of and engage with the wider world.
Discover a whole new world
You’ll be introduced to new ways of making sense of the world. Your assumptions and ideas will be challenged. Your ability to make informed choices, evaluate evidence and construct reasoned arguments will be strengthened. And you will use your intellect and imagination to generate imaginative solutions to complex local and global challenges.
Shape your BA to fit your lifestyle
If studying on campus is not an option for you, study via distance. Your study will fit with your lifestyle and your commitments. Whatever your circumstances, we’ve got you covered.
Specialisations
Majors, subjects or endorsements
Business Psychology
Chinese
Classical Studies
Creative Writing
Defence Studies
Economics
Education
Educational Psychology
English
Environmental Studies
Geography
History
Japanese
Linguistics
Māori Knowledge
Mathematics
Media Studies
Philosophy
Politics and International Relations
Psychology
Security Studies
Social Anthropology
Social Policy
Sociology
Spanish
Statistics
Minors
For more information on minors see the Courses and planning tab.
Chinese
Classical Studies
Creative Writing
Defence Studies
Development Studies
Economics
Education
Educational Psychology
Emergency Management
English
Environmental Studies
French
Geography
History
Indigenous Psychologies
Japanese
Linguistics
Māori Knowledge
Mathematics
Media Studies
Philosophy
Planning Studies
Politics and International Relations
Portuguese
Psychology
Rehabilitation Studies
Security Studies
Social Anthropology
Social Policy
Sociology
Spanish
Statistics
Te Reo Māori
Theatre Studies
Careers and further study
Careers
The nature of work is rapidly changing, and our research with employers tells us that the BA is highly relevant to today’s business environment. Transferable skills such as problem solving, critical thinking and communication, which are at the core of the BA, will enable you to thrive in today’s job market.
Studying a BA at Massey will ensure you develop these skills and make you ready for the jobs of the future.
Our research tells us that our BA graduates work right across the public and private sectors. We have graduates working in:
- IT and other tech sectors
- education and training
- health care and social assistance
- public administration and government services
- information, media and telecommunications
- financial and insurance services
- arts, design and recreation
- defence.
Employers say:
“The BA prepares people for the future and the future labour market.”
“A BA provides graduates who have the skills in information analysis, writing and thinking that are vital to business in the modern age.”
“A BA teaches broad thinking and research abilities. It leads to articulate workers who are able to think for themselves.”
“Knowledge is moving and changing so quickly, and we need people who are critical thinkers and multi-taskers. I see these attributes more readily in a BA graduate as opposed to a more specialist degree.”
Further study
Once you have completed your BA you can move on to further study: join us for a postgraduate diploma, an honours year, a master’s degree or a PhD in your chosen subject.
International students
New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.
Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.
As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.
Entry requirements
University admission
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Programme admission
Required
There are no specific entry requirements for this programme, outside of university admission regulations.
English language requirements
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
Prior learning, credit and exemptions
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
- review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
- contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
If you do not have the entry requirements
English language and foundation courses
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and programmes that may help.
Courses and planning
Credit summary
360 credits
240 credits (at least)
From the Schedule to the Degree including:
Core courses
Major courses
Elective courses
120 credits
Ensure across all your courses you also have:
- Not more than 165 credits at 100 level
- At least 75 credits at 300 level
Attend field trips, studios, workshops, tutorials and laboratories as required.
See ‘Courses for this programme’ below for schedules of courses.
Courses for this programme
Schedule A: Core courses
| 230110 | Tūrangawaewae: Identity & Belonging in Aotearoa NZ | 15 |
| 230111 | Tū Kupu: Writing and Inquiry | 15 |
| 230112 | Tū Arohae: Critical Thinking | 15 |
| 230210 | Tū Rangaranga: Global Encounters | 15 |
| 230310 | Tū Tira Mai: Practising Engagement | 15 |
Schedule B: Specialisations
Majors
Please refer to individual specialisation page for a list of courses for your specialisation.Minors
Please refer to individual specialisation page for a list of courses for your specialisation.Schedule C: Other subjects and courses
Emergency Management
| 130301 | Incident Command Systems | 15 |
English for Speakers of Other Languages
| 192101 | English for Academic Purposes for Speakers of Other Languages | 15 |
| 192102 | Academic Writing in English for Speakers of Other Languages | 15 |
Humanities and Social Sciences
| 150103 | Nau mai e noho: Engaging with Māori | 15 |
| 169101 | Introduction to Asian Thought | 15 |
| 230102 | Pacific Peoples in New Zealand | 15 |
Defence and Security Studies
| 294382 | Advanced Biosecurity | 15 |
Majors and minors
About specialisations
Completing a major is compulsory. A major requires 135 credits. The Business Psychology major requires 195 credits.
Business Psychology
Chinese
Classical Studies
Creative Writing
Defence Studies
Economics
Education
Educational Psychology
English
Environmental Studies
Geography
History
Japanese
Linguistics
Māori Knowledge
Mathematics
Media Studies
Philosophy
Politics and International Relations
Psychology
Security Studies
Social Anthropology
Social Policy
Sociology
Spanish
Statistics
About minors
Completing a minor is optional. Minors increase the breadth of your degree and give you extra knowledge, attributes and capabilities. A minor must be in a different subject from your major.
You may choose a minor from any University undergraduate degree that has recognised minors. If the minor is from another degree the regulations of that programme will apply.
Bachelor of Arts minors
All BA majors are available as minors. The following are also available as minor-only topics. See the BA regulations for requirements.
Development Studies
Examine the processes that are transforming people's lives throughout the world.
Emergency Management
Get useful career skills in disaster prevention and management that can be applied in a range of fields.
French
Gain knowledge of French language and culture in an ever-growing multilingual global economy.
Indigenous Psychologies
Indigenous psychologies is a movement, perspective and approach that examines how the worldviews specific to particular communities influence the thoughts and behaviours of group members.
Planning Studies
Contribute to the design of better communities and sustainable use of resources.
Portuguese
Gain knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture.
Public and Professional Writing
Get the practical, discipline-focused writing skills you need to succeed in a variety of working environments.
Rehabilitation Studies
Get a broad general knowledge of the purpose, practice and philosophy of rehabilitation.
Te Reo Māori
Participate in a Māori language community in ways that reinforce the everyday use of te reo.
Theatre Studies
This exciting applied theatre and performing arts course combines theatre for social change with real-world communication techniques.
Chinese
Classical Studies
Creative Writing
Defence Studies
Development Studies
Economics
Education
Educational Psychology
Emergency Management
English
Environmental Studies
French
Geography
History
Indigenous Psychologies
Japanese
Linguistics
Māori Knowledge
Mathematics
Media Studies
Philosophy
Planning Studies
Politics and International Relations
Portuguese
Psychology
Rehabilitation Studies
Security Studies
Social Anthropology
Social Policy
Sociology
Spanish
Statistics
Te Reo Māori
Theatre Studies
Planning your programme
Planning overview
If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.
If you study part-time you will usually take at least three courses (45 credits) each year. This can be spread across Semester One, Semester Two and Summer School.
Core courses 230.110, 230.111 and 230.112 must be completed within the first 120 credits, and 230.210 within the first 240 credits of study towards the degree.
Not all courses are available in each semester.
Typical pattern for the Bachelor of Arts
Core courses These courses are a compulsory part of your qualification.
Major courses Choose from a selection of courses appropriate for your specialisation.
Minor courses You may choose to pursue study in a second subject area from any Massey bachelor's degree that offers minors.
Elective courses Follow your interests. Your qualification may have selection guidelines for elective courses.
| Year one |
|---|
| 230.110 Tūrangawaewae: Identity and Belonging |
| 230.111 Tū Kupu: Writing and Inquiry |
| 230.112 Tū Arohae: Critical Thinking |
| 100-level major |
| 100-level major |
| 100-level minor |
| Minor |
| Elective |
| Year two |
|---|
| 230.210 Tū Rangaranga: Global Encounters |
| 200-level major |
| 200-level major |
| 200-level major |
| 200-level minor |
| 200-level minor |
| Elective |
| Elective |
| Year three |
|---|
| 230.310 Tū Tira Mai: Practising Engagement |
| 300-level major |
| 300-level major |
| 300-level major |
| 300-level major |
| 300-level minor |
| Elective |
| Elective |
Courses are each worth 15 credits
Fees and scholarships
Fees and finance
Fees, student loans and free fees scheme
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
Already know which courses you're going to choose?
If you already know which courses you are going to take, you can use our fees calculator to get an estimate of your fees.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students will find their National Student Number on their student homepage.
- Student loans (StudyLink)
- Fees Free
- Student homepage login
A good fit if you:
- are curious about people and the lives they lead
- are interested in the big issues affecting life at the local and global levels
- want to make a difference to the world.
Meet our students
“
What I took away from the te reo course component was a stronger foundation of tikanga (protocols and custom), cultural identity and personal value as a Māori.
” Talisa Kupenga
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Regulations
Review this important information before you apply for this programme. This gives you full details of the rules and regulations about what you need to study and what you must achieve in order to graduate with this qualification. That includes structure, courses and requirements. These regulations should be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including the below.
Undergraduate programmes
Applying and enrolling
Applying for the programme
Check you are ready
If you are ready to apply, have a look at our application checklist. It will help you get prepared with what you need. Please also check the entry requirements carefully before you apply.
Choose your programme and click on Apply now
You will apply for the programme using the Apply now button on this page. You’ll also choose your specialisation (major, subject or endorsement) if applicable.
Some programmes have additional requirements such as the submission of a portfolio or CV. Click on Apply now and you will be able to submit those documents as part of the application process.
Receive and accept an Admission Offer of Place
You will receive an Admission Offer of Place when you have been accepted into the programme. You need to accept this before you can enrol in your courses. International students also need to pay their fees at this point.
Enrolling in courses
You’ll then get access to your own student homepage (also known as the student portal). This is where you can enrol in courses. Any updates on your application or enrolments will also be on your student homepage. Make sure you check this regularly.
When you choose courses, ensure you check for any requirements that apply including:
- prerequisites (courses you have to do before the one you are enrolling in)
- corequisites (courses you have to do at the same time as the one you are enrolling in)
- restrictions (courses that you cannot enrol in if you are completing or have completed another identified similar course)
- location – for instance some distance-based courses still have an on-campus element, so double check that the way the course is taught is suitable for your situation.
Each of our courses has its own webpage where you can find this information. You can use our course search to find course pages.
More information on courses is in the ‘Courses for this programme’ section on this page.
You can find information on application due dates and semester dates on the key dates page.
We look forward to welcoming you to Massey!
If you have any questions, contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
What are courses and credits?
What are courses and credits?
Each Massey programme is made up of courses (in some tertiary institutions they are called ‘papers’).
You will have some compulsory courses and some you can choose from.
Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (often 15 credits, but this does vary). You must gain a set number of credits to be able to graduate from this programme.
There may also be some rules about which courses you need to pass to progress to the next year, or stage, of your study (known as progression). There are also courses you must pass to graduate with a specialisation.
- See the ‘Courses for this programme’ section for the list of courses.
- Courses search
Understanding course numbers
The first three digits of our course numbers show you which subject the course is about.
The second three digits show you the level and course ID number. For instance:
- sub-degree courses are '0' (i.e. xxx.0xx)
- undergraduate study begins at 100-level, (i.e. xxx.1xx)
- as you progress through 200- and 300-level courses this number changes to 2 and 3 respectively. The higher the number that starts the second three digits, the higher the level of study.
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
About electives
Electives are courses that are not compulsory. Certain guidelines are usually provided on courses you may take. Elective courses contribute to the programme, but not to your major or specialisation.
Workload and time management
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
Returning students
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these programmes go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
Scholarships and awards
Scholarships related to this programme
- The Massey University (Manawatū Campus) Undergraduate Students’ Arts Bursary
- William Broughton Bursary in New Zealand Literary Studies
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.