Where you can study
International students
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Specialise in Politics and International Relations for your Graduate Diploma in Arts at Massey
The Graduate Diploma in Arts (Politics and International Relations) is a bridging tool for graduates in other subjects to get the equivalent of a major in politics.
Understand the world around you
Politics is exciting and relevant. It’s about contests for power and how we make decisions in society: who gets what, when and how, from the local community to the global level. It’s concerned with the conflict of ideas and values. It has to do with who governs, with how and why decisions that affect all of us (such as how much students should pay to study at university or whether the UN should sanction military interventions) are made.
Small class sizes and enthusiastic lecturers
At Massey, politics and international relations is taught in a small interdisciplinary qualification where you have regular and close contact with academic staff. Your lecturers are active researchers in their respective fields. They are a politically diverse group who critically and enthusiastically engage with contemporary and historical events.
A wide range of topics
With Massey's GradDipArts (Politics and International Relations), you may study topics such as:
- how New Zealand’s system of government works
- what the rise of China means for the future of global politics
- the nature of inequality and how it is affected by public policy
- what is happening in the Palestine/Israel conflict
- the core concepts and the great thinkers of political philosophy
- the causes and consequences of key contemporary international conflicts.
Further study
If you successfully complete your Graduate Diploma in Arts, you could go on to study a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts or a Master of Arts.
A Graduate Diploma in Arts in Politics and International Relations is a good fit if you:
- are interested in how decisions are made in society
- want a career where you can make a difference
- want to understand what is going on in the wider world.
Planning information
If you study full-time you’ll take eight 15-credit courses (120 credits) in one year, or 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school.
100-level prerequisites
When you are granted entry to the qualification, you are not required to pass any 100-level prerequisite course/s for the specialisation. You may need to apply for 200-level courses using the Special Request function in Course Enrolment in your student portal if your previous study was not completed at Massey. If you plan to take any electives in subjects such as Languages, Economics, Mathematics or Statistics, you will need to meet the 100-level prerequisite requirements.
Official regulations
To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.
You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.
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 qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may be no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.
Courses you can enrol in
Course planning key
- Prerequisites
- Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
- Corequisites
- Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
- Restrictions
- Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Subject courses
Course code: 150201 Te Kawenata o Waitangi: The Treaty of Waitangi in New Zealand Society 15 credits
A study of the Treaty of Waitangi background, texts, principles, and application to contemporary New Zealand. There is a particular focus on land, legislation, court decisions, social policies, the environment, constitutional matters, claims to the Waitangi Tribunal and Treaty settlements. Differing perspectives of hapū/iwi/Māori and the Crown, as well as opportunities for resolution, are explored.
View full course detailsCourse code: 200201 Middle Eastern Politics 15 credits
An examination of the contemporary politics of the Middle East, including North Africa.
View full course detailsCourse code: 200215 Foundations of Political Thought 15 credits
A study of the history of political thought from antiquity to the nineteenth century.
View full course detailsCourse code: 200261 World Politics 15 credits
An introduction to major theories, issues, events and institutions in contemporary world politics.
View full course detailsCourse code: 200262 Politics and Public Policy in Aotearoa New Zealand 15 credits
A critical study of politics and public policy in Aotearoa New Zealand, with an emphasis on political institutions, the development of public policy, and the interplay between politics and economics in policy development.
View full course detailsCourse code: 294280 Security and Diplomacy 15 credits
This course examines the nexus of security and diplomacy and the related theoretical and explanatory approaches with a particular emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region.
View full course detailsCourse code: 145318 Geopolitics 15 credits
An advanced study of geopolitics, emphasising geographical processes across a variety of topics.
View full course detailsCourse code: 200300 Peace Studies 15 credits
A critical investigation of the ways that violence, conflict, and peacebuilding are understood within politics, and the resulting sub-discipline of peace studies.
View full course detailsCourse code: 200301 Contemporary International Conflict 15 credits
An examination of contemporary international conflict drawing on case studies from around the world.
View full course detailsCourse code: 200302 Israel/Palestine and the Arab World 15 credits
An exploration of issues in Israeli-Arab relations including the state of Israel's relationships with its Palestinian citizens, the Palestinian Authority, the neighbouring Arab states and the wider Middle East.
View full course detailsCourse code: 200303 Global Democratic Politics 15 credits
This course will critically examine core issues and debates in contemporary democratic theory and practice in a global context, with a focus on diverse forms of and challenges to political participation in contemporary democracies.
View full course detailsCourse code: 200315 Contemporary Political Thought 15 credits
A study of key developments and debates in contemporary political thought.
View full course detailsCourse code: 200361 Contemporary New Zealand Politics 15 credits
A study of selected topics and themes in contemporary New Zealand politics and government, with particular reference to the period from 1984 to the present.
View full course detailsEntry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
To enter the Graduate Diploma in Arts you will have been awarded or qualified for a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
You will need to provide copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
This qualification is classified as NZQF Level 7 and requires the same English language standard as most undergraduate bachelor degrees, diplomas and certificates.
English language skills
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.
Can't meet the entry requirements?
If you need to do a course before you start your qualification, there may be options for you in Summer School.
Fees and scholarships
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.
- Get an estimate of the tuition fees for your qualification
- View a list of non-tuition fees that may be payable
Already know which courses you're going to choose?
You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.
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 can find their National Student Number in the student portal.
- Student loans (StudyLink)
- Fees Free
- Student portal
Scholarship and award opportunities
Search our scholarships and awardsFees disclaimer
This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.
Careers and job opportunities
Massey’s Graduate Diploma in Arts (Politics and International Relations) can lead to a range of careers, including:
- academia
- business and commerce
- diplomacy
- finance
- journalism and media
- policy advising and analysis
- public service
- research.
Organisations employing our graduates include the NZ Defence Forces, the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, the Treasury, Air New Zealand, the Reserve Bank, the United Nations, TV3 News and Amnesty International.
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.
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Useful planning information
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz