Gifted Education – Master of Specialist Teaching

With Massey’s Master of Specialist Teaching (Gifted Education), you'll learn how to understand, identify and develop an individual’s exceptional abilities and qualities.

Where you can study

Distance and online

International students

International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Not open to international students
Note: Selected entry qualification.

Specialise in Gifted Education for your Master of Specialist Teaching at Massey

The Master of Specialist Teaching (Gifted Education) gives you advanced theory and research-based study of specialist teaching. You’ll learn how to understand, identify and develop an individual’s exceptional abilities and qualities.

This qualification involves analysis and application of the concepts, principles and history underpinning gifted education. You’ll examine evidence-based practices and do a supervised practicum.

Take less of your time

The Master of Specialist Teaching is 180 credits. This means you can complete this qualification in three years of part-time study.

Flexible qualification with multi-modal teaching

We combine a range of evidence-informed, culturally sustaining and 21st century learning options for all students. This includes digital and face-to-face pedagogical practices to make it easier for you to study from anywhere and to integrate your learning and practice.

Inter-professional environment

Our qualification adopts an inquiry-based inter-professional model. So you’ll study alongside other types of specialist teachers to learn with, from and about each other within a broad community of practice. Your study will take place in a supportive and constructive learning environment led by highly qualified and respected experts in the field of inclusive education.

Your qualification options

Please note that the Master of Specialist Teaching does not qualify you to be a teacher. If you want to be a teacher, you will also need to take a postgraduate teaching qualification.

A Master of Specialist Teaching in Gifted Education is a good fit if you:

  • have completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching
  • want to inquire into an aspect of your professional practice
  • hope to influence the sector through research that matters.

Planning information

The Master of Specialist Teaching is a parts-based qualification. For progression from Part One to Part Two, you must achieve a minimum B average over the first 120 credits of Part One.

If you have completed the requirements for the Massey University Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching, you may complete this master’s (in the same subject) by completing the following 60 credits:

If you have completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching at another university, you will complete the Master of Specialist Teaching without specialisation in at least 120 credits, comprising:

  • 249770 Supervision and Mentoring in Specialist Teaching (15 credits) or 249771 Additional Areas of Specialist Teaching (15 credits)
  • 60 credits of courses from this subject in the Schedule. Note: 262751 Theory and Practice of Gifted and Talented Education is no longer available and has been replaced with 230791 Special Topic Humanities & Social Sciences which contains the same content as 262751. You can add it using Special request
  • 267875 Professional Inquiry in Specialist Teaching (45 credits).

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 Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate 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.

Core courses for the Master of Specialist Teaching

As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.

Master of Specialist Teaching core courses

Subject courses

Course code: 262753 Practicum in Gifted and Talented Education 30 credits

Professional and field-based practice in the area of gifted and talented

Prerequisites: 254766 and 262751

View full course details

Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific requirements

This is a selected entry qualification. This means there are a number of extra requirements you must meet.   

 To enter the Master of Specialist Teaching you will have:

  • been awarded or qualified for a completed degree from a New Zealand university with a minimum B grade average across the 300-level courses (or equivalent), and
  • a relevant professional qualification, and
  • at least two years relevant professional experience, or
  • been awarded or qualified for a Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching (or equivalent) with a minimum B average.

You will also provide the following documents as part of the selection process:

  • copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University
  • a copy of your current CV (including education and employment for at least the last five years. If you have recently changed jobs to a resource teacher role, please ensure the new role is included as your current employment)
  • verified copy of your current practising certificate issued by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand (if a registered teacher with a current full practising certificate)
  • a summary of any short or long-term disability including learning disability or heath issue that may affect your study.

If you are not a registered teacher or you are a registered teacher without a current full practising certificate, you will also need to supply:

  • a completed NZ Police Request and Consent form, along with two pieces of verified identification (one of which must be photographic) from the list of acceptable forms of identification
  • a copy of a police report from every overseas country you have lived in for more 12 months in the last 10 years. Please do not supply originals as these will need to be supplied to the Education Council at a later date.

If you have been previously selected for and enrolled in a Specialist Teaching qualification at Massey University you will apply online but will not go through the selection process.

Application closing date

Applications close on 10 December, for study commencing the following year.

For applicants who have completed a Massey University Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching, the closing date for Semester Two applications is 10 June.

English language requirements

If your first language is not English or Te Reo Māori and you have not gained a New Zealand university entrance qualification, or an overseas entrance qualification in a country where the main language is English, you will be required to provide evidence of proficiency in English in the form of an academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7.0 with no band less than 7.0 (or the equivalent TOEFL score) or other evidence that is acceptable to Academic Board.

IELTS EXEMPTION: A teacher who has registered with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and holds a current Practising Certificate, will be exempted from meeting this English language requirement. For more information, see: teachingcouncil.nz.

Curriculum vitae

Your curriculum vitae should include details of your educational and professional qualifications, employment history with dates and descriptions of roles and responsibilities, membership of associations/organisations, and a list of professional publications and research reports.

Health and disability

If you have any short or long-term disability including learning disability or heath issue that may affect your study, please upload a summary in your application. If you disclose any disability, health or personal information as part of your application, this will be assessed during the selection process and is confidential to the University staff processing your application.

Ministry of Education study award

If you have applied for a MOE study award and/or hold an RTLB position, you should be applying for the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching.

English language skills

If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

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.

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.

Scholarship and award opportunities

Search our scholarships and awards

Fees 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

Inclusive education is fast becoming the preferred model of education worldwide. A Masters in Specialist Teaching can lead to a range of career opportunities in New Zealand and further afield. Your skills will be in demand.

Graduates may find work or enhance their careers in many educational areas such as:

  • specialist resource teachers such as resource teacher: learning and behaviour, blind and low vision or deaf and hard of hearing
  • special education advisors
  • special education needs coordinators
  • academic and professional development positions
  • behaviour support workers
  • special education teachers.

Related study options