Construction Law – Master of Construction

Join Massey’s Master of Construction (Construction Law) - the only master’s degree in New Zealand that offers a specialisation in construction law.

Where you can study

Auckland campus
Distance and online

International students

International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Open to international students on campus in New Zealand
Note: 120-credit pathways available for applicants who meet Advanced Entry criteria

Specialise in Construction Law for your Master of Construction at Massey

The Master of Construction (Construction Law) degree is unique. It the only specialist master’s degree qualification with a construction law specialisation offered in New Zealand. It is a flexible study qualification that allows you to continue to work full time.

120-credit option

You can complete the Master of Construction with 120 credits of study if you enter via one of these Advanced Entry pathways:

  • a Bachelor of Construction plus two years of post-study professional experience; or
  • a Bachelor of Construction (Honours); or
  • a four-year Bachelor with Honours degree in a construction-related field.

Gain specialised knowledge

You will gain specialist knowledge in areas of construction law, construction contracts, construction contract administration and alternative dispute resolution including statutory adjudication. Three other unique features include the offering of statutory adjudication as a whole course, the focus on drafting construction contracts in modern plain legal language, and the international comparative element that complements country-specific issues.

A global perspective

Although you will primarily gain specific skills in New Zealand-related construction law issues, your study also covers some aspects from jurisdictions such as Australia, UK, Singapore, and Malaysia, especially in relation to construction contracts and adjudication.

The multi-national comparative element helps develop critiquing skills and helps you better understand the advantages and disadvantages of differing contractual and statutory provisions. You are often given the opportunity to select the jurisdictions of choice.

Research-led learning from industry experts

Our lecturers and supervisors come from a range of relevant backgrounds such as construction management, engineering, architecture, quantity surveying, construction law, and dispute resolution. Some of them have been involved in proposing and commenting on legislation affecting the construction industry and have written standard terms of construction contracts endorsed and published internationally.

International participants and the wide mix of expertise allows you to have meaningful exchange and interaction at postgraduate level.

A Master of Construction in Construction Law is a good fit if you:

  • wish to enhance skills in construction law-related topics
  • are a lawyer interested in specialising in construction law
  • are a construction dispute resolver who wants to ensure you have a high level of technical skill.

Planning information

If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.

If you enter the Master of Construction (Coursework pathway) with a Bachelor of Construction plus two years of professional experience, or Bachelor of Construction (Honours), or four year Bachelor with Honours degree, your qualification will consist of 120 credits including a 45 credit research report. 

For progression from Part One to Part Two of the Master of Construction (Coursework pathway) you achieve a minimum B grade average over the first 60 credits in Part One.

For progression from Part One to Part Two of the Master of Construction (Thesis pathway) you must achieve a minimum B+ grade average over the first 60 credits in Part One.

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 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.

Schedule B and Schedule C courses for the Master of Construction

Master of Construction research, coursework and elective courses

Construction Law courses

Compulsory courses

Choose 60 credits from
Course code: 218717 Research Methods in Built Environment 15 credits

This course develops skills critical to the analysis, synthesis and review of literature; discusses a range of research methodologies; reviews tools and techniques for data collection; examines data analysis techniques and their application in construction research; and outlines the evaluation of research findings.

Restrictions: 218711

View full course details
Course code: 218763 Advanced Construction Law 15 credits

Principles of construction law including construction professional liability, formation, drafting and interpreting construction contracts, and application of construction law principles on issues relating to time, payment, quality, subcontracting, termination of contracts, and alternative dispute resolution.

View full course details
Course code: 218765 Construction Adjudication 15 credits

Statutory adjudication in Commonwealth jurisdictions with a focus on the law and practice of adjudication under the New Zealand Contracts Act 2002 and subsequent amendments including the adjudicator’s appointment, jurisdiction, duties, powers and adjudicator’s determination.

View full course details
Course code: 218781 Construction Financial Administration 15 credits

Post- contract financial administration of construction projects including construction procurement and tendering, interim payments, variations, claims, and final accounts.

View full course details

Coursework Pathway

Course code: 218764 Construction Contracts and Administration 15 credits

Specialist areas of construction law including contractual risk analysis, comparative construction contracts, construction contract administration, and specialist topical areas such as modern plain English drafting, subcontracting, and modern methods of resolving disputes.

View full course details

Thesis Pathway

Course code: 218718 Advanced Research Methods in Built Environment 15 credits

This course addresses the development of research skills required for advanced research in the built environment, from developing a research proposal, reviewing literature and applying analytical processes through to the key features of scientific reporting of findings.

Prerequisites: 218717 Restrictions: 218711

View full course details

Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

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

Specific requirements

To enter the Master of Construction (thesis pathway) you will:

  • have been awarded or qualified for a construction related four year Bachelor with Honours degree or a Bachelor of Construction (Honours) or equivalent qualification with a minimum grade average of B over the contributing courses for the Honours year; or
  • have been awarded or qualified for a relevant Bachelor’s degree followed by a relevant Postgraduate Certificate with a minimum grade average of B+ over the contributing courses for the Postgraduate Certificate, or equivalent.

To enter the Master of Construction (coursework pathway) you will::

  1. have been awarded or qualified for the Bachelor of Construction or equivalent qualification with a minimum grade average of B across the highest level courses; or
  2. have been awarded or qualified for the Bachelor of Construction or equivalent qualification and have completed at least two years of relevant post-study professional experience; or
  3. have been awarded or qualified for a construction related four year Bachelor with Honours degree or a Bachelor of Construction (Honours) or equivalent qualification; or
  4. have been awarded or qualified for the Bachelor of Construction followed by the Postgraduate Diploma in Construction or equivalent qualification with a minimum grade average of B over the contributing courses for the Postgraduate Diploma; or
  5. have been awarded or qualified for a relevant Bachelor’s degree followed by a relevant Postgraduate Certificate with a minimum grade average of B over the contributing courses for the Postgraduate Certificate, or equivalent.

If you are admitted into the thesis pathway, or the coursework pathway under 3, 4 or 5 above, you may apply for credit towards Part One of the qualification.

English language requirements

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

Documents you will need to supply to support your application:

  • copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University
  • a copy of your current curriculum vitae (CV) including education and employment for at least the last five years if you are applying on the basis of a bachelor degree and professional experience
  • a short summary of your research interests (200 words or less). Required if you intend to take the research pathway.

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

There is great demand for those with specialist skills such as those that can be obtained by doing the Massey University Master of Construction with a construction law specialisation.

Current and past students have been working with multinational companies, banks, insurance companies, government agencies, companies in the oil and gas sector, government agencies involved with housing, transport and infrastructure, and academic institutions around the world.

Professional development

This degree is useful as professional development for those already in construction law, or for those in related careers who need more in-depth knowledge. For instance, if you are a:

  • construction professional who wishes to enhance your skills in construction law-related topics, construction contracts, contract administration, and alternative dispute resolution including statutory adjudication, or
  • are a lawyer interested in specialising in construction law and alternative dispute resolution focused on resolving construction disputes, or
  • are a qualified professional in a related area working in the construction industry and who wishes to develop skills and an understanding in the areas of construction law, construction contracts, contract administration and alternative dispute resolution methods
  • are a construction dispute resolver such as an arbitrator, mediator, or adjudicator, or act as an expert witness and you want to ensure you have a high level of technical skill in construction law, construction contracts, and dispute resolution practice and procedures

You may benefit from this degree if you are already working in careers such as construction management, engineering, architecture, quantity surveying, as a contractor or supplier and wish to understand construction law more thoroughly.

It can also help you move into dispute resolution careers such as arbitrators, mediators, and adjudicators, those working with housing and property developers or as a consultant.

Earn more

A 2017 Ministry of Education publication The post-study earnings and destinations of young domestic graduates, found that in New Zealand:

  • young master’s graduates earn more than one and a half times more than the national median (five years after study)
  • earnings and employment rates increase with the level of qualification completed
  • five years after completion, the median earnings of young master’s graduates are 15% higher than for those with a bachelor’s degree.

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.

Related study options