On this page
- Getting started
- Supervisors and their role
- Research proposal
- Time limits to finish
- Key dates and extensions
- Thesis submission and publishing
- The examination process
- Examination outcomes
- Publishing your thesis
- Visa-related queries
- Application to embargo a thesis
- Honours, distinction and merit
- Contact us
- Related content
Getting started
Once you've been accepted and enrolled to a master's qualification at Massey, we recommend getting organised before the semester starts so you're prepped and ready to go. We suggest:
- checking your timetable, assessment schedule and completion dates
- reading and following the instructions for each course
- making sure you have a supervisor allocated to you before you start your research
- creating a research proposal, if you need to
- contacting us if you have any questions.
Supervisors and their role
It's likely you will need a supervisor during the research phase of your master's study. Your supervisor will help you achieve the best result you can through:
- offering guidance, particularly around funding, and your research
- maintaining regular contact through tutorial and supervision meetings, and giving you progress reports if you ask for them
- monitoring and evaluating your academic progress throughout your studies, including regularly reviewing work and giving constructive feedback
- acting as your mentor, as needed.
You may be allocated a supervisor or you may need to find your own supervisor.
Start conversations with academic staff in your school or institute in the year before you undertake your research. You will get a better understanding of the types of research project that might interest you. If you have not had those conversations yet, it's a good idea to do so before your first semester starts.
Massey colleges, schools, institutes and centres
Research proposal
You may need to create a proposal for your research work. You need to have done background reading on your topic. Proposals should include:
- a title
- an introduction
- the research problem and questions
- your methodology - design framework, objectives, research site, data collection and analysis method and timeline
- references and bibliography.
Talk to your supervisor for more information and support.
Time limits to finish
Postgraduate qualifications must be completed within set time limits. These range from 1 to 6 years, depending on the size (credit value) of the qualification.
Time limits to complete postgrad qualifications
If you're having trouble with these time frames please talk to your supervisor, the college or school, or contact us.
Key dates and extensions
Make sure you're aware of all the key dates for the submission of work. If you are unable to meet a deadline you may wish to apply for an extension.
There are different extensions available, and each has its own application process. The one you apply for will depend on your project and level of study.
Taught course and 30-credit research extension
- Extension period: as negotiated.
- Discuss with your course co-ordinator.
Dissertation, research report or project extension
- Extension periods: 1 month, 1 semester or 1 year.
- Apply in the student portal on the Research tab or Student support tab.
- If you are granted a "Carry forward of postgraduate enrolment" your fees for the next semester will be waived. If you receive an extension you will need to pay the next semester's fees.
If you're applying for an extension of longer than one month you must supply a supporting statement and may have to provide supporting documents such as a medical or death certificate.
Thesis extension – end of Part Two submission
- Extension periods: 1 month, 1 semester or 1 year.
- Apply in the student portal on the Research tab or Student support tab.
- If you are granted a "Carry forward of postgraduate enrolment" your fees for the next semester will be waived. If you receive an extension you will need to pay fees each semester until you can submit.
If you're applying for an extension of longer than one month you must supply a supporting statement and may have to provide supporting documents such as a medical or death certificate.
Qualification extension - completion of your full qualification
You need a qualification extension if you want to extend the length of time for the completion of your full qualification. If you are not studying for a semester, a qualification extension adds a semester to your qualification completion date. This is usually used to preserve eligibility for Honours or Distinction/Merit.
- Extension periods: one semester or one year.
- Apply in the student portal on the Research tab or Student support tab.
Long-term extensions are not always available.
Extensions may have an impact on your funding or immigration if you are an international student, so make sure you check this before applying.
Thesis submission and publishing
Once you have finished writing your thesis at the end of Part Two of your master's, you will need to submit it for examination.
Thesis examination is managed by the Graduate Research School. The examination process (from when the thesis is submitted until the final grade is released) normally takes between 8 and 12 weeks. The process may take longer if there are unavoidable delays.
Note: the process outlined here applies only to the examination of theses of 90 credits and above. Queries about the examination of research reports or projects of 60 credits or less should be made to your supervisor or school administrator.
1, Share your final draft with your supervisor
Your supervisor will review and advise when it is ready for submission. They will also appoint 2 independent examiners (1 Massey examiner and 1 external examiner) to mark your thesis.
2, Submit your thesis for examination
This is done via the Research tab in the student portal.
- Log in to the student portal.
- Go to the Research tab.
- Click Apply to be Examined.
Complete the content questions and the declaration that the thesis is all your own work, and upload a PDF copy of your thesis.
Download, complete and upload the Copyright Declaration form. The form will be available inside the student portal. You can find more information about copyright on our student copyright guide, and your supervisor will also be able to provide guidance.
3, Supervisor completes statement
Your supervisor completes a statement that your thesis is ready for submission
4, Check your supervisor’s statement
Check your supervisor’s statement in the portal and confirm the final submission of the thesis for examination.
5, The Graduate Research School receives the thesis
The Graduate Research School receives the thesis in the portal and sends it to the examiners.
The examination process
The examination provides assurance that a thesis meets the standard of a master’s degree and demonstrates academic integrity. It also provides you with constructive advice for your future research or professional practice. Examiners are provided with guidelines to help them in their assessment of the thesis. You can view a summary of the examiner guidelines.
The examination is confidential and you may not contact or correspond with the examiners in any way. If you have any questions during the process, please contact your supervisor, or the Graduate Research School at masters@massey.ac.nz.
Each examiner completes a report that will be shared with you and your supervisor. They also recommend a grade and percentage (mark), which is kept confidential. Examiners can recommend that the grade be accepted without emendations, or with very minor emendations (eg typographical or formatting corrections that can be completed within 1-2 weeks and approved by the main supervisor).
Examination outcomes
When both examiners have completed their reports, the school Thesis Course Coordinator will determine the final grade. You and your supervisor will receive a portal message with copies of the examiners’ reports.
If no emendations are required to the thesis, you will also receive a notification of the final grade for the thesis.
If you are required to make minor emendations before the examination is complete, this will be explained in the portal message. Once you have made the emendations, the emended version of the thesis document is submitted in the portal (click on ‘Submit emendations’ within the portal message). Your supervisor will then check the emendations and approve the final version of the thesis, and you will receive a notification of the final grade for the thesis.
Publishing your thesis
Once your thesis examination is complete (including any emendations), the final version of your thesis will be uploaded to the Library and available via the university’s open access digital repository Massey Research Online (MRO). All theses (except those under embargo) are publicly available in MRO.
You may also wish to publish your findings in academic and professional journals. You would normally do this jointly with your supervisor and cite Massey University.
Visa-related queries
If you have queries regarding your post-study work visa/extension of your student visa, please contact the International Student Visa team at visa@massey.ac.nz.
Application to embargo a thesis
Postgraduate research student theses are made available for public use and access through Massey Research Online (MRO), the university’s open access digital repository. The university recognises that student researchers have a right under exceptional circumstances to request that conditions be imposed restricting access to theses for a specified period of time. Examples of situations where an embargo may be requested include avoiding disclosure of:
- sensitive information protected under contractual arrangements or confidentiality agreements
- personal, private, sacred or culturally sensitive information
- information that might prevent or jeopardise an application for a patent, license, registration, or other intellectual property rights (including plans to publish all or part of the thesis).
Applications for embargo must be signed by the student and the main supervisor. Please read the Thesis Embargo Policy (PDF, 163KB) and talk to your supervisor if you believe you may need to apply for an embargo on publication of your final thesis.
Honours, distinction and merit
Your final grade will be calculated based on the Grade Point Average (GPA) you achieve, and whether you complete your study within the required timeframes.
| Class of honours endorsement | GPA |
|---|---|
| First Class Honours (Distinction) | 7.00 or higher |
| Second Class Honours Division I (Merit) | 5.50 to 6.99 |
| Second Class Honours Division II | 4.00 to 5.49 |
| Third Class Honours (Honours degrees only) | less than 4.00 |
Calculating GPA
- Each of your letter grades is given a grade point value, on a 0 to 9 scale, with fail grades being 0 and A+ grades being 9.
- Your grade point value is multiplied by the credit value of the course, to give you a weighted grade point value.
- Your weighted grade point values are added together to become the 'numerator'. The credit values of all courses contributing to your qualification are added together to become the 'denominator'.
- The numerator is divided by the denominator to calculate your GPA.
Courses that are graded Pass/Fail and Aegrotat passes, and grades from courses credited from Massey University qualifications or other tertiary institutions, are excluded from the GPA calculation.
Contact us
If you have any questions about master's and postgraduate study please contact us. If you're a current student, please include your student ID number.
Related content
General regulations for postgraduate qualifications
View the general regulations for our postgraduate degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and postgraduate certificates.
Find a supervisor
Explore Massey staff’s research expertise to find a supervisor.
Human ethics
To work with participants in research and teaching Massey staff and students must follow the code of conduct.
Services for students
We offer a lot of support to help you have a positive time at Massey and to make the most of student life.