Where you can study
International students
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Specialise in Philosophy for your Bachelor of Arts (Honours) at Massey
If you’re fascinated by the big questions of what kind of beings we are, and how we interact with the world in which we live, then Massey’s BA (Honours) (Philosophy) is for you. An honours degree in philosophy will challenge your thinking and encourage you to continue asking questions.
You can take a closer look at a philosophical issue that has captured your interest during your undergraduate studies.
Benefit at work and at home
Philosophy isn’t just about abstract thinking. With the BA Hons (Philosophy) you’ll develop highly applicable and useful skills.
Studying philosophy develops your critical thinking skills. You’ll learn to assess whether arguments are rationally compelling. You’ll be able to make your arguments compelling to others. This skill is important in the workplace, and is consistently ranked by employers among the most desirable attributes in an employee.
It helps you in your day-to-day life too, such as when watching the news or reading stories on the internet. Through your study of philosophy, you’ll learn how to understand and evaluate what you read rather than just remembering it. You’ll also become more aware of the reasons why you hold the views you do.
A Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Philosophy is a good fit if you:
- want to stand out in a crowded marketplace
- want to follow your intellectual curiosity and develop your analysis skills
- are keen to investigate an issue in philosophy through independent, supervised research.
Planning information
Completing a subject is compulsory. A Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (Philosophy) requires 120 credits.
If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.
Not all courses are available in each semester.
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.
Compulsory course
Course code: 134710 Philosophical Research 30 credits
A study of key issues in the practice of philosophical research and development of a philosophical research project.
View full course detailsCourse code: 134798 Research Report (30) 30 credits
A supervised and guided independent study.
View full course detailsCourse code: 134799 Research Report (60) 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study.
View full course detailsSubject courses
Course code: 134740 Advanced Study of Philosophical Topics 30 credits
An in-depth study of selected philosophical topics at an advanced level from epistemology, metaphysics, theories of mind, or value theory.
View full course detailsCourse code: 134750 Advanced Study of Philosophical Texts 30 credits
A detailed examination of selected philosophical texts at an advanced level.
View full course detailsCourse code: 134760 Advanced Philosophical Inquiry 30 credits
This course will provide an opportunity for graduate students to engage in an advanced course of study in an area of current philosophical research.
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 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (Philosophy) you will have been awarded or qualified for a:
- Bachelor of Arts degree or equivalent qualification with a major in the intended postgraduate subject or close equivalent, or
- Bachelor of Arts degree with a minor in the intended postgraduate subject, followed by a Graduate Certificate in Arts endorsed in the intended postgraduate subject or close equivalent, or
- Bachelor of Arts degree followed by a Graduate Diploma of Arts in the intended postgraduate subject or close equivalent.
You must have achieved at least a B grade average over the 200 and 300-level courses.
You will need to provide copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language and your qualifying degree was not completed at a University where English is the medium of instruction, to enter this qualification you must have achieved an IELTS of 7.0 with no band less than 6.5.
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.
- 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
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
A Massey BA (Honours) (Philosophy) gives you experience in handling unusual and difficult ideas. You’ll learn to communicate your thinking with clarity and be aware of the reasons for your views while being flexible and adaptive. You’ll cope with new challenges as the needs of your work change. That adaptability and the ability to think on your feet will be a big advantage in careers in advertising, journalism, management, policy analysis, research and many more.
These skills are highly prized by employers and this means you can explore a wide range of career options. Recent graduates in philosophy have gone into jobs as diverse as:
- advertising
- business
- computing
- journalism
- management
- policy analysis
- publishing
- research
- teaching
- The Treasury.
Related study options
Philosophy – Graduate Certificate in Arts
Your inquisitive mind can make you highly employable. With Massey’s Graduate Certificate in Arts (Philosophy), you can study philosophy without completing a second bachelor’s degree.
Philosophy – Bachelor of Arts
Develop your ability to think and reason, to express your thoughts clearly and concisely, and to critically evaluate complex ideas. These skills will make you a highly employable graduate.
Philosophy – Diploma in Arts
Is anything really good, or true, or beautiful? Do people have free will, or does science show that free will is an illusion? Are minds distinct from bodies or are they the same thing from a different viewpoint?
Philosophy – Postgraduate Diploma in Arts
Build on your undergraduate interests and enhance your research and critical analysis skills. With Massey’s PGDipArts (Philosophy) you’ll develop highly applicable and useful skills that are in demand.
Philosophy – Master of Arts
Tackle the questions that have always gripped humanity. With Massey’s Master of Arts (Philosophy), you can build on your undergraduate study and complete advanced research of an aspect of philosophy that interests you.
Philosophy – Graduate Diploma in Arts
The Graduate Diploma in Arts (Philosophy) will give you the equivalent of an undergraduate major in philosophy without completing a second bachelor’s degree.
Useful planning information
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz