- Where you can study
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Auckland campusDistance and onlineManawatū campus (Palmerston North)
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International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
- Open to international students on campus in New Zealand
- Note:
- Note: Not all courses are available in any one year.
Specialise in History for your Diploma in Arts at Massey
History is a topic as large as our recorded past. Our cultural heritages, literatures, arts, religions, politics, economics, social behaviours, buildings and landscapes all derive from past influences.
Massey offers a range of topics so you can explore your own particular interests. Topics you could study include:
- the history of New Zealand and the Pacific
- focus on European or global history
- study pre-industrial society or colonisation
- social and political history, or
- contemporary history.
A Diploma in Arts in History is a good fit if you:
- enjoyed history at school
- want to learn more about historical events and why they happened.
Planning information
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.
If you later proceed to the Bachelor of Arts degree, all of the courses in your Diploma of Arts can be transferred to the Bachelor of Arts.
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
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 Diploma in Arts
As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.
History courses
Subject courses
Course code: 148102 Making History 15 credits
An introduction to the multiple ways the past has been imagined, represented, used and misused in different societies, from medieval to modern, "Western" to Māori.
View full course detailsCourse code: 148116 The Medieval World and its Legacy 15 credits
An introduction to the history of Medieval Europe examining the nature and long-term influence of its culture, society and institutions of power.
View full course detailsCourse code: 148141 The Histories of Aotearoa New Zealand 15 credits
This course is an introduction to Aotearoa New Zealand history, and debates about its history, from Māori and iwi perspectives to ideas of "New Zealand-ness".
View full course detailsCourse code: 148143 The Past as Entertainment: History Through Movies, Mini-series and Games 15 credits
The ways in which popular culture shapes our understanding of the past are examined through recent movies, mini-series and games. The course explores the different ways historians and the makers of popular cultures interpret the past.
View full course detailsCourse code: 148201 Shaping the Modern World: Global History Since 1945 15 credits
This course develops an understanding of the contemporary world by examining the people, events, ideas and forces that have shaped the world since 1945.
View full course detailsCourse code: 148202 Voyages of Ancestors: Atlantic and Pacific Journeys 800-1800 15 credits
The course compares reasons and effects of maritime journeys by Polynesians with those of Europeans, from the Vikings onwards. It deals with encounters with other peoples in the Americas, and with colonialism.
View full course detailsCourse code: 148209 Te Tiriti in History 15 credits
This course explores Te Tiriti in the context of nineteenth-century wars, raupatu, continuing conflict over land, and decolonial historical scholarship in the present.
View full course detailsCourse code: 148302 A World at War, 1900-1945 15 credits
This course focuses on the origins, courses, and legacies of the First and Second World Wars. It adopts a broad perspective on the conflicts, considering their military, political, and social aspects.
View full course detailsCourse code: 148334 Histories of Sport, Leisure and Recreation 15 credits
The course explores ideas of recreation and leisure from the medieval period onwards, and particularly the emergence of organised sports in the modern era, with reference to empire, colonisation, women and commercialism.
View full course detailsCourse code: 148339 The Art of Power: Medieval and Renaissance Courts 15 credits
The course examines the power, propaganda and art of European states, focusing on the courts of Burgundian, Valois and Tudor rulers in the late medieval era.
View full course detailsCourse code: 148346 Te Pouhere Kōrero: Māori and Indigenous Histories 15 credits
This course focuses on methods, theories, tikanga and ethics at the forefront in the mahi and research of iwi/Māori and other Indigenous historians.
View full course detailsEntry requirements
Entry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
There are no specific entry requirements for this qualification, outside of university admission regulations.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
If you have already completed a bachelor degree
If you have already completed a bachelor degree you may replace 230111 Tū Kupu: Writing and Inquiry or 230112 Tū Arohae: Critical Thinking with courses of your choice. You will need to apply for replacement courses via a Special permission request and you will need to attach evidence of your completed degree with the request.
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 and scholarships
2026 tuition fees
- Domestic students: $7,415
- International students: $34,220
Tuition fees are estimates only. The exact fees charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment. The estimates are for full-time study (120 credits). Fees are in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The estimates do not include the Student Services Fee. This fee is $1,164 for on-campus students and $948 for distance students for full-time study (120 credits). For more information about this fee and other fees you may need to pay, see non-tuition fees.
There may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
Course fees
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, including how much could be covered and your eligibility on the Inland Revenue website.
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
Careers and job opportunities
The study of history prepares you for many career options including:
- administration
- archiving
- editing
- journalism
- policy analysis
- teaching.
International students
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
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Defence and Security Studies – Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
With Massey’s Bachelor of Arts with Honours (Defence and Security Studies) you can take your undergraduate study of defence and security further.
Defence and Security Studies – Postgraduate Diploma in Arts
Massey’s Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Defence and Security Studies) will build upon your undergraduate interests and develop your research and critical analysis skills.
Defence and Security Studies – Master of Arts
Join Massey’s Master of Arts (Defence and Security Studies) to build an advanced understanding of security and defence. You will carry out research in an area of your choice.
History – Graduate Certificate in Arts
With Massey’s Graduate Certificate in Arts (History), you can study history without completing a second bachelor’s degree.
History – Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
With Massey’s Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (History), you can take your undergraduate study of history further.
History – Bachelor of Arts
Get a new appreciation for the world around you by studying Massey's Bachelor of Arts (History).
History – Postgraduate Diploma in Arts
Take your study of history to the next level with Massey’s Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (History). Enhance your research skills through an investigation of a time or theme in history that interests you.
History – Master of Arts
With Massey’s Master of Arts (History) you can build on your undergraduate study and follow your passion for history. Complete advanced research of an aspect of history that interests you.
History – Graduate Diploma in Arts
The Graduate Diploma in Arts (History) will give you the equivalent of an undergraduate major in history without having to complete a second bachelor’s degree.
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