- Where you can study
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Distance and online
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International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
- Not open to international students
Specialise in Nursing for your Master of Health Science at Massey
The Master of Health Science offers you an opportunity to pursue advanced studies or research in a specialised health sciences subject.
Planning information
Planning information
If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.
The Master of Health Science is a parts-based qualification. That means you must complete the first part, before moving to the second etc.
The Master of Health Science (Nursing) offers a research or a professional pathway.
For the professional pathway progression from Part One to Part Two, you must achieve a minimum B- grade in the Part One Core course 168713 Evidence-Based Practice.
For the research pathway progression from Part One to Part Two, you must achieve a minimum B grade in the Part One Core course 168711 Health Research Design and Method.
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
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 Health Science
As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.
Master of Health Science core courses
Nursing courses
Subject courses
Professional Pathway (90 credits) or Research Pathway (Between 30 and 90 credits)
Course code: 150701 Tino Rangatiratanga: Strategic Māori Development 30 credits
Strategies for Māori advancement are examined within a Māori development framework. Barriers to development and the facilitation of positive development are explored using criteria relevant to indigenous self-determination. There is a focus on land, fisheries, social policy, health, Treaty settlements and opportunities for positive development.
View full course detailsCourse code: 152700 Organisation and Management 30 credits
A study of the theories of management and their application within organisations.
View full course detailsCourse code: 152742 Health Systems Management 30 credits
The health care systems of New Zealand and selected nations are compared and critically analysed from a management perspective.
View full course detailsCourse code: 152743 Health Law and Policy 30 credits
The interrelationship between health law and health policy is examined with an emphasis on practical health care dilemmas.
View full course detailsCourse code: 152746 Contemporary Issues in Health Service Management 30 credits
Issues relevant to the efficient and effective delivery of health services are identified and examined.
View full course detailsCourse code: 168703 Managing Long Term Conditions 30 credits
The multidimensional aspects of managing long term conditions within contemporary society, including self-management and models of chronic care, are examined and applied to improve health service delivery, and optimise health and independence.
View full course detailsCourse code: 168717 Applied Ethics for Professional Practice 30 credits
Critique of a range of philosophical approaches and practical ethical decision-making frameworks, focussed on practice application across diverse nursing roles. Particular attention is brought to nurses’ role as moral agents in ‘everyday’ practice. Significant themes include social justice; links between biculturalism, cultural safety and ethics; and the ethical implications of the socio-political context of contemporary healthcare.
View full course detailsCourse code: 168721 Kawa Whakaruruhau and Cultural Safety in Clinical Practice 30 credits
This course explores the culture change needed for the health system to be pro-equity, Tiriti-compliant, and anti-racist. Kawa Whakaruruhau and cultural safety are ways to embed justness within health care and improve outcomes for Māori and other populations. Practitioners have the potential to dismantle systemic racism and change structures, policies, practices, norms and values to achieve health care without discrimination.
View full course detailsCourse code: 168724 Primary Health Care in Practice 30 credits
Primary health care is central to improving equity. This course critiques the primary health care system and clinical practice on a continuum from health promotion and disease prevention to treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care. By prioritising equity and complying with guarantees of Te Tiriti o Waitangi health professionals can achieve equitable health outcomes for Māori and other underserved populations.
View full course detailsCourse code: 168731 Leadership in Nursing 30 credits
Leadership in professional practice is explored within the broader context of health care. The course critically examines the political, legislative, economic, ethical and cultural issues influencing nursing leadership and the provision of health services within particular scopes of practice.
View full course detailsCourse code: 168733 Physiology and Pathophysiology 30 credits
Translational and clinically relevant physiological and pathophysiological concepts as they apply to nursing practice are examined. Selected signs/symptoms are considered in terms of physiological processes at biochemical, cellular and functional levels. The emphasis is on normal physiological processes and their possible subsequent development to pathophysiological phenomena.
View full course detailsCourse code: 168734 Clinical Pharmacology 30 credits
Pharmacology topics relevant to advanced nursing practice are critically examined. These include pharmaceutics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and a range of pharmacotherapeutic topics.
View full course detailsCourse code: 252701 Sleep and Circadian Science for Health Practitioners 30 credits
An examination of sleep and circadian science in relation to health and healthcare, including healthy sleep, sleep disorders and sleep in those with medical conditions.
View full course detailsPart Two
Research Pathway
Course code: 250810 Thesis 90 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 250811 Thesis 90 Credits Part I 45 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 250812 Thesis 90 Credits Part II 45 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 250813 Thesis 120 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 250814 Thesis 120 Credits Part I 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 250815 Thesis 120 Credits Part II 60 credits
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 250817 Research Report 60 credits
Candidates are required to conduct a piece of independent research under supervision and to produce a report of the research for examination.
View full course detailsProfessional Pathway
Course code: 250816 Professional Project 60 credits
Professional practice within the subject area that will be conducted individually and assessment of the outcome of the investigation may be in a variety of ways.
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
To enter the Master of Health Science (Nursing) you will have been awarded or qualified for:
- a relevant health-related bachelor’s degree with a minimum B- grade average over the 200/300 level courses, or
- a relevant health-related bachelor’s degree and extensive professional experience, or
- a Postgraduate Diploma in a relevant health-related discipline, or
- a Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) degree.
You will also be a registered nurse with a current practising certificate from the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
If you have a postgraduate diploma in a relevant health-related discipline or a Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) from Massey University as outlined above, you may apply for credit towards Part One of the qualification.
You must provide copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
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: $11,645
- International students: Not applicable
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
Find more 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.
Accreditations and rankings
QS Ranking - Nursing
Massey nursing is ranked in the world's top 225 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
ShanghaiRanking - nursing
Massey University is ranked in the top 200 universities in the world in the subject area of nursing by the ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.
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