Where you can study
International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
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
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
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 credits 30
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 credits 30
A study of the theories of management and their application within organisations.
View full course detailsCourse code: 152742 Health Systems Management credits 30
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 credits 30
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 credits 30
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 credits 30
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 credits 30
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: Cultural Safety in Clinical Practice credits 30
Kawa Whakaruruhau - cultural safety is essential to improving health outcomes for Māori and other populations. This course aims to explore cultural systems and improve care through developing practitioner awareness of difference, decolonising, considering power relationships and barriers to clinical effectiveness. Practitioners can act to overcome racism within the structures, policies, and practices of their organisations and the health system.
View full course detailsCourse code: 168724 Primary Health Care in Practice credits 30
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 credits 30
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 credits 30
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 credits 30
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 credits 30
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 credits 90
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 250811 Thesis 90 Credits Part I credits 45
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 250812 Thesis 90 Credits Part II credits 45
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 250813 Thesis credits 120
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 250814 Thesis 120 Credits Part I credits 60
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 250815 Thesis 120 Credits Part II credits 60
A supervised and guided independent study resulting in a published work.
View full course detailsCourse code: 250817 Research Report credits 60
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 credits 60
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
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, 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
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.
Accreditations and rankings
QS Ranking - Nursing
Massey nursing is ranked in the world's top 150 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
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Useful planning information
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions. Learn more on careers.govt.nz