Victoria University of Wellington

Master of Science by thesis

Wellington, New Zealand0.6667 yearsTaught in EnglishOpen to international students

Why students choose this program

  • Taught in English
  • Scholarships available for international students
  • No application fee

About Master of Science by thesis

At Victoria University of Wellington, tuition comes to 46,735 NZD per year.

Get a degree that's recognised worldwide and contribute to knowledge in your field. A Master of Science (MSc) will develop your technical, laboratory and academic writing skills to prepare you for a career in science. The MSc by thesis will take you between 12 and 15 months to complete. You'll carry out in-depth supervised research and write a thesis. During your studies you might also author publications for peer-reviewed journals. To do an MSc by thesis you'll need an Honours degree or postgraduate diploma in an appropriate field, with an average grade of B+ or higher in your subject area. Fill in the form to find out more about your study options in our Wellington Faculty of Science and Engineering Postgraduate Handbook. If you haven't completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours or Postgraduate Diploma in Science, you can apply to do the 240-point MSc by coursework and thesis. You can also choose to complete one of the specialist science Master's programmes at Victoria University of Wellington. Most specialist programmes are 180 points and don't require a thesis. If you are studying full time, you can expect a workload of 40–45 hours a week for much of the year. Part-time students will need to do around 20–23 hours of work a week. Make sure you take this into account if you are working. A PhD is the highest academic qualification offered by the University. You’ll carry out original and sustained research under supervision from world-class academics in the Faculty of Science and Engineering. I am a citizen of‐ Choose ‐AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBolivia (Plurinational State of)Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo (Democratic Republic of the)Cook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Faroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIran (Islamic Republic of)IraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea (Democratic People's Republic of)Korea (Republic of)Kosovo, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMacedonia (the former Yugoslav Republic of)MadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesia (Federated States of)Moldova (Republic of)MonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Martin (French part)Saint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint Maarten (Dutch part)SlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwazilandSwedenSwitzerlandSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Rep

About Victoria University of Wellington

Victoria University of Wellington, established in 1897 and situated in New Zealand’s capital, is a research-led university serving a diverse student body of around 23,000. The university is known for strengths in arts, law, humanities, social sciences and research across public policy and environmental disciplines, offering a blend of rigorous scholarship and practical engagement with national institutions.

The Wellington campus places students at the heart of a lively cultural and political city, where internships, public-sector connections and creative industries are readily accessible. Academic programmes are complemented by research centres and community-facing projects, and teaching emphasises critical thinking, communication and transferable skills that prepare graduates for varied careers both locally and internationally.

For international students, the university provides support services including orientation, academic help and pathways into student life in Wellington. The city’s compact size, cultural amenities and outdoor opportunities make it friendly for newcomers. Overall, Victoria University of Wellington suits students seeking high-quality research and teaching in a capital-city setting that combines academic rigor with opportunities for professional and civic engagement.

Scholarships You Could Apply For at Victoria University of Wellington

Funding relevant to this program — the university's own awards and popular scholarships for studying in New Zealand.

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New Zealand·University

Hunter Postgraduate Scholarship

Victoria University of Wellington

Up to NZD 5,000 towards fees

Master's
Open·Next: No separate application — drawn from Wellington Master's by Thesis Scholarship applicants (1 November)
New Zealand·University

Wellington Master's by Thesis Scholarship

Victoria University of Wellington

NZD 15,000/month

Master's
Open·Next: 1 November annually
New Zealand·University

VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship

Victoria University of Wellington

NZD 10,000 towards tuition fees

Master's
Open·Next: No fixed date — same as the relevant programme application closing date; assessed automatically on application
New Zealand·University

Victoria University of Wellington Study Abroad Scholarship

Victoria University of Wellington

NZD 1,000

Master's
Open·Next: Trimester 1: 16 January; Trimester 2: 1 May
Browse all scholarships →

English Test Requirement

IELTS 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0

Master of Science by thesis: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the fees for Master of Science by thesis?
Tuition: NZD 46,735 per year.
Is Master of Science by thesis available online?
This is an on-campus program at Victoria University of Wellington in Wellington.

Similar Programs You Can Apply To

Direct application via Global Admissions is not available for this program. Browse similar partner programs below or visit the university's site to apply directly.

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