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Master of Arts (Applied) (MA)

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The award
MA

How long you will study
find out

Domestic course fees
NZD 6616 per year

How you will study
find out

Course starts
February, July

International course fees
NZD 27830 per year

All study options

About Master of Arts (Applied) at University of Waikato

You'll complete Waikato's Master of Arts (Applied) (MA(Applied)) by studying papers on specialist topics. Your studies will give you the skills you need to work overseas. You might already be working in a different area of language teaching in New Zealand and are thinking about heading overseas, so you'd like to gain the qualification you need to do this.

Some of the topics you'll study are specific to Waikato's MA(Applied). These topics include discourse analysis and teacher cognition studies. Another distinctive topic that's increasing in importance is the theory and concepts of English for academic purposes. When you study this topic, you'll learn how to teach students who are doing higher degrees and research, so you'll develop the skills you need to teach International students doing post-graduate education. You'll be completing a degree that was the first of its kind in New Zealand - the MA(Applied) was introduced in 1992, and was the first applied linguistics degree offered here.

Teaching Staff

During your MA(Applied), you'll benefit by being taught by experts in their fields. Dr Diane Johnson specialises in language analysis, syllabus and curriculum design, teaching methodology, discourse analysis, language teacher training and materials design. Dr Roger Barnard specialises in linguistic and cultural issues facing immigrant and international learners, second language curriculum design and evaluation, teacher cognition studies, and language policy and planning. Dr Ian Bruce specialises in text and genre studies, academic writing and curriculum design, English for Academic Purposes (EAP), teacher training and pedagogy.

Career Opportunities

Where can your MA(Applied) degree take you? You'll be qualified to teach English in schools and universities in a number of countries. Past graduates have gone on to achieve in many different roles, from managing a language school to being involved in academic administration, from coordinating language courses to teaching in Universities, polytechs and English language centres in New Zealand. Our graduates have taken up opportunities at Universities in China, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan and Mongolia. Some graduates have managed ESOL units in New Zealand schools or worked in the educational publishing field.

Learn More About This Course

There is more information about this course available on the University of Waikato website

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Study options for this course

  • The award How you will study How long you will study Course starts Domestic course fees International course fees
  • The awardMAHow you will study find outHow long you will study find out
    Course startsFebruary, JulyDomestic course feesNZD 6616 per yearInternational course feesNZD 27830 per year

Entry requirements

Contact University of Waikato to find course entry requirements.

What students think about University of Waikato

    Billy Bodger, Master of Science (Earth Sciences)

    Testimonial from Billy Bodger, Master of Science (Earth Sciences), student at University of Waikato

    Smaller class sizes, enthusiastic lecturers and field trips to exciting North Island locations has made Earth Sciences study at Waikato a top experience for student Billy Bodger.

    Billy completed a BSc in Earth Sciences before beginning an MSc in 2013, with a focus on geology.

    "The flexible BSc course structure and passionate lecturers have allowed for more one-on-one time with staff and more feedback on assignments. I believe I wouldn't be where I am today without that additional help," says Billy.

    Some memorable field trips have included a six day excursion to the Hawke's Bay for a sedimentary geology paper and a trip to the GNS Science Wairakei Research Centre for a volcanic geochemistry paper.

    "Both of these field trips and all the other practical activities and applied research I have undertaken at Waikato have given me a valuable insight into the tasks that I could expect to encounter in industry. I have no doubt that these experiences will give me a head-start career-wise."

    A School of Science Masters Research Scholarship in late in 2013 helped kick-start Billy's masters study. Now undertaking research in volcanic geology and gold mineralisation, Billy has been fortunate to work with an international mining corporation and is now trained to use a range of Waikato's excellent laboratory facilities specific to his research.

    "Being able to tailor my degree to suit my strengths and interests makes Waikato a top choice for study. Once you come to Waikato, the doors will open for you and the opportunities are endless."

    Kaylee Bird, Bachelor of Management Studies/Bachelor of Laws (Management)

    Testimonial from Kaylee Bird, Bachelor of Management Studies/Bachelor of Laws (Management), student at University of Waikato

    A passion for dancing has led to a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship for Kaylee Bird. The former Otumoetai College student is now in her second year of studying a conjoint Bachelor of Management Studies and a Bachelor of Laws.

    She says one of the reasons she chose to study at Waikato was that it was the only university in New Zealand where she could continue both dance and academic studies.

    Kaylee has been dancing since she was four years old and mainly trains in classical ballet and contemporary dance. In 2013, Kaylee was accepted into three dance schools in Australia; the prestigious Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy where she spent a term in 2014 experiencing full-time dancing before returning to her studies, Queensland University of Technology Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance Performance) and the Queensland Dance School of Excellence.

    In 2013 she was awarded honours in both her Advanced 2 BBO Ballet and Contemporary exams, and she was nominated to compete in the 2012 NZ Young Performer of the Year Awards.

    Waylon Kenning, Master of Electronic Commerce (Electronic Commerce)

    Testimonial from Waylon Kenning, Master of Electronic Commerce (Electronic Commerce), student at University of Waikato

    Master of Electronic Commerce student Waylon Kenning likes to create “digital experiences that delight customers; by defining their interests and marrying them to technology”.

    Originally from Taumarunui, he is now half-way through completing his MECom degree online, while continuing to work full-time as a product architect at Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure, a global IT firm in Wellington.

    Since graduating from a Bachelor of Electronic Commerce in 2008, Waylon quickly found work as a business analyst, and his career has gone from strength to strength.

    He now oversees a diverse team of developers, user experience designers and analysts at Hexagon, who are creating a new mobile app designed to help police officers do their jobs more easily by putting critical information at their fingertips. The goal is to reduce paperwork so that police officers can spend more time in the field investigating crimes.

    Last year Waylon decided he wanted to “beef up” his academic credentials, be exposed to the latest ideas in e-commerce technologies, and gain an internationally-recognised master’s degree that offers a passport to working overseas.

    “I thought about doing an MBA, but I really wanted a programme focused on how business and IT relate to each other, and the MECom really fits the bill in that respect. I also liked the fact that the Professional stream was taught completely online, because most professionals can’t quit their jobs for an entire year.”

    Waylon says his favourite paper was ‘MCOM502 - Managing Virtual Teams’, as it helped him understand how to communicate better with members of his own development team at Hexagon; some of whom are based in India and the United States.

    For the professional field internship paper, MSYS519, Waylon spent 10 weeks working on a variety of small research projects for Contact Energy, his former employer.

    “The internship is really designed to kick-start your career in e-commerce and help solidify your knowledge base, which is great for people who are new to this field.”

    “If you’re already working in e-commerce, it gives you permission to research a topic in-depth that you’ve been thinking about for some time, because you have to write a 10,000 word report at the end of it.”

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