The Master of Arts – MA
Introduction
Depending upon your qualifications, there are two ways in which you can undertake a Masters of Arts.
• An MA which consists of two parts:
(i) coursework
(ii) thesis of up to 40,000 words
• An MA by thesis alone
Please check the MA regulations in the current UC Calendar for details about qualifications required to enroll, structure of the degree, full- and part-time study, thesis requirements, the awarding of the degree with honours, merit or distinction:
UC Calendar- Arts section (PDF, 918KB)
Subjects available
American Studies, Art History & Theory, Cinema Studies, Classics, Cultural Studies, English, History, History and Philosophy of Science, and Philosophy
Admission requirements
College of Arts - Masters Thesis Enrolment
Enrolment for new postgraduate students
Enrolment for advancing postgraduate students
For additional information on the Masters Thesis Enrolment process, contact:
Susanne Rose
Assistant Academic Manager
College of Arts, Level 1, History Building
Tel: +64 3 364 2987 ext 3804
susanne.rose@canterbury.ac.nz
Duration
The coursework must be completed in one year unless the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences approves part-time enrolment. The thesis is completed full time in one or two years or, with the approval of the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, part time in up to four years.
Honours may be awarded if the student completes within the time frame indicated by the schedule.
Distinction or Merit may be awarded if the student completes an MA by thesis only in the time frame indicated by the schedule.
Thesis proposal
Once you are fully enrolled, your first main task will be to submit a thesis proposal. This must be completed with your supervisor and be approved by the College of Arts.
Full-time students must submit their proposal within two months of their thesis enrolment, or within four months if full-time and enrolled concurrently for thesis and course work.
Part-time students must submit their proposal within four months of their thesis enrolment.
The proposal must be accompanied by the following form:
Master's Thesis Proposal form (PDF, 136KB)
Supervision
It is important to establish a clear understanding with your supervisor on the following issues:
- the purpose(s) of your meetings
- frequency of meetings
- the type and extent of feedback and assistance which would be most useful
- deadlines for submission of work.
Disputes
If you are dissatisfied with the supervision provided or any other matter affecting your progress, you should report the matter to the Programme Postgraduate Co-ordinator or HUMS Interim Associate Head.
If you are still dissatisfied, you may take the matter to the Dean of Postgraduate Studies.
Lucy Johnston
Dean of Postgraduate Studies
For advice or assistance please contact:
UCSA Education Advocate
Phone: +64 364 2652 ext 3911
advocacy@ucsa.canterbury.ac.nz
PO Box 31-311
Christchurch
Progress reports
Following approval of the thesis proposal, students enrolled in a master's thesis must submit progress reports every six months.
The first report is due six months after the date of registration of your research proposal.
Progress reports must be accompanied by the following form:
- Master's Thesis Student Progress Report (DOC, 65.5 KB)
- Master's Thesis Student Progress Report (PDF, 92.68 KB)
Extensions
The first person to talk to is your supervisor. S/he will advise you on the process and best course of action.
Suspensions from thesis
Suspensions can only start from the first day of the month, will be for a minimum period of one month and will be granted for whole months only.
If a suspension is applied for in advance, tuition fees will be refunded for any months paid.
If a back dated suspension is granted a refund is not automatic. A separate application must be made for refund of tuition fees.
See Late Applications for Refunds of the Guide to Enrolment (PDF, 1.43MB).
A $100 administration fee will be charged for all approved refunds.
If you wish to apply for a suspension talk to Susanne Rose.
International students should contact Student Administration, Level 1, Registry, following approval of a suspension of their studies to discuss their visa situation.
- If the suspension is for a short period of time for valid reasons, the Student visa can remain in place.
- However, if the suspension is for more than one month, then Immigration New Zealand consider that the student will need to apply for a Visitor permit pending expiry of the suspension period.
Submission of thesis
Before you submit your thesis
Use this checklist to ensure you have completed everything you need to before you submit your thesis or dissertation. You should also check the information in the Library Thesis Portal.
- Make sure your fees are up to date
There will be a fees clearance check of your record before you will be allowed to submit your thesis. This check is completed by the Postgraduate Office. You must be enrolled or in your month of grace for the Postgraduate Office to accept your submission. For further information regarding this clearance check, please consult the University's policy document Financial and Enrolment Information.
Financial and Enrolment Information PhD Students, Master's Thesis and Dissertation Students (PDF, 63 KB) - Decide how your thesis can be used
For more information on the availability of theses for consultation and copying (and the related form and policy) see restrictions on the use of your thesis.
Thesis binding
Check the opening hours of the Bindery (situated close to the Recreation centre off Kirkwood Avenue – phone: 364 2987 ext 8706) and allow sufficient time for your copies to be bound. Please note they only accept Canterbury card or cash as forms of payment.
Checklist: when you submit your thesis
- Where to submit
Submit two soft bound copies of your thesis to the Postgraduate Office Reception desk, Level 3, Registry.You will receive a receipt upon submission of your thesis.
PLEASE NOTE THE POSTGRADUATE OFFICE WILL ACCEPT THESIS SUBMISSIONS BETWEEN 10AM AND 4PM. - Final hard binding fee
Pay the $45 hard binding fee at the Cashiers desk, Level 1, Registry. This will pay for binding your final corrected copy at the library. - International Students
International students need to contact Enrolments, Level 1, Registry, following submission of their thesis to discuss their Visa situation as a Student Visa is no longer a valid permit . Immigration New Zealand encourages students to apply for a 12 month open work permit (Graduate Work Permit) as soon as practicable so that suitable employment can be obtained.
Alternatively, the student will need to apply for a Visitor permit for the reminder of their stay in New Zealand.
Examination
Once you have submitted your master's thesis/dissertation the following will happen:
- Examiners will be appointed (the Internal Examiner will be a continuing UC staff member, the External Examiner is usually recommended by the Senior Supervisor and is external to the supervisory team)
- The Senior Supervisor will submit a ‘Supervisor's Certificate' briefly outlining the part they played in the research and preparation of the thesis.
Time frames
- The thesis/dissertation will be sent to the examiners for marking
- Reports are expected within two months of receipt of the thesis/dissertation
- Contextual reports from the supervisory team should be submitted during this period
- The reports are submitted to Registry and forwarded to the Humanities Interim Associate Head and the relevant Programme Postgraduate Co-ordinator
- Students are contacted via Registry of their results or, if changes are required, by the Programme.
Students should not contact the examiners during the marking process. Copies of the reports may be available from your department/programme once confirmation of the results have been received.
Contact
For queries post submission please contact:
Rachel Brittan
Phone: 03 364 2987 ext 4112
rachel.brittan@canterbury.ac.nz
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
If you wish to appeal against your results:
- Read the Academic Appeals Procedures (Word 179 KB)
- Read the Academic Appeals Procedures (PDF 77 KB)
- Read the General Course and Examination Regulations in the Calendar
For advice or assistance please contact:
UCSA Education Advocate
Phone: +64 364 2652 ext 3911
advocacy@ucsa.canterbury.ac.nz
Masters forms
All forms required for Masters students and staff may be found on the Forms page.
Transfer from Masters to PhD
You can apply to do so after at least six months work on your master's thesis. You must show substantial evidence of quality progress in your research.
Your Programme Co-ordinator and supervisor must support your transfer so you need to discuss it with them before you do any of the steps below.
You need to submit:
- a letter explaining why you want to transfer
- a PhD Application form (PDF, 46KB) . This form is also available from Level 3, Registry.
- a comprehensive description of progress on your Masters thesis
- supervisor and HOS comments on your progress
- a research proposal for PhD (this should be comprehensive and what would normally be submitted after 6 months of PhD enrolment. It should show your Master's studies can be upgraded to PhD level, include what has already been done and what needs to be done for PhD with possible timelines)
- a completed form applying for registration of your research proposal (see Research proposal and progress reports )
The letter, application, and supporting documents should be addressed to The Postgraduate Office.
Please note that, if you have a UC Master's Scholarship, this does not automatically transfer into a UC Doctoral Scholarship, you must make that application separately.
If the Dean of Postgraduate Studies approves it your PhD enrolment will usually be backdated to the start of your Masters thesis enrolment.
If you are a full-time student you would have four years to complete your work after the date you started your masters thesis, not four years from the time of transfer.