Master of Education

Summary

Build on your professional experience and broaden your knowledge and skills in the field of education with postgraduate study.

Take your degree and experience to the next level and become an expert in your area of interest in education.

This programme is a great opportunity for educators, policy makers and those in related fields to complete a postgraduate qualification that can be designed to suit a specific field of interest, and fitted around work commitments.

Discover the Master of Education

Tailor your studies

Design your study to suit your career goals and commitments. Choose from a range of courses covering subjects such as multicultural and international education, educational policy and leadership, youth development, and Māori, Pacific and indigenous education. Or you might explore the issues around sustainability and the environment in education, learn about evaluation and assessment, or develop your skills for teaching bilingual students in mainstream centres and schools. You may wish to focus on a major. You can complete the Master of Education either by coursework or by a combination of coursework and a thesis or dissertation.

There are examples of how this might look for you within the planning guide (PDF, 230KB). Or you can complete the coursework-based Postgraduate Certificate in Education or Postgraduate Diploma in Education.

If you are planning on doing a dissertation or thesis course, you'll need to achieve an average grade of B or above for all your other postgraduate courses and a B+ or better in EDUC 503.

Globally ranked

This programme is ranked in the top 250 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2026.

The QS World University Rankings is an annual global publication that gives overall rankings and subject rankings for more than 1,500 universities worldwide.

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree or Postgraduate Diploma programme. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

Study pathways

You don't have to jump straight in the deep end—study towards your Master of Education using the stair-casing options. The 60-point Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a great first step into postgraduate study and leads to the Postgraduate Diploma in Education which then leads to the Master of Education.

If you enrol in the Master's programme but don't complete it, you may be able to graduate with the Certificate or Diploma.

Talk to a student success adviser to discuss your options.

Education for Sustainability in Aotearoa New Zealand

This course explores the growing field of education for sustainability that seeks to equip children and young people with the knowledge and skills they need to advocate for sustainable futures.

Study your way

The Master of Education is a 180-point postgraduate programme. You can study full time or part time, either on campus or online. Please note that online study depends on course availability and may not be possible if you choose taught courses only.

Workload

Most students complete the MEd part-time while they are working. Part-time students doing two 15 point courses or one 30 point course per trimester will need to do around 20 hours of study a week. Make sure you take this into account if you are working. If you are studying full time, you can expect a workload of 40–45 hours a week.

Workload

Studying the MEd full time, you can expect a workload of 40 to 45 hours a week.

Advance your expertise with doctoral study

If you do well in your Master’s research, you can apply to do a PhD, or if you have significant professional experience in education or related fields, you can complete a Doctor of Education (EdD).

The EdD combines taught courses with a substantial research project that will form a thesis.

A PhD usually involves between three and four years of original and sustained research under supervision.

The Faculty of Graduate Research will handle your application and support you throughout your doctoral study. Contact the postgraduate programme director about available supervision before you apply.

Find out about your options for postgraduate education study and explore the study themes designed to h...