Overview

The Political Science course at the University of Waikato offers a broad spectrum of political knowledge on both national and international issues. You'll seek answers to some of the most difficult political issues of today and gain skills for many potential career paths.

The Political Science programme will ask you why some crises lead to armed conflict while others resolve peacefully - why democracy thrives in some countries while it dies in others. We challenge you to learn lessons from international politics and to consider political solutions to international crises. We push you to consider tough questions like those involving equality and freedom - must one be sacrificed for the other to flourish?

Career opportunities

Advocate

Central and Local Government Officer

Foreign Affairs and Trade Worker

Māori Development Policy Adviser

Media Analyst

Policy Analyst

Programme Structure

Courses included:

New Zealand Foreign Policy and Great Power Competition

Politics and the Media

Political Systems around the World

Public Policy Analysis

Culture and Power in the Pacific

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-07-13 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-06-30 00:00:00
Starting 2027-03-02 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-02-17 00:00:00

More details

Applications submitted after the deadline may be accepted if space is available.

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

90

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

56

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

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98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

120 alternative credits

120-180

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Hamilton, New Zealand

Disciplines

Political Science View 22 other Masters in Political Science in New Zealand

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

90

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

56

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Admission requires a relevant Bachelors level qualification or equivalent.

Once you have applied to study with us you are welcome to speak with one of our senior academics who will help advise you on your studies based on your goals and previous experience.

This will ensure you have all the support and advice you need to succeed in your studies.

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items like Additional medical costs, Repatriation, Liability etc. Make sure your student insurance covers your needs.

Studyportals partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University of Waikato and/or in New Zealand, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

59380 NZD / year

≈ 59380 NZD / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

8569 NZD / year

≈ 8569 NZD / year

Additional Details

Domestic: $8,569 - $10,266 per programme

International: $59,380 - $67,570 (180 pts)

Living costs

Hamilton

New Zealand

1470 - 2020 NZD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Political Science.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Career opportunities

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Additional Details

Living costs

Hamilton

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners