Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree is a one-year, research-only master's degree.
The Master of Philosophy enables you to expand your research capabilities by focusing on a particular area of interest, under the supervision of AUT's expert academic staff. It can provide a pathway to more advanced research at doctoral level.
Explore our research expertise
AUT's academic supervisors are recognised world-class researchers who have the expert knowledge in their fields to guide you throughout your studies.
Minimum entry requirements
Must have completed one of the following with the equivalent of a B grade average or higher:
- Four-year bachelor’s degree OR
- Bachelor’s honours degree OR
- Bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate diploma OR
- Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of experience relevant to the proposed programme of research
An interview may be required for particular research areas.
International student entry requirements
English language requirements
- IELTS (Academic) 6.5 overall with a minimum score of 6.0 in each band
Other requirements
- May be required to complete an approved research methods course
How to apply for the Master of Philosophy
- Apply online and submit all required documents at least three months prior to the intended start date
- The Graduate Research School will assess your eligibility and forward to the relevant faculty to confirm possible research areas and supervisors
- Where the faculty confirms the availability of resources, including supervision, they will request for you to complete the formal research proposal and application for enrolment
- Once the research proposal is confirmed by the faculty, it will be sent to the Graduate Research School for approval and to issue an Offer of Place
For general enquiries for the Master of philosophy programme please contact doctoral.and.mphil.admissions@aut.ac.nz.
Preparing a research proposal
Prospective MPhil applicants are required to prepare a formal research proposal, specifying the field of research and a general research question you wish to investigate.
Postgraduate Research Proposal
Information we need to assess your application
We require the following information:
- Faculty and/or field you wish to conduct your study in
- Academic transcripts
- Grading scale for postgraduate qualification
- Degree certificates (undergraduate and postgraduate)
- 1-2 page document (maximum) outlining your proposed research project
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- If English is not your first language you will need to provide evidence of English Language proficiency – IELTS (Academic) test results or recognised equivalent. If your postgraduate study was completed in English within 3 years, this may be waived
Once the required information is received, we will forward your enquiry to the relevant faculty who will communicate to you about the outcome of your application, possible research areas and supervisors.
Requirements for specific subjects
Art & design
We require a portfolio (between 10-15 annotated images as a pdf or PowerPoint file or a URL for a website)
You complete an original thesis during this year of study.
AUT staff are available to supervise MPhil research on a wide range of topics.
Skills you will develop as part of the Master of Philosophy
The outcomes for graduates of the Master of Philosophy are outlined in the Graduate Profile below.
North Campus
South Campus
May 2025
Jul 2025
Oct 2025
Key semester dates
1 Feb (for May intake)
1 Apr (for Jul intake)
1 Jul (for Oct intake)
Applications received after the application date will be considered on a case-by-case basis otherwise the application will be held over for the subsequent start date.
($7,926 tuition fees + $1,192 student services levy)
($43,600 tuition fees + $1,192 student services levy)
- Fees shown are based on a full-time workload for the points indicated next to the fee. The exact fee charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment.
- Fees are subject to change year to year. If you are planning for study beyond the current year, fees may vary from those stated.
- There may also be other fees and charges you need to pay.
- International students' tuition fees reflect the full cost of tuition. Domestic students' tuition fees are less due to a proportion of the tuition fees being funded by the New Zealand Government.
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.