See important dates for the academic year, including orientation, enrolment, study breaks, exams, and graduation.

1 December start available for 120-point research masters only, subject to supervisor availability.

Please note: we will consider late applications if places are still available. International students should start the application process as early as possible to allow sufficient time to apply for a visa.

University of Auckland Qualification

Minimum requirements listed here are the likely grades required and do not guarantee entry. We assess each application individually and applicants may require a higher grade to be offered a place.

5.0 - Grade Point Average

Calculate your Grade Point Average (GPA)

Taught 120 point

You must have completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in a relevant discipline with GPA of 5.0 or higher and have equivalent prior study. You must also have completed POLICY 742 or an equivalent. 

If you meet the above requirements but have not completed POLICY 742 or an equivalent, you must enrol and pass this course within one calendar year of your enrolment in the Master of Public Policy. If you do not pass this course within one year, you will not be able to progress through the Master of Public Policy. 

In exceptional circumstances, these requirements may be waived by the relevant Associate Dean Academic, or nominee, if they determine that you have a Bachelors degree and relevant practical, professional or scholarly experience equivalent to one year of postgraduate study.  

Relevant disciplines include anthropology, business, communication, economics, governance, law, media, organisational studies, political science, public administration, public health, public management, public policy, public relations, social geography, social sciences, and sociology. 

Research 120 point

You must have completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in a relevant discipline with GPA of 5 or higher. You must have also completed two of these courses: POLICY 701, POLICY 702, POLITICS 757 or POLITICS 742.

Relevant disciplines include business, communication, criminology, economics, education, governance, law, media, organisational studies, political sciences, public administration, public health, public management, public policy, public relations, sociology and social work.

Taught 180 points

You must have completed either

• a Bachelors degree in a relevant discipline with a GPA of at least 5.0, or equivalent prior study
• a Bachelors degree with a GPA of at least 5.0 in 60 points above stage II
• A Bachelors degree, or equivalent prior study, and passed 60 points of relevant courses towards the Postgraduate Certificate in Arts with a GPA of 5.0 or higher (provided that the postgraduate certificate has not been awarded)

In exceptional circumstances, these requirements may be waived by the relevant Associate Dean Academic, or nominee, if they determine that you have a Bachelors degree and relevant practical, professional or scholarly experience.

Relevant disciplines include anthropology, business, communication, economics, governance, law, media, organisational studies, political science, public administration, public health, public management, public policy, public relations, social geography, social sciences, and sociology.

If you do not meet the entry requirements, the following programmes are appropriate pathways: 

• GradDipArts - Graduate Diploma in Arts
• COP - Certificate of Proficiency   

If you do not meet the above entry requirements, but have other relevant experience and think you would be successful in postgraduate study, please contact us to discuss alternative pathways into our programmes.

You'll also need to meet other requirements, including time limits and total points limits. See Postgraduate enrolment.

Depending on the type of programme you are pursuing, you may have the opportunity to complete a unique research project. To find out more about the research carried out at the University of Auckland and to identify potential supervisors, check out our researcher profiles.

If you are an international applicant whose first language is not English, you must provide evidence of your English proficiency.

If you are a domestic applicant, you will generally be considered proficient in English.

6.5 - IELTS Academic score required

No bands less than - 6.0

See alternative English language requirements

For more information about the requirements and English proficiency tests, please see Postgraduate English language requirements.

Qualification from another tertiary institution

Minimum requirements listed here are the likely grades required and do not guarantee entry. We assess each application individually and applicants may require a higher grade to be offered a place.

5.0 - Grade Point Equivalent

Calculate your Grade Point Equivalent (GPE)

Taught 120 point

You must have completed a one-year postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline, following an undergraduate degree, at a recognised university (or similar institution). Four-year undergraduate degrees will be considered where the final year consists of postgraduate-level study. You will need a GPE of 5.0.

Relevant disciplines include business, communication, criminology, economics, education, governance, law, media, organisational studies, political sciences public administration, public health, public management, public policy, public relations, sociology and social work.

Research 120 point

You must have completed a one-year postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline, following an undergraduate degree, at a recognised university (or similar institution) and an introductory statistics course. You must also have completed two postgraduate courses in policy analysis, economics of policy, comparative public policy or advanced research skills. You will need a GPE of 5.0.

Four-year undergraduate degrees will be considered where the final year consists of postgraduate-level study.

Relevant disciplines include business, communication, criminology, economics, education, governance, law, media, organisational studies, political sciences, public administration, public health, public management, public policy, public relations, sociology and social work.

Taught 180 points

You must have completed an undergraduate degree at a recognised university (or similar institution) in a relevant discipline. You will need a GPE of 5.0.

Relevant disciplines include business, communication, criminology, economics, education, governance, law, media, organisational studies, political sciences, public administration, public health, public management, public policy, public relations, sociology and social work.

Transfer of Credit - You can apply for transfer of credit for tertiary courses completed elsewhere as part of your Application for Admission. For more information see External transfer of credit.

If you have completed study at another New Zealand University, get an estimate of the transfer credit you may be eligible for, using our Transfer Credit Calculator.

If you do not meet the entry requirements, the following programmes are appropriate pathways:

• GradDipArts - Graduate Diploma in Arts
• COP - Certificate of Proficiency

If you do not meet the above entry requirements, but have other relevant experience and think you would be successful in postgraduate study, please contact us to discuss alternative pathways into our programmes.