Indigenous Studies (MIndS)

Te Tumu, along with other participating departments offers students the option of a taught masters programme - Master of Indigenous Studies (MIndS). The programme consists of one core paper; two elective papers and one research report.

The degree can be taken full-time over one year or part-time over two years.

The Master of Indigenous Studies is a taught Masters programme which focuses on issues and research pertaining to Indigenous peoples and culture. It comprises a compulsory paper (INGX 501), and a research project (INGX 590), as well as two elective papers from a specified list.

TIMETABLING YOUR WORK

The Research Report (INGX 590) is presented within a tight timeframe. The following timetable has been designed to assist in the planning of your research and writing.

The following timetable is recommended:

1 March – Begin work on developing a proposal in consultation with your supervisor. 13 March – Submit proposal and any relevant Ethical Application 1 April – Submission of revised proposal 1 May – Commence research 1 Se ptember – Submit the first draft of research report to supervisor. 1 December – Submit the second draft of research report to supervisor. 1 February – Final amendments made to the research report. 28 February – Submit final work for examination to the M IndS Administrator.

SUPERVISION OF RESEARCH REPORT

One or two supervisors, ideally from Te Tumu staff, are recommended for every MIndS student. Proposed topics will be approved by the Programme Coordinator and the Chair of Te Tumu’s Postgraduate Studies Committee. Students should contact the Programme Coor dinator to discuss their possible topics in the first instance.

RESEARCH REPORT

This report should be no more than 20,000 words (excluding appendices, footnotes, tabular material, bibliography or equivalent). Maori language Research Reports may be up to one third longer. It must be submitted no later than 28 February of the year following enrolment (or the second year following enrolment for a part - time student).

THE EXAMINATION

The report will be assessed by two examiners, one of whom will be externa l to the University. These examiners will be appointed by the Programme Coordinator, in consultation with the supervisors, and the Te Tumu Postgraduate Studies Committee.

A student’s supervisor[s] shall not normally be an examiner, but may make a report on the work for examiners to consider. If the report is unsatisfa ctory, examiners may recommend to the Dean of Te Tumu that it be revised and resubmitted by a specified date. Where examiners cannot agree on a result, the Pro - Vice - Chancellor (Humanities) shal l reach a decision after consulting a referee.

LEVEL OF THE AWARD

A MIndS degree may be awarded with distinction or credit.

The following are the levels of awards that students may obtain:

• 80 – 100 Distinction
• 73 – 79 Credit
• 50 – 72 Pass

(a) Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities). (b) Every applicant must normally either(i) have completed the requirements for a four-year Honour's degree or have bachelor's degree requiring at least four years of full-time study or equivalent, or(ii) have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree requiring three years of full-time study, have had at least three years' experience relevant to the programme, and provide evidence of ability to undertake advanced academic study. (c) In exceptional circumstances, an applicant who is not a graduate may be considered on the basis of alternative qualifications or satisfactroy training and experience in management, administration, or leadership in indigenous communities. Such preparation must be equivalent to a degree, and the applicant must provide evidence of ability to undertake advanced level academic study. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) may require such an applicant to pass one or more prescibed papers either before admission or concurrently with the programme. (d) In considering an applicant's qualifications, regard will be had to the detail of the course of study followed to gain the qualifications, as well as the applicant's performance in the programmes.

University of Otago Coursework Master's Scholarship

The University of Otago Coursework Master's Scholarship provides funding to support course work-based Master's students studying at the University of Otago.

Information

Applicants must be:

- obtaining their first Otago Coursework Master's qualification

- domestic students or international students

- undertaking a papers based thesis*

* Coursework Master’s Scholarships are not available for the papers year of a two-year research Master’s degree.

Selection is based predominantly on academic merit and the applicant’s potential for research.