Victoria University of Wellington

Master of Information Studies

Wellington, New Zealand 1.3333 years Taught in English Open to international students

Why students choose this program

  • Taught in English
  • Tuition 50% below the typical master's
  • Scholarships available for international students
  • No application fee

About Master of Information Studies

Tuition fees are 13,123 USD per year.

In today’s fast-changing world, our government departments, businesses, libraries, museums, marae, iwi, and archives deal with vast amounts of information. All of these organisations need people who can identify relevant information, retrieve it, organise it, and make sure people can use it in an ethical way. With the Master of Information Studies, you’ll learn about information literacies, services, storage, and retrieval. You’ll gain skills in management and communication, information technology, and research methods. This programme will give you a thorough, technology-focused, and research-based education in information organisation. Your learning will be oriented to the needs of Aotearoa New Zealand information professionals and national aims to improve digital literacy and equity. Find out more about your study options. Fill in a form to download our professional and postgraduate programme prospectus. The Master of Information Studies is taught entirely online. This gives you the flexibility to study from anywhere in New Zealand and to balance study with your other commitments. You can choose to specialise in either Library Science (LIBS) or in Archives and Records Management (ARCR)—your specialisation will be stated on your degree. You can choose to take no specialisation, or you can specialise in both areas, which will take a little longer. Depending on your goals, you can opt for a shorter postgraduate Information Studies qualification by doing the Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma in Information Studies. Courses completed as part of the Certificate or Diploma can count towards the full Master of Information Studies programme if you decide to continue your study. You can also study most courses in the Master of Information Studies programme individually. This is useful for targeted professional development. You will receive a certificate of proficiency in that one subject area. Many employers in the information field are now looking for graduates with Master’s-level education. With a Master of Information Studies, you could go on to work as a: Develop your awareness of the Treaty of Waitangi and biculturalism during your studies. Gain an understanding of Māori culture and language and a knowledge of Māori taonga, or artefacts, in libraries, archives, and museums. Postgraduate study at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington will help you build valuable relationships and networks with peers, university staff, and future colleagues. You’ll have opportunities to attend events, workshops, library tours, and social functions. Make sure you go to the orientation session at the beginning of your study to get an introduction to the programme and the people you’ll work with. The Postgraduate Students' Association can give you information on study at the University and provides a voice for you on campus. The capability boost you get from doing an MIS means your employer may be willing to pay some or all of your costs. Read our MIS employer guide (PDF, 940 KB) to find out how employers can sponsor employees to complete a MIS, and the benefits this can bring to an organisation. I am a citizen of‐ Choose ‐AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBolivia (Plurinational State of)Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo (Democratic Republic of the)Cook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Faroe IslandsFijiFinlandFrance

About Victoria University of Wellington

Victoria University of Wellington, established in 1897 and situated in New Zealand’s capital, is a research-led university serving a diverse student body of around 23,000. The university is known for strengths in arts, law, humanities, social sciences and research across public policy and environmental disciplines, offering a blend of rigorous scholarship and practical engagement with national institutions.

The Wellington campus places students at the heart of a lively cultural and political city, where internships, public-sector connections and creative industries are readily accessible. Academic programmes are complemented by research centres and community-facing projects, and teaching emphasises critical thinking, communication and transferable skills that prepare graduates for varied careers both locally and internationally.

For international students, the university provides support services including orientation, academic help and pathways into student life in Wellington. The city’s compact size, cultural amenities and outdoor opportunities make it friendly for newcomers. Overall, Victoria University of Wellington suits students seeking high-quality research and teaching in a capital-city setting that combines academic rigor with opportunities for professional and civic engagement.

This program's tuition is 50% below the typical master's in New Zealand.

Median tuition for that cohort is 27,268 USD, across 437 programs on Global Admissions.

Compare New Zealand master's programs

Scholarships You Could Apply For at Victoria University of Wellington

Funding relevant to this program — the university's own awards and popular scholarships for studying in New Zealand.

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New Zealand · University

Hunter Postgraduate Scholarship

Victoria University of Wellington

Up to NZD 5,000 towards fees

Master's
Open · Next: No separate application — drawn from Wellington Master's by Thesis Scholarship applicants (1 November)
New Zealand · University

VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship

Victoria University of Wellington

NZD 10,000 towards tuition fees

Master's
Open · Next: No fixed date — same as the relevant programme application closing date; assessed automatically on application
New Zealand · University

Wellington Master's by Thesis Scholarship

Victoria University of Wellington

NZD 15,000/month

Master's
Open · Next: 1 November annually
New Zealand · University

Victoria University of Wellington Study Abroad Scholarship

Victoria University of Wellington

NZD 1,000

Master's
Open · Next: Trimester 1: 16 January; Trimester 2: 1 May
Browse all scholarships →

English Test Requirement

IELTS 6.5 overall, no band below 6.0

Master of Information Studies: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the fees for Master of Information Studies?
Tuition: USD 13,122.59 per year.
Is Master of Information Studies available online?
This is an on-campus program at Victoria University of Wellington in Wellington.

Similar Programs You Can Apply To

Direct application via Global Admissions is not available for this program. Browse similar partner programs below or visit the university's site to apply directly.

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