Master of Applied Health Sciences (Wellness and Rehabilitation)

Graduates of this programme may seek employment in the private or public sector undertaking a range of roles including:  

• ACC case manager, 
• advanced massage therapy practitioners,
• clinical leadership and clinical specialist roles,
• complementary and integrative medicine professional, 
• disability support services manager/professional, 
• health promotion advisor, 
• rehabilitation professional,
• spa/clinical practice manager,
• specialist advisor and health management roles, 
• wellness and life style coach.

Students will have completed all requirements of a bachelor degree or graduate diploma in a relevant field (such as chiropractic, health sciences, massage therapy, medicine, naturopathy, nursing, occupational therapy, osteopathy, physiotherapy, sport and exercise) with at least a 70-74% average at Level 7.

To proceed to the Master of Applied Health Sciences (Wellness and Rehabilitation) from the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Health Sciences (Wellness and Rehabilitation) or equivalent programme, applicants will be expected to have achieved a 70% grade or higher on average in that programme of study. All postgraduate diploma level papers must be at Level 8 or above.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment

IELTS test - Academic score of 6.5 with no band score lower than 6 
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 590 (with an essay score 5.5 TWE) 
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 79 (with a writing score of 21) 
Cambridge English Examination - C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 176. No less than 169 in each skill. 
OET- Minimum of Grade C+ or 300 in all sub-tests 
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 5 (Academic) or (Professional) b) Level 5 
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 58 with no band score lower than 50 
Language Cert - C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) HIGH PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS or C2 Mastery International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS 
Trinity ISE- ISE III with no less than pass in any band

* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HyFlex?

HyFlex learning is designed to fit your needs - you can choose to study on campus, online in real time, or in your own time. No matter how you learn, you’ll get the same teacher, support, and resources as everyone else.

What is the difference between part time and full-time study?

Full-time study takes around 18 months and each semester you will be doing two courses per semester or your project/thesis. 

Part-time study spreads your courses over a longer time, so you can balance study with work or other commitments. For part time students you could do one course per semester or one course per year.

What does a typical course involve? 

Most courses include in person and online learning, practical workshops, and interactive classes where you apply what you've learned. You’ll do readings and learning in your own time, then take part in group discussions, hands-on activities, and assessments that help you use research in real-world ways.

An example of class time would be:

Workshop 1: 9am to 4pm (week 1)

Workshop 2: 9am to 4pm (week 8)

Online class: 7pm to 9pm (weeks 2 – 7 and 9 –15)

There may also be optional tutorial classes to add learning

What is the difference between a project and a thesis?

A project focuses on applied research to improve real-world practice, while a thesis is more in-depth and aims to produce research that could be published. Both build your skills, but the thesis is usually more detailed and research-heavy.

What are the differences between PG Certificate, Diploma and Masters?

The Certificate is the shortest (60 credits)

The Diploma is longer (120 credits) 

The Master’s is 180 credits, with deeper learning and a research project or thesis

Do I need a background in health sciences?

You don’t need a formal background, but a strong interest in health and wellbeing is important. If you’re passionate about helping others through wellness or rehabilitation, this programme could be a great fit.

Do I need to come to Invercargill at any stage?

No. Thanks to HyFlex learning, you can study the programme onsite, online (live) and/or online in your own time.

How many assessments are there for each course? 

Most courses have around two main assessments, and sometimes extra unmarked tasks to help you practise and apply what you've learned. The exact number can vary depending on the course.

Will I be required to attend classes at night?

Yes. All courses have a night class, delivered online via Teams (accessed via Blackboard). 

Is there a list of recommended textbooks?

No. All resources required for your selected course(s) are provided, either directly in Blackboard or via links that will take you to the resource.

Are the course holidays the same as the school holidays?

Not always. Whilst every effort is made to match school holidays this is not always possible. Each course will provide you with a course outline that states when course holidays are, allowing you plenty of time to organise childcare.

Why are there different intakes listed?

There are multiple start dates each year so you can begin the programme at a time that works best for you. Although some courses are available only in a particular semester, you will still have the option of these due to the multiple end dates. 

The overall programme of study requires 180 credits for successful completion of the Master of Applied Health Sciences (Wellness and Rehabilitation). In order to be awarded the Master of Applied Health Sciences (Wellness and Rehabilitation), a student must have been credited with all required papers as specified in the programme schedule.

Papers within the Master of Applied Health Sciences (Wellness and Rehabilitation) programme are assessed using a criterion referenced approach. Students will be awarded, as appropriate, a summative grade for each paper that is completed. This grade will be recorded by faculty staff and included in the student’s individual transcript result that is forwarded to students at the conclusion of the academic year.