Information for Prospective Students in the IST Programmes

Information for Prospective Students

How to Apply

Students should apply using the Online Enrolment System (OES) -- all the required forms (including the Referees Report) will be available here.  If you are unable to apply online, please contact Student Recruitment and Course Advice.

Enrolment details are also given in the Information Studies Prospectus, including the requirements for supporting paperwork. Please refer to this section and ensure you include all the necessary information before submitting your application to avoid any delays in processing. Applications for 2012 are now closed, but please contact the MIS Administrator for information about enrolment in 2013.

All PDF documents require Acrobat Reader.

Document	File size	File type
Information Studies Programmes Prospectus (2012)      - Updated 19 October 2011	1 MB	PDF

Entry Requirements

Applicants for the Master of Information Studies (MIS) must have completed a Bachelor's degree with Honours, or a Masters degree or an equivalent degree, and been accepted by the Programmes Director as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study. The requirement for an Honours degree or higher may be waived for a candidate who has had extensive practical, professional or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind.

Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate in Information Studies must have completed a New Zealand Bachelor's degree or equivalent degree, and been accepted by the Programme Director as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study. The requirement for a Bachelor's degree may be waived for a candidate who has had extensive practical, professional or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind.

Teaching Delivery

All courses are divided into modules which include study guides and directed reading, supplemented by a weekly Internet conference session (for distance students) or seminar session (for internal students) during the relevant trimester. Materials are delivered via CD-ROM and through a Web-based learning environment, Blackboard.

Coursework involves communicating via email messaging and Web-based discussion boards, accessing some information (course readings, etc) online, downloading files, and installing course-specific software.

Distance Learning Options

By using a flexible learning approach, students can study on campus in Wellington, or anywhere in New Zealand using Web-based learning and high quality course material, participating in face-to-face seminars or Internet audioconferences.

The content of courses and the assignments are the same for all Information Studies students whether they are engaged on campus or via Open Leaning. The only difference lies in the method of delivery of the interactive sessions.

Core courses for students in Auckland are taught at a convenient location in the central city, using a combination of classes with local tutors, Internet conferencing, and visits from lecturers. Classes are in the evenings and on Saturday afternoons. Tutorials are also delivered in other centres according to demand.

All distance students outside Auckland, and those Auckland-based students taking elective courses, will have weekly Internet conference sessions for each course. For this and other ICT tasks in the programme, the following setup is required:

• A PC running Windows Vista, XP, or Windows 7, with a recent Web browser such as Internet Explorer 6 or later, and at least 256 megabytes of RAM. Please note that the current software being used for distance learning is not Mac-compatible.
• A broadband Internet connection (e.g. ADSL or cable) if available in your area.
• Microphone and speakers/headphones connected to the PC via a sound card.
• CD drive.
• A location where the PC can be used uninterrupted during Internet conference times (generally weekdays between 5.00 pm-8:15 pm).

Access to Library Collections

Victoria University Library offers a special distance service to students, and will supply books and articles on request.

Students in smaller centres will be required to consult library collections larger than those of their local public libraries, especially where reference collections are concerned. Not all of these resources are available via the Internet. Occasional use of a university library is necessary.

ICT Requirements

Anyone who does not have basic IT skills should consider taking an introductory course. Most polytechnics and high schools have suitable short courses that provide the basic skills under titles such as "Introduction to Computing". The International Computing Driving License (ICDL) is available online in New Zealand and is a good way to acquire the basic skills.

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Time Commitment

Time spent on work by full-time students is, on average, equivalent to a working week of 40 to 45 hours for the duration of the programme. Students working part-time work while studying full-time should be aware of the resulting heavy demands on their time.

Part-time and distance students normally take two courses per trimester. It is possible for part-time and distance students to take fewer courses per trimester, completing their MIS over three or four years.

In addition to the regular commitments indicated for courses each week, students may be required to attend some extra sessions, visits to libraries, or lectures by visiting speakers.

Orientation Programmes

All new students are required to attend a compulsory one day orientation session at the start of their programme. The dates for sessions in 2012 are:

• Auckland: Monday, 27 February at the Waitemata Room (L3), Auckland Central Library
• Christchurch: Wednesday, 29 February at the Sydenham Room, South Library, 66 Colombo Street
• Wellington: Friday, 2 March at the Old Government Building (GBLT3), Pipitea Campus

All sessions will begin at 9am and finish at 4pm, with an hour for lunch. Food and drink will be provided (vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options will be available). If you have any questions about orientation please feel free to contact Senior Tutors Shannon Wellington or Claire Scott.

Certificates of Proficiency (COP)

Most courses in the Information Studies Programmes are available as a single paper to information professionals with a degree who wish to update or extend their knowledge.

Courses in the Information Studies programmes are available as Certificates of Proficiency (COPs) to:

• graduate librarians and information professionals wishing to update their professional knowledge, or extend it into fresh areas of information management.
• graduates who are considering entry to the profession and want to experience postgraduate learning. A maximum of two courses can be taken as COPs under this provision.
• potential PhD candidates, for whom INFO 528 Research Methods and other courses are useful.

Application is by letter stating qualifications and work experience, along with completed enrolment forms; please contact the IST Programmes Administrator for further details.  Note: approval from the Programmes Director is required before enrolment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do MIS graduates only work in libraries or archives?
Certainly not. The MIS is designed to meet the needs of knowledge workers in a wide range of employment capacities. Our graduates go on to work in corporate information management, policy analysis, public relations, database management, Web and Intranet content management, electronic publishing, public librarianship, academic librarianship, school libraries, systems sales, systems training, and many other areas. Employers range from large corporate bodies, universities, and government departments down to small businesses, embassies, and charitable organisations. A few of our graduates set up independently and work for themselves as information brokers, designers, and trainers.

What sort of work experience should I have before starting the programme?
Work experience in the information management sector is desirable, though not absolutely essential. Relevant work experience involves some elements of acquiring, handling, storing, evaluating, publishing, or otherwise disseminating information to a client or customer group. This may be in environments such as publishing, market research, journalism, or help desks, as well as libraries. Experience with IT can also count as relevant experience.

For those with little or no practical experience, the School also offers a chance to take a Practicum as a 15 point course.

Is there any financial assistance available?
There are some awards and scholarships that are open for application. Take a look at the information on awards and scholarships on the Victoria University website, or download the most recent Postgraduate Scholarships information here.

What type of degree do I need to get into the MIS?
Information Management is so diverse that the profession needs people with different qualifications and different backgrounds. Applicants can have arts degrees, but science, commerce, computing (or other non-arts subject) degrees are also very welcome.

Can I start the programme part-way through the year?
This is not recommended, so try to plan to start your studies late February as the courses offered in the first trimester are designed as the foundations of the Information Studies Programmes. In unusual circumstances we can, and will, accept individuals who wish to start in Trimester Two or Trimester Three. This may be because a person has been overseas, just completed another qualification, or some similar reason. Acceptance is not automatic and is done on a case-by-case basis, so if you are interested in a T2 or T3 start, make a request to talk to the Programmes Director.

I have heard there is a maximum age for applicants, and I am over 50 so won't get into the programme. Is that correct?
That is not correct. There is no maximum age for application to the Information Studies Programmes, and we accept students of all ages. The diversity of the students is a strength of our programme.

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