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master of nursing

Master of Nursing (Level 9)

HL0502

Course details

  • Feb 2026
  • Two years
  • Part-time
  • Fee dependent on modules selected
  • Level 9
  • Hamilton City Campus

Summary

The Master of Nursing programme is a Nursing Council of New Zealand-approved pathway to becoming a nurse practitioner (NP). A nurse practitioner is the most advanced scope of nursing practice that allows you to assess, diagnose, treat, and prescribe independently.

The Nurse Practitioner pathway at Wintec involves theoretical knowledge development as well as clinical and ethical learning experiences. This level of study builds your capacity for advanced clinical decision-making, evidence-based practice, and ethical leadership, preparing you to work autonomously in increasingly diverse and complex health environments.

You will need to have completed postgraduate nursing study and have graduate nursing experience in the health sector to apply for this programme.  Most will take up to four years to complete the Master of Nursing part-time. You can find more information about nurse practitioner pathways in New Zealand here, and information about funding options below.

View programme modules

Group A - Compulsory modules for Pathway 1: Nurse Practitioner

Module codeModule titleLevelCreditsPre-requisitesCo-requisites
HSIP805
or
HSIP808
Evidence and Inquiry in Practice
Research for Practice
8
8
30
30
  
HSIP902Evidence Based Practice Project930HSIP805 or
HSIP808
HSIP904
NURS901Advanced Nursing Practice930 NURS902
NURS902Nurse Practicum Practicum930 NURS901
Note: If the module you are interested in is not available, please contact pghsp@wintec.ac.nz to arrange a time with one of our postgraduate teaching staff to discuss possible alternatives.

2027 module start dates

Evidence and Inquiry in Practice
Online in Semester 1: Starts 2 February, with fortnightly tutorials on Tuesdays at 4-6pm, or as negotiated with ākonga.
Online in Semester 2: Starts 7 July, with fortnightly tutorials on Tuesdays at 4-6pm, or as negotiated with ākonga.

Evidence Based Practice Project    
Online in Semester 2: 5 July, with further tutorials to be negotiated with ākonga. 

Advanced Nursing Practice 
On-site 16 February.
Online: 17 February and 28 April, with further monthly tutorials to be negotiated with ākonga.

Nurse Practitioner Practicum 
On-site: 16 February.
Online: 17 February and 28 April, with further monthly tutorials to be negotiated with ākonga.

Our graduates

Whānau is everything for four Māori Master's graduates

Four Māori nurses have graduated with Master's degrees from Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec), and all agree that time is the biggest challenge, and a supportive network means everything.

The four, Myra Pourau (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāi Te Rangi), Ellyn Proffit (Ngāti Porou), Janette Ngaheu (Ngāti Awa, Te Pahipoto, Ngāti Pikiao), and Natalie Lewis (Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Porou, Tainui) all value education in progressing their careers and want to inspire others to follow an academic pathway to find success. Read more.
Ellyn Proffit is capped at Te Kōpū Mania o Kirikiriroa Marae Graduation ceremony on Wintec’s Hamilton campus.

Postgraduate support

The Postgraduate Office at Wintec has been created to support postgraduate students in their studies and research by providing dedicated resources and advice. Wintec also has a dedicated Research Office, which is the hub of research at Wintec and caters to all researchers, both staff and students. 

Career/further opportunities

Graduates will be able to complete the written work required to apply for registration as a nurse practitioner.

Beyond this registration, you may move into advanced clinical roles in management and leadership, research, education, or on to doctoral study.

Applications and next steps

Covid-19 vaccination information
In light of the pandemic, it is highly recommended that you are vaccinated against Covid-19 if you want to apply for this programme. 

To discuss your application and the pathway options within the programme including what modules would best compliment your area of work, please contact the postgraduate team at pghsp@wintec.ac.nz.

If you have any enrolment questions, send them to info@wintec.ac.nz​ and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

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Funding 

  • Nurse Practitioner Training Support Scheme | NZ
    The NPTSS is a national programme that includes the final year of preparation for NP registration and is funded by Health NZ. According to the Health NZ website, applications for this scholarship will open in September.  We would encourage students to look regularly at the Health NZ website for further information.  Those who have completed an expression of interest will be contacted by the NPTSS provider to assist with their application. 
  • Graduate Registered Nurse funding
    This fund offers up to $20,000 per nurse to help employers bring new graduate RNs into the sector with structured support. Find out more here.
  • Registered Nurse Primary Care Scholarships
    These scholarships provide up to $45,000 per nurse to support advanced postgraduate study, including prescribing and advanced practice qualifications. Find out more, including application dates, here.

Disclaimers

Entry criteria

General academic admission

Candidates are required to have:

  1. A Wintec Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing, with a grade average of B or better; or
  2. Equivalent. Candidates from another tertiary organisation must have an equivalent qualification with a grade average of B or better and deemed to have reached the learning outcomes of the compulsory modules of Wintec’s Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing programme.

All candidates are required to have graduate nursing experience in the health sector demonstrated in a professional portfolio.

Selection Criteria

Candidates must complete their application for selection at least two months prior to the commencement of the programme. Applications received after this point will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Candidates for the Master of Nursing Pathway 1must meet the following additional requirements for entry to the programme:

  1. Hold a current New Zealand practising certificate as a Registered Nurse and be in good standing with the Nursing Council of New Zealand; and
  2. A minimum of 3 years' equivalent full-time relevant practice within the past 5 years, with a least 1 year of the 3 in full-time practice in New Zealand. For Pathway 1, this must be in the area of practice they are intending to practice in as a nurse practitioner.

Additionally, candidates for entry to the NURS902 Nurse Practitioner practicum must have:

  1. A collaborative working relationship within an interprofessional team and the support of a designated authorised prescriber (DAP), (a registered medical practitioner or nurse practitioner with current indemnity insurance) as a mentor who will provide clinical supervision for prescribing practice, and
  2. An agreement to undertake the practicum within an organisation that supports nurse prescribing, and
  3. Identified two areas of clinical practice in which to develop the nurse practitioner role, one of which will be the intended area of prescribing practice. One experience must be undertaken with a clinical supervisor who is a nurse practitioner.

English language requirements

Candidates who have English as a second language are required to have an International English Language Test System (IELTS) score of 7.0 across all bands, or equivalent.

 

Check what documents are required to enrol in this programme.

Want to see full details of the entry criteria?
Don't meet the entry criteria?

Pathways

Postgraduate nursing pathway diagram

To check what you need to gain direct entry to a course, review the entry criteria available on each programme page. These assist you in understanding what qualifications or experience are typically required to gain entry. You can contact our team at info@wintec.ac.nz or 0800 2 Wintec at any time for further guidance.

Your first day

Are you ready for your first day of class? Check out your start date and where you need to be. You can also find useful information about studying at Wintec on our welcome page.

Are you new to this programme? Book a visit with one of our Kaiāwhina, where you can bring your whānau to get prepared, tour the Campus, and step into your first day with confidence. 

Book your visit

Programme information will be emailed to enrolled students approximately 2–4 weeks before the first workshop date or start date of their module.

What you will need

Timetable information

All Wintec timetables are available online here.

How to find your way around

Campus maps can be found here.

Parking and bus information

Both the Rotokauri and City campuses have parking available - payment and permits may be required. Learn more about parking and find out about bus services here.

He reo pōwhiri, your official welcome to Wintec

Tēnei te mihi mahana ki a koe e piki nei, e kake nei ki te Kuratini o Waikato.

You are warmly invited to attend the official welcome to Wintec for all new students, staff and whānau (family) at either our marae, Te Kōpū Mānia o Kirikiriroa or Rotokauri campus. The pōwhiri is a welcoming ceremony involving mihimihi (speeches), waiata (singing), and will conclude with kai timotimo (light refreshments). Please gather at the campus hubs, and a staff member will guide you through our pōwhiri.

Click here to find out when the next pōwhiri will be.

Paying for your study

Course-related costs

Additional information

Booklist

Purchasing textbooks

If your programme requires you to have access to textbooks, these can be purchased through a range of suppliers listed below:

    New Zealand-based suppliers

    General book suppliers

    First aid certificate

    Health status

    Uniform

    Equipment

    Clinical placement

    Prospectus (course guide)

    The Wintec Prospectus (otherwise known as a course guide) outlines everything you need to know about Wintec. It contains information about the Wintec campuses, student life, and the programmes that are on offer.

    Access your copy of the Wintec Prospectus

    The Wintec Prospectus (course guide) is available by downloading the file - click on the document below to access the file. Alternatively, to request a copy via email or the post, please complete the form below.

    Request an emailable or printed copy of the Prospectus

    Portfolio

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