Massey University

What you'll study

The programme combines theoretical and applied study across the information sciences, emphasising how information is created, organised, accessed and preserved in digital and physical environments. You will study core topics in information organisation and retrieval, metadata, information architecture, and legal and ethical issues for information professionals, alongside advanced research methods tailored to information work.

• Information organisation and retrieval: classification schemes, metadata standards, search systems and information retrieval theory.
• Digital curation and preservation: lifecycle management of digital objects, preservation strategies, repositories and archival practice.
• Knowledge and records management: enterprise knowledge flows, records governance, compliance and retention policies.
• Information architecture and user experience: designing findable and usable information systems, usability testing and interaction design for information-rich services.
• Information policy and ethics: copyright, privacy, access to information, and the societal impacts of information technologies.
• Research methods and project work: qualitative and quantitative methods, research design, a major dissertation or applied project depending on the chosen pathway.

The Master can be completed through a mixture of coursework and a substantial research dissertation or an applied professional project. Study options typically include full-time or part-time enrolment and flexible delivery modes, including distance learning for many papers.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a relevant bachelor's degree with a strong academic record or equivalent professional experience in information, library, archives, computing, social sciences or a related discipline. Candidates without a directly relevant degree but with demonstrable professional experience in information work may be considered. All candidates are expected to meet Massey University’s English language requirements for postgraduate study if their prior study was not in English.

In addition to academic credentials, a brief proposal or statement of intent outlining your interests in information sciences and potential dissertation or project topics may be requested during the admission process. Candidates who do not meet the standard entry pathway may be advised to complete specified postgraduate papers or a postgraduate diploma as preparation for the Master’s programme.

Career prospects

Graduates of the Master of Information Sciences enter a range of professional and research roles. Common career pathways include:

• Information manager or information architect in public, private or NGO sectors
• Knowledge manager or organisational information strategist
• Digital archivist, records manager or repository manager
• Metadata specialist, data curator or preservation analyst
• UX researcher or information design specialist for digital services
• Information policy advisor, compliance analyst or access-to-information specialist
• Academic or applied researcher in information science and related fields

The programme is also suitable for professionals seeking promotion within libraries, archives, government agencies, cultural institutions, corporate information services and technology vendors that support information workflows.

Why study at Massey University

Massey has a long-standing commitment to information and library studies and offers a multidisciplinary approach that links information practice with technology, law and organisational strategy. The university provides flexible delivery options that cater to on-campus and distance students, enabling working professionals to study part-time.

Students benefit from experienced academic staff who are active in applied research and industry engagement, access to Massey’s library and digital resources, and opportunities to undertake supervised research projects with real-world relevance. The programme’s combination of practical skills and research training prepares graduates for both professional leadership and further doctoral study in the information sciences.