The Master of Construction at Massey University is a unique degree. It focuses on building in-depth knowledge of specific aspects of construction. It is the only qualification in New Zealand that has specifically developed postgraduate construction courses.

This master’s qualification builds on Massey’s bachelor's degree in construction – the only one offered in New Zealand.

Is it right for me?

You may be working in the construction industry and want to know more about specific aspects. Or, you may work in another area (like law) and wish to learn more about related construction specialties (construction law). This degree will give you specific, tailored, focused learning to help you gain in-depth knowledge of these areas.

When you study towards Massey’s Master of Construction you will become a construction professional with expertise in:

• construction technology
• cost and financial aspects of construction
• legal aspects of construction projects
• management of construction projects.

World-leading and industry-relevant

Massey University construction staff have a wide range of industry and research experience. We have extensive contacts, know how the industry works and what potential employers are looking for. This all contributes to ensuring that our programme is kept up to date and relevant.

We encourage you to focus on a research project in an industry relevant to your own career. Or you can use our industry relationships to develop a project relevant to your career ambitions.

You will be in demand

There is a shortage of enough qualified graduates with skills in this area - there is over $90 billion of construction work (covering both building and infrastructure work) to be done in New Zealand alone over the next 30 years. Demand in many countries beyond New Zealand is even bigger.

Massive growth in the construction industry

The construction industry is a significant contributor to any country’s economy. It is often used as a catalyst industry to spur further economic growth – because it has a ‘multiplier’ or knock-on effect on the rest of the economy.
The New Zealand construction industry is likely to face acute shortages. Consider the following.

In Auckland there have been suggestions that with the estimated population growth of close to a further million people, another 300,000 new homes need to be built. Assuming each new house costs $300,000 to build, that translates to $90 billion worth of work.

We then have to add to that:

• the costs of the rail links proposed for Auckland
• a second harbour crossing (tunnel or bridge)
• expansion of the dedicated northern bus way
• additional commercial projects (shopping and offices) to cater for the additional population
• additional recreational projects including the new pool at North Harbour stadium and the AUT-Millenium Institute of Sports and Health expansions including another Olympic-size pool
• the need to work out costs of construction for insurance valuation purposes
• the need to strengthen buildings that do not comply with minimum earthquake requirements
• the extensive rectification of leaky buildings around Auckland.

Going beyond Auckland, we need to add the costs of construction work projected to grow in Hamilton, Wellington’s post-earthquake repairs, and the major Christchurch rebuild.

Earn more

A 2017 Ministry of Education publication The post-study earnings and destinations of young domestic graduates, found that in New Zealand:

• young master’s graduates earn more than one and a half times more than the national median (five years after study)
• earnings and employment rates increase with the level of qualification completed
• five years after completion, the median earnings of young master’s graduates are 15% higher than for those with a bachelor’s degree.