Program Overview

Course Overview

The Research Project—RELI 489 is a course that involves a research project, usually in the form of an extended essay of 10,000 words, with regular guidance from a supervisor. Students are expected to show familiarity with the literature in their chosen field and to write a substantial discussion, engaging with questions relevant to the field and demonstrating independent thought.

Course Details

• Dates: 6 Jul 2026 to 8 Nov 2026
• Starts: Trimester 2
• Fees:
  • NZ$2,411.10 for domestic students
  • NZ$9,575.40 for international students
• Campus: Kelburn
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 300 hours or 16.7 hours per week for 18 weeks
• Points: 30 points (one point is about 10 hours of work)

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: None
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: None (the courses listed contain similar content to this course; if you have already passed one of them, you cannot take this course)

Taught By

The course is taught by the School of Social and Cultural Studies — Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Disclaimer

This course outline may be subject to change.

Key Dates

Important dates, including mid-trimester teaching breaks, can be found on the University's key dates calendar. Assessment dates will be communicated once the course has begun.

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course will be able to:

1. Demonstrate conceptual ability – conceptualize a research project and relate it to the existing body of knowledge and research on the subject chosen.
2. Demonstrate analytical and writing skills – integrate information and conceptual/theoretical issues into a final report.
3. Demonstrate engagement with the research process – share ideas with your supervisor at different stages of the research process.
4. Demonstrate management of research – develop a personal schedule to conduct and complete research within the constraints of time and resources.

How This Course Is Taught

Students taking RELI 489 will receive individual supervision from a staff member. Supervisors will be allocated based on knowledge of the chosen topic and theoretical interest. Supervision meetings can take place online via Zoom or similar platforms.

Assessment

• Final Research Essay: 10,000 words maximum, mark: 100%

Mandatory Requirements

There are no mandatory requirements for this course.

What You'll Need to Get

You do not need to get any texts or equipment for this course.

Past Versions of This Course

Older versions of this course may be accessible through the course archive.