Master of Science - Botany

The University of Otago

Botany is an exciting and challenging degree taught by a team of excellent plant scientists. You will learn about important, topical issues such as biotechnology, genetic modification, ecosystem services, sustainability and the ecological impacts of environmental change. Studying Botany at Otago will enable you to examine New Zealand's unique flora on land and in the sea. You will study its diversity and evolutionary history, as well as how this flora may be affected by changing climatic conditions, ocean acidification, and invasive organisms. Botany courses will cover a wide range of topics from how photosynthetic organisms function, to understanding their role in ecosystem processes. This will include the importance of plants in addressing some of the challenges and problems that face society in the 21st century. Botany courses have great field trips that focus on various aspects of plant ecology and allow you to participate in hands-on study of our exciting natural environment.A candidate achieving the degree by papers and a thesis shall normally follow a programme for the equivalent of not less than two years of full-time study and not more than three years of full-time study, and a candidate achieving the degree by thesis alone shall normally follow a programme of study for the equivalent of not less than one year of full-time study and not more than two years of full-time study. Exceptions shall be permitted only with the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).