New Zealand universities are considering chopping a year from the traditional five-year programme for a Masters degree to try to compete with Australia in attracting international fee-paying students.
Some Australian universities offer a four year course, compared with the usual five years in New Zealand, and experts say international students are opting for the shorter study time.
Here it takes two years to complete a Masters degree after three years of a Bachelor degree, while in Australia some universities allow a Masters to be completed in one year.
Universities here are considering a similar move, as they believe it will attract extra foreign students.
Overseas students are an important source of income for universities, and last year fee-paying tertiary students from overseas pumped two billion dollars into New Zealand's economy.
Max Hardy of the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations says it would need some convincing.
"It would be completely inappropriate for both domestic and international students to undermine the quality of our qualifications to get a quick buck from overseas students wanting a quick degree," he said.
But Professor Pat Walsh, speaking on the Committee of University Academic Programmes, says it's disadvantaging universities here.
"There is no doubt I think we all agree that it does disadvantage New Zealand universities in terms of recruiting international students."
But he said, universities also have to maintain standards.
"Universities are trying to maintain the academic standing and reputation and academic quality of our degrees."
The idea is still being discussed by universities, and any recommendations would go to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
NZQA told ONE News it will consider the option of shortening the masters qualification.
Tertiary Minster Steven Joyce said he is not ruling it out either, leaving the door open for a fast-track Masters degree in the future.
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