phd in psychology new zealand

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Mātai Hinengaro

Introduction.

Psychology is the scientific study of behaviour and associated biological, cognitive, and social processes in humans and other animals. It is a rapidly developing field touching on all aspects of human life.

Advances in neuro-imaging and molecular biology are rapidly enhancing our understanding of how the brain works, while increasingly complex theories are being developed to understand behavioural development of individuals and groups. Major advances are being made in understanding and treating psycho-pathologies such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and addictions.

Psychology students are trained to:

• think independently and critically about psychological issues
• become knowledgeable about the key methods, important findings, and major theories of psychology
• learn how to distinguish genuine findings from implausible and suspect claims
• understand modern scientific research in psychology.

What will my study involve? keyboard_arrow_down

What will my study involve.

• UC offers a balanced and comprehensive set of courses, excellent opportunities to undertake work in experimental psychology, and has nationally and internationally recognised postgraduate applied programmes in Industrial and Organisational Psychology, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Child and Family Psychology, and Clinical Psychology (leading to professional registration as a psychologist).
• UC has more than 25 specialist academic staff offering a diverse range of research and teaching options. You can become involved in research projects and may make significant contributions to the discipline.
• Te Kura Mahi a-Hirikapo | School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing provides modern computer-based laboratories; excellent digital recording and editing equipment; an extensive library of psychological tests; and laboratories for human performance, human-robot interaction, animal behaviour and neuroscience, perception and cognition, and social, developmental, and applied psychology.
• UC has a Psychology Clinic where clinical students receive training, and has working relationships with Te Poari Hauora o Waitaha | Canterbury District Health Board, and Ara Poutama Aotearoa | Department of Corrections, offering opportunities for research and clinical internships.

Courses keyboard_arrow_down

• See all postgraduate courses in Psychology

UC offers the following postgraduate programmes in Psychology and related areas:

• Graduate Diploma in Arts
• Graduate Diploma in Science
• Bachelor of Arts with Honours
• Bachelor of Science with Honours
• Postgraduate Certificate in Arts
• Postgraduate Certificate in Science
• Postgraduate Diploma in Arts
• Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Family Psychology
• Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology
• Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science
• Master of Arts (Thesis)
• Master of Science
• Doctor of Philosophy

See the individual qualification pages for more information on degree requirements.

Graduate Diploma in Arts and Graduate Diploma in Science specialising in Psychology

To complete a GradDipArts or GradDipSc with a Psychology focus, students will need to complete at least 60 points in 100 to 300-level PSYC courses throughout their degree. In total 90 points must be at 300-level in the diploma from Psychology and/or other Arts or Science courses.

Bachelor of Arts with Honours and Bachelor of Science with Honours majoring in Psychology

The Psychology major in the BA(Hons) and BSc(Hons) includes:

• PSYC460 Research Methods in Psychology
• PSYC470 Research Project
• 75 points of courses from 400-level PSYC courses (not including PSYC442-450).

Postgraduate Certificate in Arts and Postgraduate Certificate in Science majoring in Psychology

For the PGCertSc, you will need to complete at least 45 points in 400-level PSYC courses for the major. In total 60 points must be completed for the PGCertSc from Psychology and/or other Science courses.

All 60 points in the PGCertArts will need to be 400-level PSYC courses for the major. With approval, you may substitute 30 points in your certificate with either PACE495 Professional and Community Engagement Internship or DIGI403 Digital Project with a Psychology focus.

Postgraduate Diploma in Arts and Postgraduate Diploma in Science majoring in Psychology

In the PGDipSc, the 120 points in the diploma are chosen from 400-level PSYC courses (not including PSYC442-450). With approval, up to 60 points in the diploma may be chosen from other Science subjects, and one 300-level course may be substituted for a 400-level course with an equivalent points value.

All 120 points in the PGDipArts are chosen from 400-level PSYC courses (not including PSYC442-450). With approval, 30 points in the diploma may be substituted with either PACE495 Professional and Community Engagement Internship or DIGI403 Digital Project with a Psychology focus.

Master of Arts (Thesis) majoring in Psychology

In the MA(Thesis), you will need to complete the thesis course PSYC690 MA Thesis .

Master of Science majoring in Psychology

Part I of the MSc in Psychology is PSYC460 Research Methods in Psychology plus 105 points of 400-level PSYC courses (not including PSYC442-450).

You will need a B+ Grade Point Average to proceed to Part II of the degree.

Part II of the MSc requires PSYC695 MSc Thesis .

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology

In the PhD, you will complete a thesis of original research in the Psychology field ( PSYC790 Psychology PhD ).

Career opportunities keyboard_arrow_down

Career opportunities.

Psychologists have a unique mix of skills. As well as a basic knowledge about people, as individuals and in groups, they are required to have excellent writing and communication skills, the ability to analyse and understand quantitative data, and a critical and objective way of approaching problems.

Psychology graduates hold research and policy analyst positions in government departments and other large public sector organisations, as well as positions of responsibility in a variety of settings, including many private sector businesses. Many graduates are employed in public relations; teaching and training; district health boards; the New Zealand Defence Forces; Ara Poutama Aotearoa | Department of Corrections; and in social service agencies such as employment services, social welfare, counselling services, and health promotion.

Further specialist opportunities open up for those who have completed postgraduate training in Industrial and Organisational Psychology, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Child and Family Psychology, and Clinical Psychology (leading to professional registration as a psychologist). Clinical psychologists work with individuals and their families where there are difficulties in adjustment and coping.

Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Psychology .

Postgraduate Prospectus 2024

Whakatairanga tāura, international prospectus 2024/2025, undergraduate subjects, related subjects.

Choose an area that you are interested in and learn how UC’s range of study options can let you study what you want to.

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4 Universities in New Zealand offering Doctoral Degrees Psychology degrees and courses

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Are you looking for Doctoral Degrees courses in Psychology? Here you can find course providers offering full-time, part-time, online or distance learning options.

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University of Auckland

THE World Ranking: 150

University of Canterbury

THE World Ranking: 501

The University of Waikato

THE World Ranking: 401

Massey University

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• Subject Psychology
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Qualification, destination.

Doctoral study in Health Psychology

Why study with us.

• The Department of Psychological Medicine is one of the largest in the School of Medicine, with programmes that are led and delivered by staff who are internationally recognised experts and highly regarded researchers.
• The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences is New Zealand’s leading provider of tertiary education in the health field and the country’s largest centre for medical and biomedical research.
• We pride ourself on the close collaborations that we have developed with the country’s leading healthcare providers. These ensure that our teaching and research are relevant to the present and future health needs of New Zealand.

Research opportunities

There are opportunities to undertake doctoral studies in many of the areas of expertise within the department. Some of our research interests/projects include:

• Coping with illness and chronic disease
• Psychological influences on the development of disease states
• Improving adjustment in healthcare settings
• Patient-practitioner communication
• Adherence to treatment
• Determinants of health-related behaviours
• Understanding how individuals make sense of and react to health screening, symptoms and illness
• Technology and health, including healthcare apps and robotics
• Emotions and health
• Placebo and nocebo effects
• Psychoneuroimmunology
• Compassion in medicine
• Mindfulness and other psychological interventions

Pursue your topic with us and benefit from exceptional standards of support and supervision from internationally recognised researchers.

Dr Anna Serlachius  – Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology

Research interests: self-management interventions, health interventions, research in gout, diabetes and obesity, social support and health, stress and coping

Professor Elizabeth Broadbent  – Professor in Health Psychology

Research interests: stress and wound healing, coping with chronic illness, illness perceptions, risk perceptions, patients’ drawing of their illness, human-robot interactions, embodied cognition.

Professor Keith Petrie  – Professor of Health Psychology

Research interests: health psychology, placebo effect, nocebo effect, adherence to treatment, illness perceptions, reassurance in medical consultations, fatigue in aircrew, modern health worries

Dr Lisa Reynolds  – Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology

Research interests: emotion and avoidance in cancer screening and treatment, medical help-seeking and decision-making, disgust, mindfulness, compassion

Professor Nathan Consedine  – Professor of Health Psychology

Research interests: medical compassion, fear, embarrassment and disgust in health avoidance, mindfulness, self-compassion and yoga as interventions in chronic disease, emotional regulation skills and health

Associate Professor Roger Booth  – Associate Professor in Health Psychology

Research interests: psychoneuroimmunology, self-determination and the immune system, immune networks in health and illness, emotional expression, immunity and health, immune regulators and symptom experience

Past research topics

• "Kindness Matters: Investigating the mental and physical health benefits of self-compassion in diabetes" | Anna Friis supervised by Nathan Consedine and Malcolm Johnson
• "Illness perceptions, coping, and psychological outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer and their caregivers" | Amy Elizabeth Richardson supervised by Elizabeth Broadbent and Randal Morton
• "The impact of psychological interventions on wound healing" | Hayley Maree Robinson supervised by Elizabeth Broadbent and Paul Jarrett
• "Personality and placebo responses in non-pain paradigms: building a transactional model of placebo responding" | Margot Darragh supervised by Nathan Consedine and Roger Booth
• "An ill wind?: The influence of expectations on symptom reporting following exposure to infrasound and sham infrasound" | Fiona Crichton supervised by Keith Petrie and Tim Cundy
• "Expressive regulation and health: does the ability to regulate the expression of emotion predict physical health outcomes?" | Natalie Tuck, supervised by Nathan Consedine and Roger Booth

Scholarships and awards

There are several scholarships you may be eligible for when you decide to pursue your doctoral studies in Health Psychology.

University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships

Apply for doctoral study

Doctoral programmes.

• Doctor of Medicine
• Doctor of Philosophy

Related links

• Doctoral applications
• Find a scholarship

Clinical Psychology Programme

Training toward registration and practice as a clinical psychologist in new zealand, director of clinical programme.

Professor Martin Sellbom

Administrator

Kally Barton Email [email protected]

A career in clinical psychology has become a major professional choice for many psychology graduates. Clinically qualified psychologists are mostly employed in human service roles (including within the District Health Boards, the Corrections Psychological Services, private practice, and other social welfare and counselling agencies), in consultancy roles, and in research and academic roles. From a beginning in which clinical psychologists were employed primarily as testers to assist in the diagnosis of psychiatric patients, their service contributions have gradually broadened over the past 40 years to include not only the treatment and rehabilitation of psychiatric patients, but also the psychological care of non-psychiatric patients, health education, and community welfare. In all these areas psychologists and, in particular, clinical psychologists, have also played a key role in research and in the teaching of health service professionals.

A key route to a career in clinical psychology in New Zealand is through gaining recognised research and professional qualifications.

The majority of students admitted to the programme complete three qualifications over three years of full-time university study. During the first year, students complete a Bachelor of Arts with Honours or a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology, or the equivalent. During the second and third years (also called the first and second professional years), students complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology concurrently with a Master of Arts or Master of Science in Psychology (by thesis only).

There are two common variations to this. In some cases, students complete a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology instead of a Master's degree and, in doing so, undertake at least two additional years of study. In other cases, students substitute the Honours degree in the first year with the coursework component of a Master of Arts or Master of Science in Psychology (by papers and thesis) and, in doing so, complete two qualifications over three years. From time to time, case-by-case variations are permitted (eg, if the student already holds a Master's or PhD research degree in Psychology).

The Master's or PhD research may be in any area of psychology, subject to approval by the Head of Department. For this part of their study, students should contact one of the Higher Degrees Coordinators. PhD Coordinator - Associate Professor Jackie Hunter

Master's Coordinator - Associate Professor Richard Linscott

Admission to the Programme

Entry to the Clinical Psychology programme normally occurs after the third year of Psychology. Applicants for entry into the programme will have completed the requirements for a Bachelors degree in Psychology, or the equivalent (eg, DipGrad in Psychology). The number of students accepted each year into the training programme is limited by the number of practical clinical placements available. The present annual intake of ten students may be expected to vary depending upon the facilities available. Candidates for entry into the programme will have achieved a high standard of academic performance in psychology, particularly at 300-level.  In addition to their academic qualifications, candidates should: (a) be able to and be willing to sustain high workloads, and have a high standard of written and oral communication skills (b) show evidence of having a capacity to relate to a wide range of people from different cultural, economic, and vocational backgrounds. Only citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand or Australia will be considered for places in this programme. Download the Diploma in Clinical Psychology Handbook (1239 KB)

Apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (PGDipClPs)

Applications for admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology are handled online through the University's eVision system. To obtain information about how to apply, this system requires you to begin the application process. If you have never undertaken study at the University of Otago, the first step in this process involves you providing your name and contact details as well as information about your study to date. Once these details have been confirmed, you will be able to navigate to the online application pages for the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology.

Use our Quick Guide to eVision to help you through the application process (PDF 60.4KB)

The eVision system allows you to save partially completed applications. That is, you do not need to provide all the requested information in one session. Once you select to apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology, you should download the application information and instructions document.

If you have any questions about the application process or are having difficulty with the e:Vision system, please contact the Director of the Clinical Psychology Programme, Professor Martin Sellbom.

Email [email protected]

To proceed with your application, follow the link below. This will load the qualification information on the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology. Then select the yellow "Apply Now" button.

http://www.otago.ac.nz/courses/qualifications/pgdipclps.html

Meihana Model

The purpose of the course is to support psychology trainees to feel informed and confident in the development of Hauora Māori competencies, by focussing on the Hui Process and Meihana Model.  Students will complete MIHI501 and MIHI601 during the programme.

Meihana model overview (PDF)

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Postgraduate psychology study , Ako tāura mātai hinengaro

We offer a range of psychology qualifications at a postgraduate level. Find out what you need to pursue your interest in this area.

On this page

Search all qualifications and courses, eligibility, taking a few courses, sending transcripts , extra documentation, choosing applicants, unsuccessful applicants, part-time study, online, off-campus and distance study , once you’re enrolled, funding sources and thesis topics.

• List of all the qualifications you can study at Massey

To be accepted to study psychology at postgraduate level you need an undergraduate degree with a major in psychology or equivalent. 

Undergraduate degree without Psychology major

If you have an undergraduate degree but no major in psychology you can enrol in the Graduate Diploma in Arts, or Science and Technology, and take eight undergraduate courses. This will give you the equivalent of a psychology major. 

Graduate Diploma in Arts

Graduate Diploma in Science and Technology

To take courses to follow your interests (not a formal qualification) you need a degree in psychology or its equivalent. 

Ask early about your equivalent major

If you think you have the equivalent of a psychology major but are not sure you can send us a cover letter and copy of your university transcript. We can look over your qualifications and assess your standing. 

This will take some time – likely more than 3 weeks. You need to send your request well in advance of any university deadlines for course enrolment. 

Where to send questions

Academic Advice Service Eligibility enquiries Email: [email protected]

If you are pursuing another postgraduate degree you may opt to take some postgraduate courses within the School of Psychology.

Arrange this by writing a letter to the Postgraduate Coordinator to ask for approval (see contact details below).

Professional development

If you want to take one or two courses in the School of Psychology to enhance your professional development this is also possible.

Send a letter to the Postgraduate Coordinator detailing your qualifications and the reasons you want to take the course or courses (see contact details below). 

Approval to take these interest courses will be granted if the qualifications are deemed suitable. Students without an undergraduate degree in psychology or its equivalent generally are not eligible to take interest courses.

Written requests to take courses for interest or as part of a degree from another university should arrive at the School of Psychology well in advance of the university deadlines for enrolment wherever possible. 

Note some postgraduate psychology courses have a maximum limit of 25 students. Normally students accepted to study psychology will have preference in obtaining a place in these courses.

If you are a Massey graduate and supply us with your ID number, we will retrieve your transcript for you for the application review process. 

You must supply an original or verified copy of your university transcript or transcripts if you are not a Massey graduate.

You do not need to enclose extra documentation such as a resume, CV or other details about your qualifications. The information we ask for on the application form such as academic grades, qualifications and honours is all we need. 

Since we are admitting people to academic study, we feel the best indicators of your ability to successfully complete the work are past academic performance and achievement. A transcript is sufficient for our purposes.

Do not send additional documentation.

For applicants who have been away from academic study for some time it is quite important to list any recent academic work, certification classes, and so on in the appropriate place on the application form.

Applicants are chosen based on a weighted GPA (grade point average) formula. If you have questions about weighted GPAs, please contact the Academic Administrator – Professional Psychology.

If you are admitted to study at postgraduate level you are not necessarily guaranteed a place in your preferred courses or guaranteed your preferred thesis supervisor. 

Depending on applicant numbers, some postgraduate courses and qualifications may limit the number of places available. We have only a finite number of lecturers available to provide research supervision.

Unsuccessful applicants may wish to consider taking extra undergraduate courses to increase their GPA and demonstrate current levels of achievement in their academic study. 

Many students who were initially unsuccessful in their application have later been admitted for postgraduate study after taking more courses and performing well. But taking such courses offers no guarantee of acceptance in the following year.

You can study part-time for most diplomas and degrees at the postgraduate level. Be mindful of the timeframes to complete postgraduate study if you want to enrol part-time.

The Doctor of Clinical Psychology can only be taken full-time.

Read more about the Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Postgraduate courses can be completed off-campus except the Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych) and Master of Clinical Psychology (MClinPsych).

The master's thesis and research projects for the honour's degree may also be completed at a distance.

Supervision at a distance should involve some form of regular contact. This contact may be by: 

• Zoom/MS Teams
• occasional visits to the campus where your supervisor is located.

Individual meetings with research supervisors on campus at negotiated intervals are also required. These are mandatory when you are doing a PhD at a distance. 

The DClinPsych and MClinPsych are full-time which requires compulsory weekly attendance on-campus. These qualifications may only be taken internally.

Once you join the department as a postgraduate student you will have access to support tools such as:

• subscribing to the psychology graduates' email list (a virtual notice board for students and staff)
• Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) software access
• software such as EndNote, Office 365, NVivo, and Qualtrics.

The Handbook for Postgraduate Research Students In Psychology provides answers to most of your queries.

Master's and PhD projects

Please refer to Psychology thesis topics and supervisors for a list of options and access to the Psychology research supervisor agreement form.

Research funding for master's and PhD projects is available through the School of Psychology.

Academic Advice for Professional Psychology

Email: [email protected] Phone: +64 6 951 6118

Postgraduate Coordinator

Email: [email protected]

PhD Coordinator

E-mail: [email protected]

8 Best universities for Psychology in New Zealand

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in New Zealand ranked based on their research performance in Psychology. A graph of 2.53M citations received by 97.5K academic papers made by 8 universities in New Zealand was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Auckland

For Psychology

2. University of Otago

3. Massey University

4. Victoria University of Wellington

5. University of Canterbury

6. Auckland University of Technology

7. University of Waikato

8. Lincoln University, New Zealand

The best cities to study Psychology in New Zealand based on the number of universities and their ranks are Auckland , Dunedin , Palmerston North , and Wellington .

Psychology subfields in New Zealand

Te Kura Mātai Hinengaro

School of --> school of psychology, postgraduate study in psychology.

The School of Psychology offers a range of postgraduate qualifications, including diplomas, Honours degrees, Master’s and PhD programmes.

Postgraduate students are engaged in active research. Many of our staff are world renowned experts in their field and students receive the best supervision possible and graduate with well-developed research skills, the ability to critically evaluate information and will be able to apply their skills to any field.

Students will hone their communication skills by making research sessions, presenting to stakeholder groups and attending conferences. All of these experiences make our students dynamic, versatile and equipped for whatever career path they may take in the future.

You can complete some of our postgraduate programmes within three specialised areas—Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience, Cross-Cultural Psychology, and Forensic Psychology—or choose courses across the broad spectrum of Psychology.

Study Psychology to understand behaviour—how we think, feel, and act—and how those processes can go wrong. Learn how our biology and our environment interact to make us who we are. [PGDipSc, BSc(Hons), MSc by coursework and thesis, MSc by thesis, PhD]

Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience

Get advanced training in the scientific study of behaviour and cognition, and their relationship to the brain—and prepare for a successful career in neuroscience research. [MSc by coursework and thesis, MSc by thesis, PhD]

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Enhance your degree and get the skills and knowledge to design, conduct and evaluate cross-cultural research through advanced study of cross-cultural psychology. [MSc by coursework and thesis, MSc by thesis, PhD]

Forensic Psychology

Expand on your degree and take your skills and knowledge to the next level with advanced study in forensic psychology. [MSc by coursework and thesis, MSc by thesis, PhD]

Clinical Psychology

Become a qualified clinical psychologist through practical study and research in psychology. [Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology only]

Programmes/qualifications

Postgraduate diploma in science.

Gain a more in-depth understanding of your scientific subject area and boost your career opportunities with this one-year diploma. The Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSc) can also provide a pathway into Master’s study.

Bachelor of Science with Honours

The Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) degree is an intensive year of course work and research under academic supervision.

Master of Science by coursework and thesis

This two-year degree involves an intensive year of course work (Master’s Part 1), followed by a full-year supervised research project (Master’s Part 2). You can complete an MSc in general Psychology, or specialise in Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience, Cross-Cultural Psychology, or Forensic Psychology.

Master of Science by thesis

If you’ve already done an Honours degree in Psychology, you can go directly into this full-year supervised research project. Depending on your 400-level courses, you can complete an MSc in general Psychology or specialise in Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience, Cross-Cultural Psychology, or Forensic Psychology.

Postgraduate Diploma of Clinical Psychology

A three-year clinical training programme with highly competitive entry. You’ll need to complete a Master’s degree or PhD alongside the PGDipClinPsyc.

The PhD is a research degree culminating in a thesis and usually takes three to four years of full-time study to complete. You can complete a PhD in general Psychology, or specialise in Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience, Cross-Cultural Psychology, or Forensic Psychology.

Choosing your courses

Get ready for study and check out what courses are offered by the School of Psychology.

Why study Psychology?

Our psychology degree and diploma students work alongside internationally respected psychologists to understand and advocate for inclusive communities.

From analysing the reasons for anger to considering the best way to train dogs, a psychology degree allows insight into countless intriguing facets of cognitive function.

We ensure psychology is scientific and accountable, producing world-leading research in a friendly and welcoming environment. Our areas of specialisation are in the most critical areas of psychology, where a psychology degree can make a difference to New Zealand society (Māori and community psychology , Clinical psychology , Behavioural psychology , Cognitive psychology and Environmental psychology).

Career Opportunities

• Behaviour Analyst
• Clinical or Community Psychologist
• Community Programme Coordinator
• Private Practitioner
• Human Resource Advisor
• Research Scientist
• Project Manager
• Psychologist

School of Psychological and Social Sciences

• School of Science
• School of Arts

Hamilton, Tauranga, Online

Study Psychology in these qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Social Sciences
• Master of Social Sciences
• Postgraduate Certificate
• Graduate Certificate
• Postgraduate Diploma
• Certificate
• Master of Science (Research)
• Master of Philosophy
• Doctor of Philosophy
• Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology (Clinical)
• Graduate Diploma
• Master of Professional Practice in Behaviour Analysis
• Master of Applied Psychology
• Master of Arts in Psychology
• Postgraduate Diploma in the Practice of Psychology

Psychology Career options

Explore our comprehensive guide on psychology careers to discover diverse job roles, necessary education pathways, and detailed registration requirements. Learn the steps to embark on a fulfilling psychology career and find the path that best suits you.

Careers in Psychology

Master of Arts in Psychology Degree

A Master of Arts in Psychology degree will prepare you for a variety of psychology-relevant careers.

This 180-point Master of Arts in Psychology can be completed in 12-18 months. You will develop a deeper understanding of psychology and gain specialist knowledge that will be attractive to potential employers. This degree will prepare you to understand psychological research and communicate psychological knowledge broadly.

Entry Requirements

To be admitted to the Master of Arts in Psychology degree, you must have completed a bachelor's degree in a relevant subject with a B grade average or better across the third-year papers.

Psychology courses can be combined with courses in other disciplines to prepare you to work in a variety of interesting psychology-relevant industries.  No thesis or dissertation is required.

Areas of study for a psychology degree at Waikato include

• Animal Behaviour
• Behaviour Analysis
• Clinical Psychology
• Community Psychology
• Kaupapa Māori and Applied Social Psychology
• Health and Mental Health Services 
• Organisational Psychology.

Study a psychology degree or diploma in Tauranga

You can choose to take Psychology under any of these degrees:

It's possible to complete any of these Psychology qualifications without leaving Tauranga. Note that the range of non-core papers (e.g. those shown as "List A" in bachelor degree planners) available in Tauranga may differ to those available in Hamilton.

University of Waikato accreditations

The University of Waikato proudly holds accreditations and affiliations with reputable academic and professional organisations, ensuring the highest standards of quality in education and research. Our accreditations underscore our dedication to providing students with a world-class educational experience and equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in their chosen careers.

Subject regulations

Psychology degree subject regulations

Psychology papers

What our psychology students are saying, student centre, international enquiries, you’re viewing this website as a domestic student.

You’re currently viewing the website as a domestic student, you might want to change to international.

You're a domestic student if you are:

• A citizen of New Zealand or Australia
• A New Zealand permanent resident

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• Intending to study on a student visa
• Not a citizen of New Zealand or Australia

Postgraduate Diploma in Health Psychology

This course is available

Level of Study

Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma

Develop your skills to become a health psychologist, working directly with patient populations and the public.

Studying in NZ

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