What will my study involve?

Courses

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.