Psychology Subject regulations
Psychology is about understanding the behaviour and cognitive processes of people and animals in their physical, social and organisational environment. As a behavioural science, it examines the way behaviour is learned and can be changed. As a social science, it focuses on individuals within the context of families, organisations and other groups, communities, cultures and societies. As a biological science, it studies the senses (hearing, vision, touch) and how the brain and physiological systems relate to behaviour. As a cognitive science it studies perception, attention, memory, thinking and language understanding. The study of development, personality, learning and motivation are also part of Psychology.
Psychology is available as a first major for the Bachelor of Arts (BA), the Bachelor of Science (BSc) and the Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSocSc). Psychology may also be taken as a second major or minor in other undergraduate degrees, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled.
To complete Psychology as a single major for the BA, BSc or BSocSc, students must gain 135 points in papers listed for Psychology, including PSYCH100, PSYCH101, PSYCH211, plus a further 30 points at Level 200, and at least 60 points at 300 level.
To complete Psychology as part of a double major for the BA, BSc, BSocSc or other undergraduate degree, students must gain 120 points in papers listed for Psychology, including PSYCH100, PSYCH101, and PSYCH211. 90 points must be above 100 level and at least 45 points above 200 level.
To complete a minor in Psychology, students must complete 60 points from the papers listed for the Psychology major, including at least 15 points at 200 level and at least 15 points at 300 level.
Kaupapa Māori Psychology is also available as a minor, subject to approval of the Division in which the student is enrolled. Please see Kaupapa Māori Psychology for further information.
Students taking Psychology as part of a double major should discuss paper selection with one of the Psychology Undergraduate Advisors.
The Master of Applied Psychology in Organisational Psychology is not available for new enrolments from 2023 onwards.
Other qualifications
Prescriptions for:
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Dip(SocSc), GradCert(Psych) and GradDip(Psych) A Diploma in Social Sciences, Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Psychology at an advanced level in their first degree.
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PGCert(Psych) and PGDip(Psych) To complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Psychology, students must complete 60 points from 500 level Psychology papers.
To complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology, students must complete 120 points at 500 level, including at least 90 points from Psychology papers.
All programmes of study should be devised in consultation with the relevant pathway Programme convenor, Head of School or the Graduate Studies Convenor.
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BA(Hons), BSc(Hons) and BSocSc(Hons) To complete a BA(Hons), BSc(Hons) or BSocSc(Hons) in Psychology, students must complete 120 points at 500 level, including PSYCH591 as the required research paper.
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MA, MSc, MSc(Res) and MSocSc To complete a Master of Arts or Master of Social Sciences in Psychology, students must complete 120 points from approved 500 level papers, including at least 45 points from the papers listed for the subject in List A: Advanced Study of the regulations for the MA or MSocSc.
To complete a Master of Science in Psychology, students admitted to the 120 point MSc, must take 60 points from 500 level Psychology papers and a 60 point dissertation (PSYCH592).
To complete a Master of Science (Research) in Psychology, students admitted to the 240 point MSc(Res) must take a 120 point thesis (PSYCH594) and at least 60 points from approved 500 level Psychology papers.
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MAppPsy Applications must be received by 1 October of the year prior to enrolment. Students considering enrolment in the Master of Applied Psychology must, in addition to fulfilling the requirements set out in the appropriate regulations, meet the School of Psychology requirements for entry to graduate study. The number of students accepted into the programme is limited.
There are three specified programmes available within the MAppPsy: Behaviour Analysis, Community Psychology, and Organisational Psychology.
Behaviour Analysis
To complete a MAppPsy in Behaviour Analysis, students must pass the equivalent of 240 points.
Year 1 (120 points)
Compulsory papers: PSYCH538, PSYCH560, PSYCH561, PSYCH577
Recommended papers: PSYCH564, PSYCH575, PSYCH581, PSYCH586
Other optional papers should be selected in consultation with the Behaviour Analysis Programme Convenor.
Year 2 (120 points)
The research component can comprise of, a 60 point dissertation (PSYCH592), 90 point thesis (PSYCH593) or a 120 point thesis (PSYCH594). Where further papers are required these should be selected in consultation with the Behaviour Analysis Programme Convenor.
Community Psychology
To complete a MAppPsy in Community Psychology, students must pass the equivalent of 240 points.
Year 1 (120 points)
Compulsory papers: PSYCH511, PSYCH513, PSYCH575, PSYCH582, PSYCH583
Recommended papers: 30 points from optional papers in Anthropology, Development Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Geography, History, Human Development, Political Science, Population Studies and Demography, Psychology, Public Policy, Screen and Media Studies, and Sociology.
Year 2 (120 points)
The research component can comprise of a 60 point dissertation (PSYCH592), 90 point thesis (PSYCH593) or a 120 point thesis (PSYCH594). Where further papers are required optional papers should be selected in consultation with the Community Psychology Programme Convenor.
Organisational Psychology [1]
To complete a MAppPsy in Organisational Psychology, students must pass the equivalent of 240 points. A minimum of 180 points must be in Psychology, including the following compulsory papers: 120 point thesis (PSYCH594), on an I/O psychology topic, PSYCH539, PSYCH573, PSYCH579. Plus at least one from: PSYCH581, PSYCH585. The remaining 60 points may be chosen from a relevant, or related discipline, in consultation with the convenor of the programme.
NOTE:
[1] The Master of Applied Psychology in Organisational Psychology is not available for new enrolments in 2025.
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MPPBA To complete a Master of Professional Practice in Behaviour Analysis, students must pass the equivalent of 240 points.
Students enrolled in the MPPBA must complete the following:
Year 1: PSYCH538, PSYCH560, PSYCH561, PSYCH577, and 60 points from PSYCH564, PSYCH575, PSYCH580, PSYCH581 or PSYCH586.
Year 2: PSYCH551, PSYCH552 and PSYCH554.
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PGDipPracPsych Applications must be received by 1 October of the year prior to enrolment. The number of students accepted into the programme is limited. The Postgraduate Diploma in the Practice of Psychology is awarded and endorsed in either Applied Behaviour Analysis or Community Psychology. To complete the Postgraduate Diploma, students must gain 120 points.
Applied Behaviour Analysis
PSYCH551, PSYCH552 and PSYCH553
Community Psychology
PSYC541, PSYC542 and PSYCH543
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PGDipPsych(Clin) Applications must be received by 1 October of the year prior to enrolment. Students considering enrolment in the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology (Clinical) must, in addition to fulfilling the requirements set out in the appropriate regulations, also meet the School of Psychology requirements for entry to graduate study. The number of students accepted into the programme is limited and shortlisted applicants are interviewed in November.
Students enrolled in the PGDipPsych(Clin) must complete the following:
Year 1: PSYC521 and PSYC522
Year 2: PSYC523 and PSYC524
Year 3: PSYCH526 and PSYCH527
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MPhil The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
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PhD The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
