Psychology
Discover the importance of psychology in modern society at Waikato. Join a community of innovative thinkers and world-leading research.
Why study Psychology?
Psychology is one of the most important and critical topics in modern society. At Waikato, we welcome students into a community full of innovative thinkers. Our students work alongside internationally respected psychologists to understand and advocate for inclusive communities.
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 psychology can make a difference to New Zealand society (Māori and community psychology, Clinical psychology, Behavioural psychology, Cognitive psychology and Environmental psychology).
Apply
Make Psychology work for you
We offer plenty of flexibility to adapt learning to suit your desired focus. Psychology can be taken as a major for the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Social Sciences or Bachelor of Science - unlike any other university in New Zealand.
Have you already completed a Bachelor’s degree in another subject and are considering a career change to Psychology? If so, the Graduate Diploma in Psychology could be for you. It's an easy way to get up to speed in Psychology.
Ready for the next level?
A PGDip lets you learn about Psychology at postgraduate level through a series of papers in your chosen areas of Psychology. It is a versatile qualification that is a requirement for entry to most other Psychology graduate programmes. Through a PGDip, you can explore those aspects of Psychology which you care about the most.
Important application deadlines
We offer a wide array of postgraduate study programmes from an Honours year, Masters degree, through to Ph.D. study. These qualifications include ways to become eligible to work as a registered psychologist via our MAppPsy pathways in Community or Behaviour Analysis. Applications for 2024 entry close from 30 September 2023, although this varies by programme.
New in 2024
Special Topic paper is available from A Trimester 2024: The WTF seminar: Facts, Fiction, Fake news (PSYCH545)
New Zealand, like the whole world, is drowning in ideas and claims that are fake, fiction, or just plain lies. Humanity has lost respect for expertise. We’ve come to think all beliefs are equally valid. Social media is a cesspool. But two institutions stand between us and this tsunami of ridiculousness. The first is the the media, but they’ve abdicated their responsibilities. The second is the university, and we’re not giving up. Join us as we say “WTF?” calibrate your “nope" detector, figure out why, exactly, some claim is flat-out wrong, and help someone else understand it too.
Open to anyone with permission of the instructor; automatic entry to students who have taken PHILO103 or PHILO204 or PSYCH211, or a "list C" BSc paper.
Actively supporting Māori
The School of Psychology enables Māori students to reach their potential. We seek to provide all psychology students with Māori and bicultural paradigms and insights. Our Kaupapa Māori Management Committee ensures that we have Kaupapa Māori laboratories for all of our undergraduate papers. This support, by Māori for Māori, provides a platform for student success.
Kaupapa Māori Psychology Minor
Psychology at Waikato recognises the importance of the Māori worldview. For this reason we’ve developed a minor in Kaupapa Maori Psychology. This is critical for real-life mental health outcomes for Māori and indigenous peoples.