Regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology (Clinical) (PGDipPsych(Clin))

  1. The Personal Programmes of Study Regulations apply in these regulations.

Admission

  1. To be admitted to the PGDipPsych(Clin) programme, applicants must satisfy the University’s Admission regulations, be a New Zealand or Australian citizen or a New Zealand permanent resident, and are required to have
    1. either:
      1. completed, with a minimum of a B+ average, the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours, Bachelor of Science with Honours, or Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours of the University of Waikato, or a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology or a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, or
      2. demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Clinical Psychology programme that they have adequate academic skills, experience, and are aligned with the New Zealand Psychologist Board’s practicing requirements under the Scope of Practice for trainee psychologists and
    2. demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the Clinical Psychology programme and the Head of School of Psychological and Social Sciences Psychology that:
      1. they could meet the criteria for admission to register as clinical psychologists as defined by the New Zealand Psychologists Board and their New Core Competencies for Practice of Psychology in New Zealand, The Code of Ethics and Best Practice Guidelines and
      2. they can demonstrate that they are suitable candidates with respect to:
        1. a Police vetting check,
        2. the Vulnerable Children's Act 2014, and
        3. relevant organisation vaccination policies.

  2. Candidates for the Postgraduate Diploma must
    1. be concurrently enrolled in one of the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science (Research) (90 to 120pt thesis), Master of Philosophy, or Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Waikato, in Psychology, or a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, with a research topic approved by the Head of School of Psychological and Social Sciences or delegated authority, and shall complete the requirements of the concurrent degree before being eligible for the award of the Postgraduate Diploma, or
    2. have completed one of the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science (Research), Master of Social Sciences, (with a minimum of a 90 to 120pt thesis), Master of Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Waikato, in Psychology, or a qualification considered by the Academic Board to be equivalent, with a research topic approved by the Head of School of Psychological and Social Sciences or delegated authority.
    3. In order to enter the Year 3 internship year and be enrolled in PSYCH526 and PSYCH527, the Masters or PhD thesis submission must be submitted for examination two weeks prior to internship start date.
  3. The admission of every candidate for the Postgraduate Diploma shall require the approval of the Head of School of Psychological and Social Sciences.

Requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma

  1. The normal minimum period of enrolment for completion of the Postgraduate Diploma is three years.
  2. The requirements of the Postgraduate Diploma must be completed within five years of first enrolling in the Postgraduate Diploma.
  3. Candidates must enrol in the Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences and follow an approved programme of study, including where appropriate, the concurrent programme of study for the Masters (by thesis) degree in clause 3(a).
  4. Every candidate for the Postgraduate Diploma shall
    1. complete 140 points as prescribed in the Psychology entry in the University of Waikato Subject Regulations, including
    2. completing placement(s) and internship(s) in a setting approved by the Director of the Clinical Programme or delegated authority.
  5. The University will endeavour to arrange placements which will allow a candidate to undertake the practical and placement/internship work referred to in sections 8(b) of these regulations but cannot guarantee to make such arrangements in a given year. If an approved internship position cannot be arranged, placement of a student may be deferred, normally for a maximum of 12 months. As internships become available priority will be given to students for whom they have been deferred.
  6. Every candidate must, before presenting themselves for the final examination for the Postgraduate Diploma, have satisfactorily completed the requirements of Section 8. The procedures and criteria for assessing the personal and professional competencies central to the satisfactory completion of the requirements referred to in Section 8 of these regulations shall be as prescribed in the appropriate paper outlines.
  7. The Diploma cannot be awarded until a student has successfully completed a Masters research thesis or PhD in Psychology.
  8. A student may be withdrawn from the programme if:
    1. they fail more than two of the core clinical papers
    2. it is determined, by the Clinical Programme Director and Head of School of Psychological and Social Sciences, that they cease to meet the standards set out in the criteria for admission to register as a clinical psychologist as defined by the New Zealand Psychologist Board’s Core Competencies for Practice of Psychology in New Zealand, The Code of Ethics and Best Practice Guidelines.

Variations

  1. The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Division or delegated authority may vary or waive these regulations in individual cases.