Applying for the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (PGDipPsych(Clin))
The PGDipPsych(Clin) has one intake per year and limited spaces. Applications are assessed competitively on grades, experience, personal essay, cultural essay, and referee reports.
This programme is restricted to New Zealand and Australian citizens and permanent residents.
Application process
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Apply online via MyWaikato
MyWaikatoSubmit your application online. If you have not completed a Masters thesis or PhD in Psychology, you must also apply for an MSc(Research) 120pt thesis via MyWaikato by the closing date. Do not apply for any other Masters qualification. Contact the programme before applying if you are considering a PhD.
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Academic check
If you meet the academic entry requirements, you will be sent a School selection form to complete by the closing deadline. If you do not meet the requirements, we will let you know your application was unsuccessful.
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Selection committee review
All applicants with complete documentation are assessed based on their academic background, core paper requirements, work and life experience, personal essay, cultural essay, referee reports and other documentation required. Applicants will be contacted by the end of October with an application update.
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Interviews
A limited number of applicants are invited to interview in November. Interviews are in person only. Successful applicants will be invited within ten working days of the interview date.
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Decision communicated
Applicants will be notified of either (a) an offer of a place in the programme, (b) placed on a waitlist, or (c) no offer of a place this intake. Some offers are conditional on final results or other requirements.
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Clinical Psychology Handbook
More information about our professional programmes can be found in the Clinical Psychology Handbook.
What you need to submit
The documents required for the School selection form are listed below. Do not upload these to MyWaikato.
Police vetting is required for all applicants offered a place:
- Applicants who have lived in New Zealand for at least six months before the programme start date must complete NZ Police Vetting, including a consent form and two forms of identification.
- Applicants who have lived overseas must also complete an International Criminal History Check for each country in which they have lived for 12 months or more within the last seven years.
Certified transcripts of relevant academic records only. We need to see evidence of strong academic ability, including critical reading and written communication, and a solid background in psychology concepts and methods. Postgraduate grades must be at least a B+ average.
Evidence that you have completed the required prerequisite papers or equivalent courses. If you need to complete more than two prerequisite papers alongside Year 1 of the programme, your application may be less competitive. This workload is demanding, especially if you are also completing a Masters thesis. You will find details of the prerequisite paper requirements in the Clinical Psychology Handbook.
Your most recent CV covering clinical experience, degrees, accomplishments, work experience, and professional activities. Maximum three pages. Do not include general letters of recommendation.
A one-page essay (500-word limit) outlining your reasons for considering clinical psychology as a career, your major interests within psychology, and what you hope to achieve through training.
We encourage you to limit your use of AI when writing this. AI-generated statements tend to be generic and repetitive and will not help you stand out. This is your chance to show who you are.
We are interested in developing clinicians who are reflective about culture and mental health, especially working with people and communities who are culturally different as well as the needs for Māori communities as considered through a Treaty of Waitangi lens. Each answer has a 250-word limit.
Provide contact details for two referees in your online selection form. They will be sent a link to complete a report once you submit. Let them know to expect an email and to check their spam folder.
Choose referees who know you well, ideally for more than a year, and who can speak to your personal qualities in relation to the programme. Your two referees must come from different contexts:
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one academic referee who knows your work well, such as a paper convenor
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one professional referee, such as an employer, line manager, or supervisor
Do not provide two referees of the same type. Do not include family members, friends, or people who know you only socially.
Fitness to practice
The selection committee looks at your demeanour, self-awareness, relevant experience, maturity, critical thinking, motivation to complete the three-year programme, and your suitability for registration with the New Zealand Psychologists Board. The goal is to select people who can train safely and effectively as clinical psychologists.
The New Zealand Psychologists Board sets strict Fitness to Practise standards to protect the public. These cover communication skills, English proficiency, criminal convictions, mental or physical health, disciplinary history, and any risk to public safety.
To practise as a clinical psychologist in Aotearoa, you must be registered. All psychologists must meet the Board's Core Competencies and follow the Code of Ethics for Psychologists Working in Aotearoa New Zealand (2002).
Nature of the work
Clinical psychology can involve complex, challenging, and confronting experiences. Issues commonly encountered with clients include:
- severe compromises in mental health and wellbeing, such as self-harm and suicidal behaviour
- challenging behaviour, such as interpersonal aggression and violence
- criminal offences and severe antisocial behaviour
- sexually harmful behaviour towards adults and/or children
- sexual, violent, and emotional victimisation as a child and/or adult
- substance misuse and addictions
If any of these bring up strong emotional reactions for you, take time to work through these with a mental health professional before applying. It is important to be aware of your triggers to practise safely and ethically.
Interview process
The interview helps us understand who you are beyond your academic results. It is your opportunity to demonstrate the personal qualities, values, and communication skills that matter in clinical practice.
Interviews for the 2027 intake take place in mid-November 2026. Interview dates cannot be changed. You must be able to attend in person.
Interviews are held over two days.
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Day 1 includes a group activity and two written assessments in the morning, followed by individual 20-minute interviews. Applicants from outside the Waikato region will be placed into an afternoon interview slot on Day 1 where possible.
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Day 2 continues individual interviews for those not interviewed on Day 1.
The final decision is based on your interview performance, application materials, references, and fitness to practise.
We look for:
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motivation and commitment to clinical psychology as a career
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strong interpersonal skills, warmth, and the ability to work well with others
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clear, respectful, and confident communication
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critical thinking, problem-solving, and a scientist-practitioner mindset
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ethical awareness, professionalism, and good judgement
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self-awareness, openness to feedback, and resilience
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understanding of health and wellbeing in Aotearoa, including Te Tiriti o Waitangi
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commitment to culturally safe, inclusive, and equitable practice
Before you apply
A minimum B+ average over your postgraduate papers. Grades are considered alongside core papers, work experience, personal qualities, bicultural awareness, and commitment to the profession.
Paid or voluntary roles where you support people facing psychological or social challenges. This includes mental health services, social work, nursing, drug and alcohol services, occupational therapy, community agencies, or work alongside clinical psychologists.
No. This programme is only available to New Zealand and Australian citizens or permanent residents.
You must meet the immunisation standards for healthcare professionals in New Zealand to go on any placement or internship. You will receive a full list of requirements if offered a place. Proof of immunisation, which may include serologies at your expense, is required. This can cost up to around $900.
Travel to and from clinical placements and internships is at your own cost.
You must complete both the PGDipPsych(Clin) and a Masters research thesis (minimum 90 points, usually 120 points) or a PhD in Psychology.
This programme is conducted in-person and typically completed in three consecutive years. The demands of training may not work for people who have other competing commitments during this time (e.g. sports, overseas travel, etc). Please take time to consider whether any of the following may affect your ability to complete this three-year programme.
- High academic demands. You will be completing a Masters degree at the same time as clinical classes and placements. You may need to study during semester breaks to complete your thesis and will need to work longer than regular hours.
- Family commitments, financial pressures, and other personal circumstances.
- StudyLink eligibility. If you have already completed a Masters degree, StudyLink may consider you a part-time student and you may not be eligible for a student allowance. Contact StudyLink to check your eligibility before applying.
- Paid internships. While we work to find paid internships for students, this cannot be guaranteed.
During the process
No. Late applications are not accepted under any circumstances. This ensures a fair process for all applicants.
No. Deferrals are not possible. If you are unsuccessful, you are welcome to reapply the following year.
Decisions are usually made within two months of applications closing. Interviews are held in November and you will receive at least one to two weeks' notice. Any offers must be accepted by the university's agreed date, usually the first Friday in December.
Due to the volume and complexity of applications, individual feedback is not provided on shortlisting or selection decisions.
Internships and placements
The programme is regionally focused. Placements, internships, and other activities mostly take place in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions. If you cannot travel to Hamilton for classes, placements, or internships, we suggest applying to a programme closer to you.
All Year 2 students complete two clinical placements, each running two days a week. One placement is at The Psychology Centre on the Hamilton campus. The other is in a community mental health service. Placements are organised by the Senior Tutor. Travel within the Waikato or Bay of Plenty may be required.
Internships run for 46 weeks, either as one full-year placement or two half-year placements, starting in Week 3 of January. Interns work Tuesday to Friday, with Mondays kept for university work. Internships are competitive and preferred options are not guaranteed. Some positions may be unpaid.
If you have not completed a Masters thesis or PhD in psychology, you must have submitted a full thesis draft (usually by mid-September of Year 2), submitted your final thesis by 5 January before internship begins, and gained Intern Psychologist registration with the New Zealand Psychologists Board. If you have not submitted either a Masters thesis or PhD in psychology, by this date, you will not be able to start your internship.