Psychology
Discover the importance of psychology in modern society by studying psychology at Waikato. Join a community of innovative thinkers and world-leading research.
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).
Why study Psychology at the University of Waikato?
Undergraduate Psychology qualifications
Make studying psychology work for you
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.
Psychology Careers
Explore our comprehensive guide on psychology careers to discover diverse job roles, necessary education pathways, and detailed registration requirements. Learn the steps to embark on a fulfilling psychology career and find the path that best suits you.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)
Ready for the next level? A PGDip lets you study 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.
Kaupapa Māori Psychology minor
Psychology at Waikato recognises the importance of the Māori worldview. For this reason we’ve developed a minor in Kaupapa Māori Psychology. This is critical for real-life mental health outcomes for Māori and indigenous peoples.
Psychology
Our postgraduate study programmes in Psychology offer a deep dive into the human mind and behaviour. Whether you're interested in clinical psychology, research, or applied psychology, our programmes equip you with the skills to make a meaningful impact.
Apply to study with us
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 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.