Course details

Summary

Psychology covers a broad range of topics, but at its simplest level it is the systematic study of individual behaviour. It considers emotions, personality, and the way individuals interact. It also considers learning, memory, thinking and the brain.

Psychology is a growing and ever-changing subject which helps us make sense of the human impact on the world in which we live.

You'll learn how people perceive, learn, think, develop, behave, and relate to one another. Courses will teach you how the structure of the brain affects our behaviour, what makes people different from one another and how being in groups affects people's behaviour. Finally, you'll learn how factors like culture, gender, poverty, and mental illness affect our health, our thinking, and our behaviour.

Applied learning

During your degree you can take part in our broad selection of courses across areas including forensic, experimental and community psychology that demonstrate how foundational skills can be applied.

Topics

Some of the topics taught in psychology courses include:

• Abnormal and therapeutic psychology
• Bicultural perspectives in psychology
• Brain and behaviour
• Community psychology
• Evolution, learning and culture
• Memory and cognition
• Organisational psychology
• Social psychology

Careers

A degree in psychology may lead to many possible career paths. Virtually any setting where knowledge of human behaviour and interactions is useful may employ someone with knowledge of psychology. Some areas in which recent graduates have gained employment are:

• Human resource management
• Rehabilitation psychology
• Business psychology
• Teaching
• Scientific research
• Public health
• Counselling
• Defence psychology
• Special education

After completing the bachelor's programme, postgraduate study may give you the opportunity to practice as a registered psychologist in clinical or organisational settings.

Entry criteria

Students must have successful completion of a qualification equivalent to the New Zealand Year 13 - NCEA Level 3 University Entrance.

Students do not need a background in any particular subject, the programme requires a logical mind and willingness to learn.

English Language Requirements:

• IELTS score of 6.0 (no band less than 5.5)
• TOEFL iBT score of 80 overall (min 19 in Writing)
• PTE Academic score of 50 Overall (min 42 in communicative skills)
• Cambridge English score of 170