Course details

Summary

The Master of Science (MSc) is a two-year degree which encompasses both coursework and research. The first year involves mainly coursework and preliminary research preparation. Students will have the opportunity to contribute to existing fields of research, or to begin to develop new areas.

Psychology is the science of behaviour. Psychologists study the way humans (and other animals) interact with the world and each other.

For example, Psychology examines how our abilities change with age, and what might underlie abnormal behaviour. It investigates how we process and store information using our senses and memory, and how our experiences shape our behaviour.

Psychologists also study how behaviour relates to the functioning of the brain, and why things such as drugs, hormone levels and lack of sleep can influence the way we behave. Applied psychologists use this knowledge to address problems as diverse as sleep disorders, industrial relations, phobias, drug rehabilitation, aircraft safety and hyperactivity.

Papers and Thesis

PSYC 495 Master's Thesis Preparation

Papers worth 80 points from PSYC 401, PSYC 402, PSYC 403, PSYC 404, PSYC 405, PSYC 406, PSYC 461, PSYC 464, PSYC 465, PSYC 466, PSYC 467, PSYC 470, PSYC 471, PSYC 472, PSYC 474, PSYC 475, PSYC 476

Thesis: PSYC 5

Note: The papers are normally taken before undertaking the thesis.

Entry criteria

Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

Every applicant must either: be a graduate with an average grade of at least B for the appropriate 300-level papers, or have alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

An applicant seeking admission to the thesis-only option of the programme on the basis of the degree of Bachelor of Science with Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in Science or equivalent must have achieved a grade of at least B+ for the research report, thesis preparation, or dissertation requirement of the qualification concerned.

English Language Requirements

IELTS - Score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 95 with a minimum writing score of 22.; Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 587 (TWE 4.5); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); APIEL Advanced Placement International English Language Examination - Grade 4 or higher; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 64 with no communicative skills score below 57; University of Otago Foundation Studies Ltd: Completion of 'English for Postgraduate Academic Purposes' with a grade of C or higher.