The science of behaviour, brain and cognition.
Psychology is the science of behaviour, brain and cognition, exploring the complex way humans and other animals interact with the world and
each other.
Psychology examines the behavioural, perceptual, mental and emotional processes taking place in our brains. Psychologists also address applied topics as diverse as transport safety, eye-witness testimony, industrial relations, intellectual disabilities, hyperactivity in children, and other clinical issues.
Why study Psychology?
- Learn about human behaviour.
- Start a challenging career.
- Develop research skills in the social and behavioural sciences.
- Improve career flexibility with Psychology in your degree.
You will learn
- How the brain stores memories and processes information.
- How our abilities change from childhood to old age.
- How emotions affect our reasoning.
- How prejudice and stereotypes arise.
- How parents' behaviour influences their children's development.
- What underlies disorders such as schizophrenia and dementia.
- Why drugs, head injuries and hormones influence behaviour.
Are you just starting uni?
Learn about studying Psychology as an undergraduate at Otago.
Choose a study option
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Postgraduate qualifications
Honours, masters’, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a master’s or to step up to a PhD.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
A four-year degree focusing on advanced study and culminating in a research project in the final year
Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
A four-year degree focusing on advanced study and culminating in a research project in the final year
Postgraduate Certificate in Science (PGCertSci)
A coursework programme, typically consisting of three papers, that can be completed with full-time (one-semester) or part-time (full-year) study
Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
A two-semester programme of structured coursework, and in some cases supervised research, extending the knowledge and skills gained from the bachelor’s degree
Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (PGDipClPs)
A three-year professional programme taken concurrently with a master's or doctoral degree, providing a pathway to clinical registration
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Assessment and Intervention (PGDipPAI)
A one-year programme which aims to prepare graduates to practice under clinical and cultural supervision in mental health and addictions.
Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
A one-year programme which builds on an undergraduate science degree, encompassing coursework and a chosen research topic
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))
A one- or two-year degree entailing a major research project, culminating in a thesis
Master of Science (Thesis) (MSc(Thesis))
A two-year degree with a wide range of subject options. The MSc(Thesis) may be taken by a combination of coursework and thesis, or by thesis only.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Engage in original research leading to a doctoral thesis, supported by comprehensive academic and social networks
Graduate qualifications
Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.
Ready to apply?
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Programme details
Compare programmes for this subject.
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Prerequisites: |
The Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) programme in Psychology is the same as the programme for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons)).
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Papers
View a list of all related papers below.
PSYC papers
| Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC111 | 2026, 2027 | Brain and Behaviour | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC112 | 2026, 2027 | Human Thought and Behaviour | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC203 | 2026, 2027 | Abnormal Psychology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC204 | 2026, 2027 | Justice, Race and Class | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| PSYC206 | 2027 | Psychology of Religion | 18 points | Summer School |
| PSYC210 | 2026, 2027 | Principles of Psychological Research | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC211 | 2026, 2027 | Brain and Cognition | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC212 | 2026, 2027 | Social and Applied Psychology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC310 | 2026, 2027 | Research Project | 18 points | Full Year |
| PSYC311 | 2026, 2027 | Quantitative Methods | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC313 | 2026, 2027 | Cognition and Neuropsychology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC315 | 2026, 2027 | Social Psychology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC317 | 2026, 2027 | Biopsychology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC318 | 2026, 2027 | Developmental Psychology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC319 | 2026, 2027 | Comparative Cognition | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC321 | 2026, 2027 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Semester 2 |
| PSYC323 | 2026, 2027 | Sensation and Perception | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC324 | 2026, 2027 | Health Psychology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC325 | 2026, 2027 | Psychology in Legal Contexts | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC326 | 2026, 2027 | Human Factors and Ergonomics | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Not offered in 2027 |
| PSYC327 | 2026, 2027 | Psychology of Language | 18 points | Not offered in 2026, Semester 2 |
| PSYC328 | 2026, 2027 | Behaviour Analysis in Everyday Life | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC329 | 2026, 2027 | Cultural Psychology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC330 | 2026, 2027 | Drugs, Behaviour, Addiction, and Policy | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC331 | 2026, 2027 | Applied Psychological Research | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC332 | 2027 | Personality and Measurement | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC401 | 2026, 2027 | Behaviour Analysis | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC402 | 2026 | Assessment in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC403 | 2026, 2027 | Adult Psychopathology | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC404 | 2026, 2027 | Assessment in Clinical Psychology Practice | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC405 | 2026, 2027 | Clinical Neuropsychology | 10 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| PSYC406 | 2026, 2027 | Foundations of Clinical Intervention | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC407 | 2026, 2027 | Professional Practice and Engagement | 10 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| PSYC421 | 2026, 2027 | Advanced Research Methods | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC422 | 2026, 2027 | Contemporary Issues in Psychology | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC423 | 2026, 2027 | Advanced Topics in Health Psychology | 10 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| PSYC425 | 2026, 2027 | Advanced Topics in Behaviour Analysis | 10 points | Semester 2, Not offered in 2027, expected to be offered in 2028 |
| PSYC426 | 2026, 2027 | Social Cognition | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC428 | 2026, 2027 | Culture and Development | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC429 | 2026, 2027 | Advanced Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC430 | 2026, 2027 | Synaptic Plasticity Mechanisms | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC432 | 2026, 2027 | Special Topic | 10 points | Not offered in 2026, expected to be offered in 2028, Not offered in 2027, expected to be offered in 2028 |
| PSYC433 | 2026, 2027 | Advanced Theoretical Topic | 10 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| PSYC434 | 2026, 2027 | Advanced Quantitative Methods | 10 points | Not offered in 2026, expected to be offered in 2028, Not offered in 2027, expected to be offered in 2028 |
| PSYC435 | 2026, 2027 | Developmental Psychopathology | 10 points | Semester 2, Semester 1 |
| PSYC436 | 2026, 2027 | Topical Issues in Adolescent Behaviour | 10 points | Not offered in 2026, expected to be offered in 2028, Not offered in 2027, expected to be offered in 2028 |
| PSYC437 | 2026, 2027 | Cognitive Neuroscience Seminar | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC438 | 2026, 2027 | Nervous System Plasticity in Health and Disease | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC439 | 2026, 2027 | Neurobiology and Behavioural Effects of Drugs | 10 points | Not offered in 2026, Semester 2 |
| PSYC440 | 2026, 2027 | Special Topic: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Psychology | 10 points | Semester 2, Semester 1 |
| PSYC441 | 2026 | Personality and Measurement | 10 points | Not offered in 2026 |
| PSYC442 | 2026, 2027 | Qualitative Methods in Psychology | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC443 | 2026, 2027 | Te Waenganui: Intersecting Culture and the Mind | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC450 | 2026, 2027 | Psychology Assistant Practicum | 60 points | 1st Non standard period (16 February 2026 - 27 November 2026), 1st Non standard period (15 February 2027 - 26 November 2027) |
| PSYC480 | 2026, 2027 | Dissertation | 40 points | Full Year |
| PSYC490 | 2026, 2027 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 17 June 2027) |
| PSYC495 | 2026, 2027 | Master's Thesis Preparation | 40 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year, 1st Non standard period (13 July 2026 - 30 June 2027), 1st Non standard period (12 July 2027 - 30 June 2028) |
| PSYC501 | 2026, 2027 | Clinical Intervention | 75 points | 1st Non standard period (2 February 2026 - 4 December 2026), 1st Non standard period (1 February 2027 - 26 November 2027) |
| PSYC601 | 2026, 2027 | Clinical Psychology Internship | 144 points | 1st Non standard period (5 January 2026 - 18 December 2026), 1st Non standard period (4 January 2027 - 17 December 2027) |
Contacts
Department of Psychology
William James Building
275 Leith Walk
Dunedin 9016
Tel +64 3 479 7644
Email psychology@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/psychology
This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.
Regulations on this page are taken from the 2026 Calendar and supplementary material.
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