Postgraduate Study in Psychology
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, Master’s, 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 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 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 (MSc)
A two-year degree with a wide range of subject options, the MSc 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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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 | 2025 | Brain and Behaviour | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC112 | 2025 | Human Thought and Behaviour | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC203 | 2025 | Abnormal Psychology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC204 | 2025 | Justice, Race and Class | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PSYC210 | 2025 | Principles of Psychological Research | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC211 | 2025 | Brain and Cognition | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC212 | 2025 | Social and Applied Psychology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC310 | 2025 | Research Project | 18 points | Full Year |
| PSYC311 | 2025 | Quantitative Methods | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC313 | 2025 | Cognition and Neuropsychology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC315 | 2025 | Social Psychology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC317 | 2025 | Biopsychology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC318 | 2025 | Developmental Psychology | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC319 | 2025 | Comparative Cognition | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC321 | 2025 | Special Topic | 18 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| PSYC323 | 2025 | Sensation and Perception | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC324 | 2025 | Health Psychology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC325 | 2025 | Psychology in Legal Contexts | 18 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC326 | 2025 | Human Factors and Ergonomics | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PSYC327 | 2025 | Psychology of Language | 18 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| PSYC328 | 2025 | Behaviour Analysis in Everyday Life | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC329 | 2025 | Cultural Psychology | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC330 | 2025 | Drugs, Behaviour, Addiction, and Policy | 18 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC331 | 2025 | Applied Psychological Research | 18 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PSYC401 | 2025 | Behaviour Analysis | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC402 | 2025 | Assessment in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC403 | 2025 | Adult Psychopathology | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC404 | 2025 | Assessment in Clinical Psychology Practice | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC405 | 2025 | Clinical Neuropsychology | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC406 | 2025 | Foundations of Clinical Intervention | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC421 | 2025 | Advanced Research Methods | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC422 | 2025 | Contemporary Issues in Psychology | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC423 | 2025 | Advanced Topics in Health Psychology | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC424 | 2025 | Contexts of Development | 10 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PSYC425 | 2025 | Advanced Topics in Behaviour Analysis | 10 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| PSYC426 | 2025 | Social Cognition | 10 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PSYC427 | 2025 | Topical Issues in Child Development | 10 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PSYC428 | 2025 | Culture and Development | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC429 | 2025 | Advanced Methods in Cognitive Neuroscience | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC430 | 2025 | Synaptic Plasticity Mechanisms | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC432 | 2025 | Special Topic | 10 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PSYC433 | 2025 | Advanced Theoretical Topic | 10 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
| PSYC434 | 2025 | Advanced Quantitative Methods | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC435 | 2025 | Developmental Psychopathology | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC436 | 2025 | Topical Issues in Adolescent Behaviour | 10 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PSYC437 | 2025 | Cognitive Neuroscience Seminar | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC438 | 2025 | Nervous System Plasticity in Health and Disease | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC439 | 2025 | Neurobiology and Behavioural Effects of Drugs | 10 points | Not offered in 2025 |
| PSYC440 | 2025 | Special Topic: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Psychology | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC441 | 2025 | Personality and Measurement | 10 points | Not offered in 2025, expected to be offered in 2026 |
| PSYC442 | 2025 | Qualitative Methods in Psychology | 10 points | Semester 1 |
| PSYC443 | 2025 | Te Waenganui: Intersecting Culture and the Mind | 10 points | Semester 2 |
| PSYC480 | 2025 | Dissertation | 40 points | Full Year |
| PSYC490 | 2025 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year |
| PSYC495 | 2025 | Master's Thesis Preparation | 40 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year, 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 16 June 2026) |
| PSYC501 | 2025 | Clinical Intervention | 75 points | 1st Non standard period (3 February 2025 - 5 December 2025) |
| PSYC601 | 2025 | Clinical Psychology Internship | 144 points | 1st Non standard period (6 January 2025 - 19 December 2025) |
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 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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