Overview
The Postgraduate Diploma in Neuropsychology (PGDipNeuropsych) is the first neuropsychology training programme of its type in New Zealand. It is vocational training for practising psychologists, designed to allow graduates to work as practising neuropsychologists.
The programme is offered on a part-time basis over two academic years and involves both academic and practice-based study. It has been developed with a specific focus on psychology practice in a New Zealand context, and with a strong commitment to building bicultural approaches with Māori.
Advancing as a Neuropsychologist
Meet the experts behind Otago’s new applied neuropsychology diploma, designed for registered psychologists. Learn how the course blends clinical practice, Māori knowledge, and cutting-edge neuroscience.
Read transcript
Dr Paul Skirrow:
I’m Dr Paul Skirrow, and I’m really excited that we’re going to be offering this postgraduate diploma in neuropsychology at Otago University. The postgraduate diploma in applied neuropsychology is designed to help people become registered as neuropsychologists when they’ve already got registration as a psychologist.
We’re going to be learning lots about acquired neurological conditions like traumatic brain injury and stroke and dementias. We’re also going to be learning about developmental conditions like ADHD and autism, and how all of those things present in clinical practice — and how people might assess those and how they might be able to intervene with some of those conditions.
I’m going to be introducing people to some of the scanning techniques that use the MRI and the CT scanning. We’re going to be talking about some of the neurosurgical techniques that are used in New Zealand, and we’re also going to talk about some of the rehabilitation strategies that are available for people with these conditions.
Dr Sarah Roberts:
I think it’s terrific this course is being offered in Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s the very first time that we’ve had training such as this in this country, and I think it’s really needed.
Dr Paul Skirrow:
So the course is designed to be for people who are already registered psychologists. It’s designed so you’re not going to have to give up your work and come to university for two years. The idea is you’ll be able to do this alongside your current work, and some of your clinical practice will count towards the assessments you’re going to do as part of the course.
So the course is made up of teaching blocks where you’ll be coming down to Wellington, and we’ll be learning some foundational skills. Then we’ll have a series of online tutorials and online lessons and online learning for you to develop those skills. You’ll also have supervised practice with a registered neuropsychologist, and it’s all going to build up to various examinations throughout the course of the year.
Dr Rachel Booker:
The value of neuropsychology is becoming increasingly realised in the medical field. It can enhance our therapeutic interventions, as we can understand why a client has difficulty regulating emotions, controlling impulses, and complying with medication regimes.
Dr Paul Skirrow:
Neuropsychology is quite a medical training traditionally, and a lot of it’s taken from overseas. So we’re going to try and blend the best of that with the best of our New Zealand knowledge — including things like mātauranga Māori — and how we bring those things together to work for the people of New Zealand.
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Programme details
Regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in Neuropsychology (PGDipNeuropsych)
Admission to the Programme
- Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences).
- Applicants must demonstrate the capability to meet New Zealand Psychologists Board requirements for registration as a neuropsychologist.
- Applicants must be registered with the New Zealand Psychologists Board, under any scope of practice, and be currently working at least 0.6 FTE in an appropriate clinical setting with access to ongoing work with clients.
Structure of the Programme
The Postgraduate Diploma in Neuropsychology will be offered on a part-time basis over two years.
The programme of study after final admission shall consist of:
- NPSY 701 Foundations of Applied Neuropsychology
- NPSY 702 Applied Neuroscience in Neuropsychology
- NPSY 703 Neuropsychology of Acquired Brain Injuries and Stroke
- NPSY 706 Clinical Practice in Neuropsychology 1
- NPSY 707 Clinical Practice in Neuropsychology 2
And at least one of:
Terms Requirements
- A candidate must obtain terms for NPSY 706 and NPSY 707 before being permitted to sit the final examinations of these papers.
- Terms will be awarded by the Programme Director if the candidate has completed all aspects of the clinical internship (clinical hours, logbook submission, submission of clinical reports, supervisor's assessment).
- Candidates who are refused terms will be eligible to sit the final examination for the paper in the following year, subject to the awarding of terms during that year. Students who fail to meet the terms requirement within that year will be required to repeat the year as a whole before being permitted to sit the final examination.
Exclusion from the Programme
Students may be excluded from the programme, if during the course of study, they are:
- Subject to criminal charges;
- Subject to disciplinary proceedings of the University or of a professional body;
- Found to have an issue that compromises or is likely to compromise their meeting the New Zealand Psychologists Board requirements for registration as a neuropsychologist; or
- Found to have failed to declare a matter covered by (a)-(c), may be excluded from further study in the programme by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences), on the advice of the Director of the Neuropsychology Training Programme.
Duration of the Programme
- A candidate for the Postgraduate Diploma in Neuropsychology shall normally follow a programme of study for not less than two years of part-time study.
- A candidate shall complete the requirements for the Postgraduate Diploma in Neuropsychology within not more than five years of admission to the programme.
Level of Award of the Diploma
The diploma may be awarded with distinction or with credit.
Variations
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Health Sciences) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.
Explore more in Neuropsychology
Learn where this subject can take you and discover the full range of study options, from undergraduate programmes to postgraduate pathways.
Study Neuropsychology at Otago
