Educational psychology: learn, develop, achieve
You will become involved with the understanding and promotion of learning and development.
With Massey’s BA (Educational Psychology) you will explore lifelong ako/learning and teaching through an understanding of cultural, cognitive, social, behavioural and emotional aspects of learners and teachers.
At Massey, educational psychology is:
You will learn about the complex relationships between learners and their environment. You can choose from a wide range of courses that reflect the diversity of psychology and education.
The types of questions you will consider in the BA (Educational Psychology) include:
Educational psychology looks at what supports and hinders learning. It informs policy and practice in education systems. Massey’s BA (Educational Psychology) will equip you with transferable skills. These includes research, analysis, communication and problem-solving.
This qualification can be a strong foundation for postgraduate qualifications in teaching, psychology and educational psychology.
Please note that the Bachelor of Arts (Educational Psychology) does not qualify you to be a teacher in New Zealand. If you want to become a teacher, you will also need to take a postgraduate teaching qualification. Please explore your options in our education pathways tool.
You could find yourself working in:
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
There are no specific entry requirements for Massey’s Bachelor of Arts (Educational Psychology), outside of university admission regulations.
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and programmes that may help.
If you need to do a course before you start your programme, there may be options for you in Summer School.
From the Schedule to the Degree including:
Core courses
Major courses
Elective courses
Ensure across all your courses you also have:
Attend field trips, studios, workshops, tutorials and laboratories as required.
See ‘Courses for this programme’ below for schedules of courses.
| 105 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 175102 | Psychology as a Natural Science | 15 |
| 175203 | Introduction to Psychological Research | 15 |
| 175306 | Assessment of Individual Differences | 15 |
| 256201 | Educational Psychology | 15 |
| 256304 | Positive Behaviour for Learning | 15 |
| 263331 | Assessment and Learning | 15 |
| 275102 | Human Development | 15 |
| At least 15 credits from | ||
|---|---|---|
| 175201 | Social Psychology | 15 |
| 175205 | Brain and Behaviour | 15 |
| 175206 | Memory and Cognition | 15 |
| 175210 | Ngā Tirohanga Rua o te Taha Hinengaro: Bicultural Perspectives in Psychology | 15 |
| At least 15 credits from | ||
|---|---|---|
| 249384 | Consultation and Collaboration in Inclusive Education | 15 |
| 263301 | Learning and Motivation | 15 |
If you study full time, in the first year you’ll take eight 15-credit courses, making a total of 120 credits.
If you wish to study over two semesters, you should aim for 60 credits per semester. You may be able to take some courses at summer school if you wish. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.
An Educational Psychology major consists of 135 credits (nine courses).
If you wish to progress to the Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology programme you must have 60 credits in psychology courses and it is highly recommended that you include 60 credits in education in your BA (Educational Psychology).
Completing a minor is optional. Minors increase the breadth of your degree. They give you extra knowledge, attributes and capabilities.
A minor must be in a different subject from your major.
You may choose a minor from any University undergraduate degree that has recognised minors. If the minor is from another undergraduate degree, the regulations of that programme will apply.
If you are not studying towards a BA (Educational Psychology) and wish to complete a minor in educational psychology see the BA regulations for requirements.
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
If you already know which courses you are going to take, you can use our fees calculator to get an estimate of your fees.
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students will find their National Student Number on their student homepage.
Massey is ranked in the world's top 150 universities for education in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.
Massey is ranked in the world's top 250 universities for psychology by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Review this important information before you apply for this programme. This gives you full details of the rules and regulations about what you need to study and what you must achieve in order to graduate with this qualification. That includes structure, courses and requirements. These regulations should be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including the below.
If you are ready to apply, have a look at our application checklist. It will help you get prepared with what you need. Please also check the entry requirements carefully before you apply.
You will apply for the programme using the Apply now button on this page. You’ll also choose your specialisation (major, subject or endorsement) if applicable.
Some programmes have additional requirements such as the submission of a portfolio or CV. Click on Apply now and you will be able to submit those documents as part of the application process.
You will receive an Admission Offer of Place when you have been accepted into the programme. You need to accept this before you can enrol in your courses. International students also need to pay their fees at this point.
You’ll then get access to your own student homepage (also known as the student portal). This is where you can enrol in courses. Any updates on your application or enrolments will also be on your student homepage. Make sure you check this regularly.
When you choose courses, ensure you check for any requirements that apply including:
Each of our courses has its own webpage where you can find this information. You can use our course search to find course pages.
More information on courses is in the ‘Courses for this programme’ section on this page.
You can find information on application due dates and semester dates on the key dates page.
We look forward to welcoming you to Massey!
If you have any questions, contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
Each Massey programme is made up of courses (in some tertiary institutions they are called ‘papers’).
You will have some compulsory courses and some you can choose from.
Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (often 15 credits, but this does vary). You must gain a set number of credits to be able to graduate from this programme.
There may also be some rules about which courses you need to pass to progress to the next year, or stage, of your study (known as progression). There are also courses you must pass to graduate with a specialisation.
The first three digits of our course numbers show you which subject the course is about.
The second three digits show you the level and course ID number. For instance:
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
Electives are courses that are not compulsory. Certain guidelines are usually provided on courses you may take. Elective courses contribute to the programme, but not to your major or specialisation.
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these programmes go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.