Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Practice

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

• Massey University entry requirements

Required

This programme is a selected entry programme. This means there are a number of extra requirements you must meet.

To enter the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychological Practice you will:

• have been awarded or qualified for a master’s degree in psychology which is approved as meeting Psychologists Board requirements
• be in employment (paid or unpaid) in a workplace where activities require engagement in psychologically based practice
• have arranged for approved supervision in the field
• meet the requirements set down by the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 as being a fit and proper person to be registered
• be accepted into the programme by a selection process including the below.

You will need to provide the following documents:

• verified copies of all academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University
• the title and abstract of your master’s thesis
• current curriculum vitae or resume detailing your relevant training and experience
• passport size photograph
• brief personal statement (500 words or less) which includes your reasons for seeking a career in psychology and may list your perceived strengths and skills you will bring to your studies and training as a psychologist
• a copy of Criminal Conviction request letters if applicable
• a supporting statement from whanau/family (optional)
• contact details of two referees (they will be automatically contacted to supply a confidential reference)

An interview may be required - indicate on your application which location would suit you best if you are shortlisted: Auckland (Albany) or Palmerston North.

If your master’s or PhD thesis has not yet been examined, confirmation will be required from your supervisor that your thesis will be submitted no later than the first week in January and is likely to have a passing grade.

Limited places

There are a limited number of places available. Meeting entry requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the programme. A shortlist of candidates will be selected and interview appointments will be advised. Depending on numbers, these panel interviews may be conducted in person at either Palmerston North or Auckland.

See more detail on these requirements below. If you have questions or would like more information on this programme, please contact us through the Enquire button on this page.

Application closing date

If you are a new-to-Massey student, applications for this programme close on 1 September. All documentation, including referee reports, must be received by this date. Applications to clinical training also close on 1 September.

Other requirements

Supplementary questions

You will need to provide detailed information about your professional goals and aspirations, and your understanding of the PGDipPP. Please download and complete the Supplementary Questions form as part of your online application. Once completed, save the file and upload it using the ‘Upload’ button.

Please prepare answers to the following questions. Answers should be brief, direct and to the point, whilst providing as much details as is needed to answer the question.

1. Do you have a possible internship placement worked out (at least in principle)? If ‘yes’ describe the nature of this internship. If ‘no’ outline what steps you are taking to obtain an internship position for the upcoming year.

2. Provide the name and qualifications of your proposed supervisor for this internship. Do you have a formal agreement from this individual?

3. The PGDipPP requires completion of academic course work; one of these courses is titled Advanced Principles of Professional Practice. Please outline what you consider your preparation to be for an advanced course of this kind. For example, have you completed Massey University course in Professional Practice 175.730? Have you taken a similar course elsewhere? What other activities have you undertaken in order to prepare yourself academically for professional practice?

4. Psychological practice in Aotearoa New Zealand generally follows a ‘scientist-practitioner’ model, broadly defined. Please describe your research experiences, and provide the abstract and title of your master’s (or doctoral) thesis. Comment on how this research experience has prepared you for practice in your professional area of choice.

5. Cultural competence is one of the requirements for a practicing psychologist in Aotearoa New Zealand, which includes bicultural understanding and knowledge – for example, understanding the role Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) plays in professional psychological practice. Please outline briefly your experiences, both formal and informal, that you believe has prepared you for functioning in a culturally competent manner. What additional types of training or experiences – if any – do you think you might need in this domain?

6. Please outline your longer-term career goals. How will your selected internship offer you the types of supervised experiences that will contribute to these goals?

7. Are there any circumstances in your past personal or professional life that might make you unsuited for registration as a psychologist with the Psychologists Board? This includes English language ability, criminal convictions, or prior rejection for registration in New Zealand. If yes, or uncertain, please explain. (Note, you should check the Psychologists Board website; when you apply for registration as an Intern Psychologist, they will require from you a Record of Criminal Convictions. The Board judges all applicants on a case-by-case basis.)

If the information you need to provide is personally sensitive, you may indicate that here but enquire with us to submit directly.

8. What would you identify as your major areas of need – from a training point of view – in order to take full opportunity of your internship year?

Registering as an intern

If selected for this programme, you will be required to apply for registration as an intern with the New Zealand Psychologists Board.

When you apply for registration as an intern, you will need to authorise the Registration Board to request a check of your Criminal Record with the New Zealand Police. If you have been resident overseas during the last five years, you will also need to provide the Board with a Police Clearance Certificate (such as FBI Criminal Conviction Information/Fingerprint Information in the USA) or an equivalent form detailing any convictions you have had in any country in which you have lived in the past five years. In that case, with your application to the university, you need to provide a copy of the letter(s) by which you have requested such certificates.

Prior learning, credit and exemptions

For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:

• review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
• contact us through the Enquire button on this page.