- Where you can study
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Auckland campusDistance and onlineManawatū campus (Palmerston North)
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International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
- Not open to international students
Specialise in Educational Psychology for your Graduate Certificate in Arts at Massey
The Graduate Certificate in Arts (Educational Psychology) is a bridging tool for graduates in other subjects to gain knowledge of educational psychology. You can use it to study another subject area without completing a second bachelor’s degree.
Get transferable skills
Educational psychology looks at what supports and hinders learning, informing policy and practice in education systems. Massey’s Graduate Certificate in Arts (Educational Psychology) will equip you with transferable skills that include research, analysis, communication and problem-solving.
You’ll explore lifelong ako/learning and teaching through an understanding of the cultural, cognitive, social, behavioural and emotional aspects of learners and teachers.
Applied learning
At Massey, educational psychology is:
- the application of Western and Māori psychological knowledge in education and human development
- a science that seeks to understand, and an art that seeks to apply those understandings in the real world, to help learners realise their potential.
A wide choice of courses
You can choose from a wide range of courses that reflect the diversity of psychology and education.
The types of questions you’ll consider in educational psychology include:
- how can we make learning more effective?
- what are the cultural and social mediators of thinking, learning and development?
- how can teachers best meet the learning needs of all learners?
- what factors help ensure educational success?
- how do we support the development of positive behaviours for learning?
- how do we reduce learning difficulties?
- how do we best support learners with disabilities?
Further study
This qualification can be a strong foundation for postgraduate qualifications in teaching, psychology and educational psychology.
The Graduate Certificate in Arts (Educational Psychology) does not qualify you to be a teacher.
A Graduate Certificate in Arts in Educational Psychology is a good fit if you:
- have ever wondered how people come to understand their world and how they learn
- are interested in applying psychological understandings in educational settings
- want to help tamariki/children, rangatahi/youth and whānau/family.
Planning information
Planning information
This qualification may be completed in 1 semester of full-time study (depending on sequencing of courses) or over a longer period of part-time study.
Not all courses will be offered in all modes or across all campuses in any given year.
This qualification will provide you with a pathway to the Graduate Diploma in Arts (Educational Psychology).
It does not, however, meet requirements for 60 credits of undergraduate psychology and 45 credits of education courses for entry to the Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology. Additional psychology and education courses will be needed for this.
Contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.
100-level prerequisites
When you are granted entry to the qualification, you are not required to pass any 100-level prerequisite course/s for the specialisation. You may need to apply for 200-level courses via a Special Request if your previous study was not completed at Massey. If you plan to take any electives in subjects such as Languages, Economics, Mathematics or Statistics, you will need to meet the 100-level prerequisite requirements.
Official regulations
To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.
You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.
Returning students
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 qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may be no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.
Courses you can enrol in
Courses you can enrol in
Course planning key
- Prerequisites
- Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
- Corequisites
- Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
- Restrictions
- Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Compulsory courses
Course code: 256201 Educational Psychology 15 credits
An examination of the contribution of psychology to an understanding of educational processes with a focus on the learner, learning processes and instruction. Issues of theory, research and application will be studied in a variety of educational situations.
View full course detailsCourse code: 256304 Positive Learning Environments 15 credits
This course provides in depth exploration of the strategies and interventions for maintaining positive learning environments that support effective school engagement and achievement.
View full course detailsCourse code: 263301 Learning and Motivation 15 credits
A study of contemporary theory and research on motivation in educational contexts with emphasis on implications for learning and for educational practice.
View full course detailsSubject courses
Course code: 175210 Ngā Tirohanga Rua o te Taha Hinengaro: Bicultural Perspectives in Psychology 15 credits
This course engages with the concept of culture, and its relevance and importance in a bicultural country such as Aotearoa. The interplay between non-Western cultural perspectives and the dominant form of psychology situated within a predominantly Western scientific paradigm, is explored. Indigenous perspectives in general and Māori worldviews specifically, are examined within and juxtaposed to, the discipline of psychology.
View full course detailsCourse code: 263331 Assessment and Learning 15 credits
Assessment concepts and procedures for learning and teaching, the construction and use of educational assessments, and contemporary issues in evaluation.
View full course detailsEntry requirements
Entry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
To enter the Graduate Certificate in Arts (Educational Psychology) you will have been awarded or qualified for a bachelor's degree.
You will need to provide copies of all official academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
English language requirements
To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
This qualification is classified as NZQF Level 7 and requires the same English language standard as most undergraduate bachelor degrees, diplomas and certificates.
English language skills
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.
Fees and scholarships
Fees and scholarships
2026 tuition fees
- Domestic students: $4,210
- International students: Not applicable
Tuition fees are estimates only. The exact fees charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment. The estimates are for full-time study (60 credits). Fees are in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The estimates do not include the Student Services Fee. This fee is $582 for on-campus students and $474 for distance students for full-time study (60 credits). For more information about this fee and other fees you may need to pay, see non-tuition fees.
There may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
Course fees
You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
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. Students who are eligible for final-year fees free can normally receive up to 120 credits of fees free. However, if you choose to study this certificate you will only receive up to 60 credits fees free. You will not be able to claim the remaining 60 credits of fees free for future qualifications. For further information see the Inland Revenue website.
Scholarship and award opportunities
Search our scholarships and awardsFees disclaimer
This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.
Careers and job opportunities
Careers and job opportunities
With a Graduate Certificate in Arts (Educational Psychology) you could find yourself working in:
- education and special education
- youth support and mentoring
- youth justice support
- community organisations with an education and/or community support focus
- psychology (as a psychologist with additional postgraduate study).
Accreditations and rankings
QS Ranking - Education
Massey is ranked in the world's top 250 universities for education in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.
QS Ranking - Psychology
Massey is ranked in the world's top 350 universities for psychology by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).
Related study options
Educational Psychology – Bachelor of Arts
With Massey’s BA (Educational Psychology) you will explore what supports and hinders learning and how you can make a difference.
Educational Psychology – Diploma in Arts
With Massey’s Diploma in Arts (Educational Psychology) you’ll learn about both psychology and education, introducing you to new ways of thinking about learning and development.
Educational Psychology – Graduate Diploma in Arts
Help people learn, develop and achieve with Massey’s Graduate Diploma in Arts (Educational Psychology).
Postgraduate Certificate in Learning Support – PGCertLrnSup
Massey’s Postgraduate Certificate in Learning Support is for kaiako Learning Support Coordinators (LSC), Special Education Needs Coordinators (SENCo) and experienced teachers working in the area of learning support.
Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Teaching – PGCertSpecTchg
With Massey’s Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Teaching you can create more equitable learning outcomes for all learners.
Postgraduate Diploma in Learning Support – PGDipLrnSupport
Massey’s Postgraduate Diploma in Learning Support is for Learning Support Coordinators (LSC), Special Education Needs Coordinators (SENCo), and experienced teachers working in the area of learning support.
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