Why Study Master of Health Psychology?

• Focus on psychological aspects of health & illness
• Develop advanced research and intervention skills
• Pathway to clinical health psychology training (PGDipHealthPsych)
• High demand in mental health, hospitals, and public health sectors

Ideal for:

• Psychology graduates
• Students aiming for clinical psychology pathway
• Those interested in health behaviour & mental wellbeing

 

Core Subjects Include:

• Health Psychology (patient behaviour, illness perception)
• Research Methods in Health Psychology
• Health Psychology Assessment
• Health Psychology Interventions

 

Elective Topics May Include:

• Psychoneuroimmunology
• Emotion & health
• Digital health & technology
• Population health

 

Key Learning Areas:

• Behaviour change in health
• Coping with chronic illness
• Stress & disease
• Treatment adherence
• Patient–doctor communication

 

Specialisations / Disciplines

No formal specialisations, but students can focus on:

• Clinical health psychology (pathway)
• Health research
• Behavioural medicine
• Public health psychology

 

Career Outcomes

Graduates can work as:

• Clinical Health Psychologist (after further training)
• Community Health Psychologist
• Occupational Health Psychologist
• Health researcher
• Public health specialist

 

Highlights of the Programme

• Strong research + practical intervention focus
• Direct pathway toward registered psychologist career
• Located in medical campus (Grafton)
• Focus on real-world health issues (chronic illness, behaviour change)
• Globally recognized qualification

 

Special Requirements / Important Notes

• Research thesis is mandatory (120 points)
• Must secure supervisor/research topic (in many cases)
• Limited entry (competitive)
• Does NOT directly give psychologist registration (requires further PGDip)

 

Latest Updates

• Programme continues as a research-focused 2-year master’s
• Only one intake per year (March)
• Increasing focus on digital health & behavioural science

 

Visa Requirements (New Zealand)

To study this course, you need a:

Student Visa

Requirements:

• Offer letter from University of Auckland
• Proof of funds (fees + living costs)
• English proficiency proof
• Medical & police clearance
• Health insurance

 

Final Summary

The Master of Health Psychology – University of Auckland is a:

• Research-intensive Master’s (2 years)
• Ideal for psychology graduates
• Strong pathway to clinical psychology careers
• Focused on health behaviour, illness, and interventions

Best suited if your goal is:

• Clinical psychology pathway
• Health research or behavioural science career