Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Psychology (PGCertEdPsyc) is designed for educators, researchers and school leaders who want to apply psychological knowledge to learning, wellbeing, inclusion and educational improvement.
• The programme covers learning and development from early childhood through tertiary education, with an emphasis on evidence-informed practice, culturally sustaining approaches and practical application.
• Students develop skills in assessment, data-informed decision-making, intervention planning and support for diverse learners.
• The programme is fully online, allowing students to study flexibly around work and other commitments.
• It can be used as a stepping stone to the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Psychology and potentially further postgraduate study such as the Master of Education, Master of Education (Thesis), or PhD in Education or Psychology.
• Important: this qualification does not lead to registration as an Educational Psychologist with the New Zealand Psychologists Board.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The PGCertEdPsyc requires 60 points selected from four major Educational Psychology themes. Students can select individual 5-point courses or 30-point packages.

The four themes are:

• Social Psychology of Learning and Teaching
  • EPSY401 The Social Psychology of Learning and Teaching – 30 points
  • EPSY411 The Psychology of Learning Environments – 5 points
  • EPSY421 Student Motivation: Theory, Research, and Practice – 5 points
  • EPSY431 Group Processes and Peer Influence in Learning Environments – 5 points
  • EPSY441 The Psychology of Teaching: Beliefs, Behaviour, and Influence – 5 points
  • EPSY451 Psychological Perspectives on Schooling and Student Outcomes – 5 points
  • EPSY461 Designing Social-Psychological Interventions for Positive School and Classroom Climates – 5 points.
• Cognitive Science and Educational Design
  • EPSY402 Cognitive Science and Educational Design – 30 points
  • EPSY412 Cognitive Architecture and Learning in Education – 5 points
  • EPSY422 The Learning Sciences and Effective Instruction – 5 points
  • EPSY432 Metacognition and Self-Regulated Learning – 5 points
  • EPSY442 The Psychology of Feedback and Learning Transfer – 5 points
  • EPSY452 Critical Perspectives on Cognitive Science in Education – 5 points
  • EPSY462 Translating Cognitive Science into Educational Design – 5 points.
• Assessment, Measurement, and Evaluation in Education: Bridging Research and Practice
  • EPSY603 Assessment, Measurement, and Evaluation in Education: Bridging Research and Practice – 30 points
  • EPSY613 Assessment Literacy in Education – 5 points
  • EPSY623 Classroom Investigation for Evidence-Informed Practice – 5 points
  • EPSY633 Designing for Learning: Constructing and Critiquing Educational Assessments – 5 points
  • EPSY643 Reading the Evidence: Interpreting Data in Educational Contexts – 5 points
  • EPSY653 Evaluating with Purpose: Programme and Policy Evaluation in Education – 5 points
  • EPSY663 Assessment in a Complex World: Ethics, Culture, and the Politics of Evidence in Education – 5 points.
• Educational Psychology for Unique Learning Needs and Support
  • EPSY604 Educational Psychology for Unique Learning Needs and Support – 30 points
  • EPSY614 Psychological Foundations of Learner Diversity and Inclusion – 5 points
  • EPSY624 Psychological Assessment and Identification in Education – 5 points
  • EPSY634 Understanding Neurodivergence and Diverse Learning Profiles – 5 points
  • EPSY644 Student Emotion, Regulation, and Trauma-Related Experiences – 5 points
  • EPSY654 Understanding Challenging Behaviour and Designing Support Strategies – 5 points
  • EPSY664 Working Together: Collaboration, Ethics, and Consultation in Education – 5 points.

Disciplines / Specialisations

• Main discipline: Educational Psychology.
• There are no formal majors, minors or endorsements in the PGCertEdPsyc.
• Instead, students can develop a focus through the four subject themes:
  • Social psychology of learning and teaching
  • Cognitive science and educational design
  • Assessment, measurement and evaluation
  • Unique learning needs, diversity and support.

Programme Highlights

• New qualification first offered in 2026.
• 60-point postgraduate certificate.
• Fully online delivery.
• July programme start.
• Full-time and part-time study options.
• Individual 5-point courses or 30-point thematic packages.
• Flexible study designed for educators and other professionals.
• Focus on evidence-informed educational practice.
• Strong emphasis on learning, development, behaviour, assessment and intervention.
• Cultural responsiveness and Te Tiriti o Waitangi are incorporated into the programme.
• Can potentially be followed by the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Psychology, Master of Education or research-based postgraduate study.
• The programme does not qualify graduates for registration as Educational Psychologists with the New Zealand Psychologists Board.

Career Outcomes

UC states that graduates can apply the qualification to professional practice in:

• Schools
• Early childhood settings
• Tertiary institutions
• Community organisations
• Education agencies
• Educational research
• Policy development
• Learner-support and equity programmes.

The qualification can also support progression toward:

• Educational leadership
• Specialist teaching-related roles
• Pastoral care
• Learning support
• Educational improvement
• Education policy and programme work.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The PGCertEdPsyc is a new qualification introduced in 2026.
• UC's current programme information is already providing 2027 prospectus information.
• The programme begins in July.
• All courses are delivered fully online.
• Admission requires approval by the Executive Dean of Education or delegate.
• Up to 30 points of appropriate postgraduate study from UC or another tertiary institution may potentially be transferred, subject to approval and the relevant credit-transfer requirements.
• Honours, Merit and Distinction are not awarded for this qualification.
• Students who want a larger Educational Psychology qualification can potentially transfer completed certificate courses into the Postgraduate Diploma, subject to approval.
• This is an education/educational-psychology qualification, not a professional registration qualification for psychologists.

International Student Visa Requirements

There is an important issue for international applicants because this particular qualification is fully online.

UC confirms that the PGCertEdPsyc is delivered fully online. Immigration New Zealand's Fee Paying Student Visa, meanwhile, is designed for students studying an approved course in New Zealand and requires an offer of place from an approved education provider.

Therefore, students should not assume that admission to this fully online qualification automatically provides eligibility for a New Zealand student visa. The appropriate immigration arrangement should be confirmed with UC and Immigration New Zealand before planning to travel to New Zealand specifically for this programme.

If a Fee Paying Student Visa is applicable to an individual student's approved study arrangement, current INZ requirements include:

• Cost from NZD 850.
• Maximum stay of up to 4 years.
• 80% of applications processed within 8 weeks, according to the current INZ page.
• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Evidence of sufficient funds for tuition or an applicable scholarship.
• Evidence of sufficient living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable health and travel insurance.
• Satisfaction of health, character and genuine-intention requirements.