Why Study / Key Benefits

The Diploma in Arts (Psychology) introduces students to psychology as both a social science and a biological science. Students examine behaviour, cognition, emotions, individual differences, relationships, social and cultural contexts, and the biological processes underlying learning and performance.

Key benefits include:

• Develop an understanding of human behaviour, cognition and experience.
• Explore psychology from both social-science and biological perspectives.
• Study psychological research methods, measurement, study design and data analysis.
• Explore areas such as social psychology, brain and behaviour, memory and cognition, clinical psychology, forensic psychology, health psychology and work psychology.
• Develop transferable skills in critical thinking, research, communication and analysis.
• Use the diploma as a potential first step towards a Bachelor of Arts.
• All courses completed within the Diploma in Arts can be transferred into the Bachelor of Arts if the student later proceeds to that qualification.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Psychology endorsement contains compulsory Psychology courses and additional Psychology subject courses.

Compulsory Psychology courses

Students must complete:

• 175102 Psychology as a Natural Science – 15 credits. Introduces scientific approaches to psychology and examines behavioural, perceptual and cognitive processes, including biological and cultural influences.
• 175203 Introduction to Psychological Research – 15 credits. Introduces psychological research methods, measurement, research design, data analysis and communication of research findings.

175102 is a prerequisite for 175203.

Psychology subject courses

The current programme page lists a range of Psychology courses, including:

• 175101 Psychology as a Social Science – introduces psychology as the scientific study of human behaviour, individual differences and social influences.
• 175201 Social Psychology – contemporary experimental social psychology and discursive psychology in the New Zealand context.
• 175205 Brain and Behaviour – biological processes underlying behaviour.
• 175206 Memory and Cognition – thinking, knowledge representation, neuroscience, neuropsychology and cognitive science.
• 175210 Bicultural Perspectives in Psychology – cultural and Indigenous perspectives, including M?ori worldviews.
• 175301 Community Psychology – people, social systems, environments, research and intervention.
• 175302 Introduction to Clinical Psychology – mental distress, psychological disorders and evidence-based approaches to treatment.
• 175303 The Practice of Psychological Research – practical research exercises and projects.
• 175304 The Psychology of Security – psychological approaches to contemporary security challenges.
• 175306 Assessment of Individual Differences – psychological testing and assessment.
• 175309 Forensic Psychology – psychology and law, violence, justice and forensic practice.
• 175311 Psychology of Women – research relating to gender, sexuality, mothering and gender-based violence.
• 175313 Gender and Violence – research, legislation and intervention relating to gendered violence.
• 175314 Advanced Indigenous Psychologies – Indigenous psychology theory, research and practice.
• 175317 Health Psychology – theories and applications relating to health, illness and health promotion.
• 175318 Conducting Psychological Research – qualitative and quantitative research, research ethics and science communication.
• 175343 People, Management and Careers at Work – individual differences, selection, training, performance and occupational issues.
• 175345 Work Psychology – psychological perspectives on workplace issues.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The formal specialisation is:

• Psychology – Diploma in Arts endorsement

Within Psychology, students can study areas such as:

• Social psychology
• Biological psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Bicultural and Indigenous psychology
• Community psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Forensic psychology
• Health psychology
• Work psychology
• Organisational psychology
• Security psychology
• Psychological research
• Gender and psychology. 

Programme Highlights

• NZQF Level 5 undergraduate diploma.
• 120-credit qualification.
• Psychology endorsement available within the flexible Diploma in Arts.
• Psychology studies combine social-science and biological-science perspectives.
• Available at Auckland and Manawat campuses and through distance/online study.
• Open to international students studying on campus in New Zealand or online from outside New Zealand.
• Psychology Diploma is specifically available part-time and takes approximately two years because of course sequencing.
• Courses include research methods, social psychology, brain and behaviour, cognition, clinical psychology, forensic psychology, health psychology and work psychology.
• Diploma courses can be transferred into the Bachelor of Arts if the student later progresses to that qualification.
• Massey states that it is ranked among the world's top 300 universities for Psychology by QS.

Career Outcomes

Massey states that knowledge of psychology and human behaviour can be useful in areas including:

• Counselling
• Human resources
• Public health
• Rehabilitation psychology
• Scientific research
• Special education.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The most important current programme-specific point is that the Psychology Diploma is only available part-time. Massey explicitly states that it is not available for full-time study because of the sequencing of Psychology courses.

Other important requirements and planning points include:

• 175102 is required before 175203.
• 175203 is a prerequisite for several higher-level Psychology courses.
• Course availability varies by campus and academic year.
• Students should plan prerequisites carefully before selecting courses.
• The Diploma can subsequently provide a pathway into the Bachelor of Arts because completed Diploma courses can transfer to the BA.
• Students who already hold a bachelor's degree may replace one of the Diploma's compulsory writing/critical-thinking courses with another course, subject to Special Permission and evidence of the completed degree.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students coming to New Zealand to study this Diploma on campus will generally need a Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to their individual circumstances and visa conditions.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that the Fee Paying Student Visa:

• Costs from NZ$850.
• Can allow a stay of up to four years.
• Has an 80% processing benchmark of within eight weeks.
• Requires an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Requires evidence of sufficient funds to pay tuition fees or an appropriate scholarship.
• Requires evidence of sufficient living funds or an acceptable sponsor.
• Requires acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Requires the applicant to meet the other immigration requirements.
• Allows full-time study in the approved New Zealand course.
• May allow work up to 25 hours per week during study and full-time work during scheduled holidays, depending on the conditions attached to the individual visa.