Postgraduate Diploma in Health Psychology

Available as a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, or 240-point Master's, this programme will provide you with a unique skillset. You’ll develop an advanced understanding of the interactions between the biological, psychological, social, environmental, and cultural aspects of health and wellbeing.

If you want to make a positive difference to the wellbeing of Māori, Pasifika, and diverse communities, this is an ideal area of study to pursue.

You can look forward to a career helping people build healthy lifestyles, manage stress, and realise their potential to create social and physical wellbeing with mana and cultural integrity.

During your studies you’ll take a holistic approach to exploring people’s health and wellbeing, looking at behaviour from a biological, psychological, spiritual, cultural, and social perspective.

You’ll gain an understanding of diverse communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. You’ll develop the required skills—as well as an awareness of boundaries and ethics—for working effectively and safely with people and groups to improve their health and wellbeing.

You’ll also build on your research skills and knowledge so that you can understand and critique evidence and implement programmes and interventions.

Entry requirements

To be accepted into this programme you need:

A Bachelor of Health in Health Psychology, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Graduate Diploma in Psychology, or equivalent.

To be accepted by the head of school as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.

IELTS (Academic): minimum overall score of 6.5 with no sub-score below 6.0

TOEFL: minimum score of 90 for the internet-based test with a minimum of 20 in writing

Pearson Test of English: minimum score of 58 (with a ‘Communicative’ score of not less than 50)

Victoria University of Wellington English for Academic Purpose (EAP) programme: minimum final scores of 4,4,5,5

Cambridge English Qualifications: C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 176 or higher, with each skill score no less than 169

New Zealand Certificates in English Language (NZCEL): Level 5 (Academic)

NZAPA: English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment Level 3 (with no skill lower than Level 2)