Postgraduate study

Take your research or career to the next level with postgraduate study in psychology, speech and language pathology or audiology.

We have a wide range of postgraduate qualifications and research opportunities on offer. Most of our postgraduate courses include practical industry placements, clinical work, internships, projects or lab and field work.

Our degrees are very hands-on, with a good balance of theory and practical work. You can study full- or part-time and choose from 6-month courses to a three-year PhD.

Psychology options

The entry requirements listed below (or comparable qualifications from other universities) apply to all postgraduate degree and postgraduate diploma courses in Psychology. Students can study for an Master of Science, Master of Arts, or a PhD in Psychology, or a Master of Science in Industrial and Organisational Psychology. Also offered are Postgraduate Diploma in Science or Arts, and Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology.

Those who hold a university degree but without a major in Psychology, may proceed to postgraduate study upon completion of a Graduate Diploma in Science or by completing the necessary prerequisite courses which meet the entry requirements described below.

Entry requirements for all postgraduate study in Psychology

165 points from PSYC courses with at least 135 points at 200-level and above, including:

Other requirements:

  • PSYC 344 is required for postgraduate study in Psychology and Applied Psychology.
  • An average of at least a B grade over 60 points at PSYC300-level.
  • Equivalent courses from other universities are accepted.

Note

There are additional requirements for the Clinical Psychology programme.

Students whose prepatory courses in Psychology were taken prior to 2005 should consult the Postgraduate Course Advisor before enrolling in further PSYC courses.

To begin the enrolment process, check you meet the entry requirements. Students can enrol in Postgraduate studies at any time up to the commencement of the academic year in February.

All enrolments for Honours, Masters (including thesis only), PhD degrees and Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology, must be approved each year by the relevant Postgraduate Coordinator before enrolment is confirmed.

Speech and Hearing Options

Entry to the MAud is competitive, with the selection based on academic merit. Student numbers are limited to around 14 a year. Candidates must have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 5 out of 9 on UC's GPA scale (i.e. a B average), but successful candidates usually have a GPA significantly higher than this.

Successful applicants have come from a diverse range of backgrounds, so even if you are not from the health sciences, we encourage your application.

For 2023 Te Kura Mahi ā-Hirikapo is pleased to be able to offer four Māori Scholarship MAud 2023 programme.

Application deadlines and processes

All applications must be received at the School of Psychology, Speech & Hearing no later than 1 October.

Potential students will be invited to an interview with Departmental Representatives as part of the application process.

One or more courses or research may require vaccination

The final vaccination mandate ended at 11:59 pm on Monday 26 September 2022 which applied to health and disability workers. Some employers/placement sites may still require workers to be vaccinated due to health and safety. As such, some clinical placements may be restricted for those students who are not fully vaccinated.

 

Candidates must: 

  • Hold a prior degree (undergraduate or postgraduate)
  • Have passed at least one course in Anatomy & Physiology of the Speech and Hearing Mechanism. We recommend SPSC161 which is available in Semester One and over summer 
  • Have passed at least one course in Statistics. We recommend STAT 101
  • Have a minimum of a B average from a prior undergraduate or postgraduate degree
  • Be aware there will be an interview with Departmental Representatives

One or more courses or research may require vaccination

The final vaccination mandate ended at 11:59 pm on Monday 26 September 2022 which applied to health and disability workers. Some employers/placement sites may still require workers to be vaccinated due to health and safety. As such, some clinical placements may be restricted for those students who are not fully vaccinated.

English language requirements:

  • Candidates must speak English as their native language, or
  • IETLS Academic with an average score of 7.0, with a minimum of 6.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Admission to this MSc programme is limited. Applicants must hold a four-year undergraduate degree, or a three-year undergraduate degree with the first year of a two-year MSc completed.

Student selection is based on academic merit and relevant assessments to determine suitability for advanced study in speech and language sciences.

As this programme is focused on the student’s development of research skills, applicants to the MSc programme are encouraged to identify a particular topic of interest and must discuss their ideas with the relevant members of staff described above.

One or more courses or research may require vaccination

The final vaccination mandate ended at 11:59 pm on Monday 26 September 2022 which applied to health and disability workers. Some employers/placement sites may still require workers to be vaccinated due to health and safety. As such, some clinical placements may be restricted for those students who are not fully vaccinated.

MSLP

This is a two-step process and both need to be done by 1 October. Prospective students need to:

  1. Apply for Admission to the University of Canterbury. This can be done via myUC.
  2. Submit an application directly to the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing using our application and recommendation forms.

MSc Speech and Language Sciences

The deadline for applications is 1 November. Please complete the application form and have two recommendation forms completed by your referees.

MAud

All applications must be received by the School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing by 1 October. Potential students will be invited to an interview with School representatives as part of the application process.

Need more information?

If you have a query about Speech & Hearing courses, and to lodge your application form, please email speech-hearing-admin@canterbury.ac.nz.

Need more information or support?

Contact our postgraduate co-ordinators