Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology Assistance

• Develop skills to support people with mental health and addiction needs within the Psychology Assistant scope of practice.
• Workforce-relevant, research-informed education aligned with national priorities in mental health and addiction care.
• Online learning with in-person components accessible to students across Aotearoa New Zealand.
• 600 hours of supervised practicum experience to prepare you for the workplace.
• Placements are arranged across Aotearoa New Zealand. We will seek to facilitate placements in your preferred location where possible.
• Eligibility to apply for registration with the NZPB on graduation (subject to accreditation).

To apply to the Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology Assistance, you will need a bachelor's degree in psychology, with a minimum B average across at least 75 points of 300-level psychology courses.

Of those 75 points, the following courses (or equivalents from other universities) must be included:

• PSYC375 Intermediate Research Methods and Statistics
• PSYC376 Working with People – Introduction to Professional Skills in Psychology
• PSYC379 Introduction to Psychopathology
• PSYC348 Contemporary Issues in Family Psychology OR PSYC380 Risk and Resilience in Human Development

Applicants who have not completed these courses are encouraged to apply and provide evidence of equivalent knowledge or relevant experience, which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

If English is not your first language, you may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. Please refer to the University of Canterbury English language requirements webpage for full details, including standard exemption criteria.

If required, the programme standard is IELTS (Academic) 7.5 overall, with no band below 7.0, or equivalent. See how to provide your English language evidence to UC.

For the full entry requirements, or use the admission requirements checker.

How to apply

A special application process is required to assess your preparedness for professional training and for working with people with mental health and addiction needs, and to ensure you meet the requirements of the Children’s Act 2014.

All applicants are required to disclose any criminal convictions or professional misconduct, and any physical or mental health conditions that could affect their ability to practice safely.

You must also comply with any additional placement requirements for health workforce students, such as vaccination or health and safety policies, confidentiality agreements, and conduct expectations.

Places in this programme are limited to 20 students and selection is competitive. This is a full-time programme with a substantial weekly commitment.

Application deadline:

• The deadline for the 2026 intake has closed.
• The next intake is planned for February 2028. Applications will open in 2027.

Semester 1

The programme comprises four courses in the first semester.

• PSYC491 Foundations of Psychological Assessment
• PSYC492 Motivational Interviewing: Collaborative Conversations to Support Change and Growth
• PSYC457 Behavioural Interventions
• PSYC493 Professional Practice in Psychology Assistance

The first semester includes four in-person days on the UC campus. Tentative dates, subject to confirmation: Friday, 24 July; and Monday, 05 October to Wednesday, 07 October.

Semester 2

The second semester involves 600 hours of supervised, in-person practicum completed over around 18-20 weeks (approximately 4 days per week), within a placement period that runs from mid-November to late May. Placements are part of the educational programme and are not paid.

• PSYC494 Practicum in Psychology Assistance

This Diploma can provide a pathway into further postgraduate study in psychology, depending on meeting entry requirements. Additional coursework may be required before applying for some programmes.

Possible options include:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology
• Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Family Psychology
• Postgraduate Diploma in Organisational Psychology
• Master of Organisational Psychology
• Master of Science in Child and Family Psychology, or Industrial and Organisational Psychology, or Psychology
• Master of Arts (Thesis) in Child and Family Psychology, or Psychology

Graduates of the PGDipPsycAssist will be eligible to apply for registration with the New Zealand Psychologists Board as a Psychology Assistant, subject to programme accreditation and meeting regulatory requirements.

Psychology Assistants work within teams in services providing mental health and addiction care. In this role, you may contribute to psychological assessment and the delivery of structured, evidence-informed interventions within a defined scope of practice and under the supervision of a registered psychologist.

Graduates may find employment in a range of settings, including community or residential services; primary, secondary, or tertiary healthcare settings; non-government organisations (NGOs); Primary Health Organisations (PHOs); correctional services; and other contexts where mental health and addiction support is provided.

For more information, see the New Zealand Psychologists Board’s scope of practice for Psychology Assistants.