Use psychology to help learners succeed
Educational psychology combines knowledge from psychology and education to understand learning, development, wellbeing, inclusion, motivation, behaviour, human relationships, and complex systems.
Educational psychologists collaborate across multiple levels to consider the influence of cognition and learning, individual differences, family and whānau, school culture and wider political and cultural systems, to identify how best to meet the diverse learning, social and emotional and mental health needs of ākonga and other learners.
Prepare to work in agencies that need people with specialised expertise in educational psychology.
Who can study for this qualification
The MEdPsych will suit you if you want to:
- take postgraduate courses relevant to your past study
- gain advanced research skills in educational psychology topics
- prepare for the PGDipEPP to become an educational psychologist.
What you'll learn
Gain essential knowledge and tools that you will use every day, such as:
- collaborative practice
- situational and behavioural analysis
- assessment
- evidence-based practice
- support planning.
You’ll learn the latest and best practice from experienced and award-winning academic staff. Your teachers have a wealth of research and practical experience and have worked in a variety of educational and community settings. You’ll start with a solid grounding in educational psychology practice within Aotearoa/New Zealand and culturally responsive practice, shift into research and evidence-based practice and finish with a focus on practice and applying skills. You’ll graduate confident, experienced and ready to take your educational psychology career to the next level.
How you'll study
The Master of Educational Psychology is a two-year degree programme requiring a total of 240 points.
Recommended Courses
There's a strongly recommended sequence of courses within the MEdPsych for students, so they can progress together, build connections as a cohort, and the courses are designed to build on each other. All students completing the Master of Educational Psychology must begin their study with EPSY 530 Introduction to Educational Psychology: Issues in Professional Practice. They should also complete EPSY 502 Research Methods in Educational Psychology because being able to read, design and use research is a key aspect of educational psychology, evidence-based practice and a core competency for being an educational psychologist.
PGDipEPP pathway
If you're interested in later applying for the PGDipEPP and becoming an educational psychologist, you should complete EPSY 530 (15 pts), EPSY 502 (15 pts) and the other 5 recommended courses (135 pts). You'll also need to include 75 points of optional courses from the MEdPsych schedule.
Full-time and part-time study options
The MEdPsych takes two years of full-time study.
If you are studying full time, you can expect a workload of 40–45 hours a week for much of the year.
Part-time study for domestic students
If you are studying full time, you can expect a workload of 40–45 hours a week for much of the year. If you are studying part time, you must complete the MEdPsych within four years. Part-time students doing two courses per trimester will need to do around 20–23 hours of work a week. Make sure you take this into account if you are working.
Recommended and optional courses
Recommended courses - Year 1
Tri 1
Tri 2
Recommended courses - Year 2
Tri 1
Tri 2
- EPSY 514—Educational Psychology Assessment (30 points)
- EPSY 532—Child and Adolescent Mental Health (15 points).
Optional courses
Tri 1
- EPSY 531 Learning and Motivation (15 points)
- EPSY 536 Neuroscience of Psychological Disorders (15 pts)
- EPSY 540 Trauma Across the Lifespan (30 pts) (online)
- EPSY 541 Systems and Impacts of Trauma (30 pts) (online)
- HPSY 501 Health & Wellbeing in Context (15 pts)
Tri 2
- EPSY 524 Psychological Aspects of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (15 pts)
- EPSY 534 Promoting and Supporting Positive Behaviour (15 pts)
- HPSY 502 Illness, Disease and Support (15 pts)
The MEdPsych can also lead to a number of career pathways and further academic study.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed university in:
If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.
To be accepted into this qualification, you need:
1. (a) Before enrolment, a candidate for the MEdPsych degree shall have:
(i) completed a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Psychology, Psychological Science or Educational Psychology, with an average grade of B or above for all coursework in the final year of their undergraduate programme; and
(ii) been accepted by the Associate Dean (Students) as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of study.
(b)Requirement (a)(i) may be waived by the associate dean for a candidate who has a bachelor’s degree and extensive practical, professional, or scholarly experience of an appropriate kind.
Qualification requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the MEdPsyc
2. (a) The course of study for the MEdPsych shall comprise of Introduction to Educational Psychology: Issues in Professional Practice (EPSY 530) and a further 225 points from the schedule.
(b) Candidates shall be required to have achieved a grade of B+ or above in Research Methods in Educational Psychology (EPSY 502) prior to enrolling in Thesis (EPSY 595) or 596.
(c) With the approval of the associate dean, candidates who have completed a postgraduate certificate, diploma or bachelor’s degree with honours in educational psychology at a New Zealand university may be awarded credit transfer of up to 120 points towards the MEdPsych. Candidates with an equivalent international qualification may be eligible for similar credit transfer, subject to the approval of the associate dean.
(d) A candidate who has completed 120 points including Introduction to Educational Psychology: Issues in Professional Practice (EPSY 530) and does not proceed further may elect to be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Psychology.
3. A candidate shall complete the degree within four years of first enrolling in it. The associate dean may extend the maximum period in special cases.
Qualification support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser through our enquiry form.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
For the research portion of your study, you’ll need a supervisor to help guide your research. Your programme coordinator will work with you to find the right person.
Future careers
Educational Psychology Internship
Successful completion of the MEdPsych contributes to applicants’ eligibility to apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Psychology Practice (PGDipEPP) as a pathway toward registration as an Educational Psychologist. This pathway is well suited to students who are highly relational, practice-focused, and centred on supervised professional work.
During this one-year programme, you will complete 1,500 hours of supervised practice. This will be done within an organisation that provides psychological services within an educational context. This may include working with the Ministry of Education.
Securing a placement is dependent on the availability of organisations across the country. Factors include supervisor availability and local needs. Being prepared to move to another location for your internship is advantageous.
You'll take four integrated courses on campus, covering:
- assessment and intervention
- the role of the educational psychologist
- and professional practice in both education and community settings.
The PGDipEPP takes place from January to December. The expectation is for students to complete the programme in one year of full-time study.
More career information
Find out more about careers.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Educational Psychology
There could be a scholarship for your qualification, subject area, background, or situation.
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$10,000 VUW Postgraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Master’s degree, Postgraduate Diploma, or eligible Honours programme.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Other scholarships
We also have postgraduate and doctoral scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Educational Psychology
There could be a scholarship for your qualification, subject area, background, or situation.
Join our postgraduate community
The Postgraduate Students’ Association provides a voice for you on campus and information on studying at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Postgraduate Students’ Association
MAI ki Pōneke
MAI ki Pōneke are part of an international network of Māori and Indigenous postgraduate students. They provide advice, support, and information to Indigenous postgraduate students of all levels, as well as those thinking about enrolling.
Research and academic careers pathway
This pathway is well suited to students who enjoy reading and conducting research, analysing data and identifying patterns, are curious about unanswered questions and want to contribute new knowledge. Possible pathways include:
- Continuation onto PhD study
- Research positions
- Policy and evaluation research
- Academic careers
If you are interested in pursuing a research or academic career, once you've completed 120 points of courses in your first year, you have the option to enrol in a 90- or 120-point thesis in your second year or complete a 60-point dissertation (EDUC 585).
MEdPsych thesis requirements
To enrol in a Master of Educational Psychology thesis course, you will need to have:
- completed 120 points of courses from the Master of Educational Psychology schedule
- completed EPSY 530—Introduction to Educational Psychology: Issues in Professional Practice
- obtained at B+ in EPSY 502—Research Methods in Educational Psychology.
The Master of Educational Psychology thesis component will take around 12 months to complete. You will be supervised by one, or sometimes two, academics from the Educational Psychology programme. Your studies will be overseen by the Faculty of Graduate Research.
You will demonstrate your ability to conduct independent research that has an applied focus. During your studies, you might also author publications for peer-reviewed journals.
Thesis courses
- EPSY 595 (90-point thesis)—complete a research thesis of up to 30,000 words (including references and appendices).
- EPSY 596 (120-point thesis)—complete a research thesis of up to 40,000 words (including references and appendices).
Advance your expertise with PhD study
- If you do well in your Master’s research, you can apply to do a PhD. You’ll work under supervision to produce original research that makes a significant contribution to knowledge. Full-time candidates usually complete the degree within three to four years.
- The Wellington Faculty of Graduate Research (WFGR) will handle your application and support you throughout your PhD study.
- Contact the postgraduate programme director about available supervision before you apply to do a PhD in Educational Psychology.
Academic staff research areas
Chris Bowden
Director, Educational Psychology
Vanessa Green
Professor of Education
Flaviu Hodis
Associate Professor
Jonathan Moore
Lecturer in Educational Psychology
Jeff Sigafoos
Professor
Jessica Tupou
Senior Lecturer in EduPsych
Hannah Waddington
Associate Professor
Kate Witt
Lecturer in Educational Psychology
Burt Hatch
Lecturer
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you’re facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Apply for a New Zealand study visa
You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.
You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.