Top Psychology Universities/Colleges in New Zealand: Rankings, Programs, Fees, Admission Process, Scholarships
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Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated 3+ months ago

There are 7 colleges in New Zealand that offer psychology courses at different levels of study. These colleges are also on the QS World Ranking List. The universities provide top-class education as psychology is a popular subject, therefore students from different countries come to study in New Zealand. Psychology colleges in New Zealand such as Auckland University of Technology, University of Otago, etc. offer various course choices. University of Waikato offers a Ph.D. in psychology.

Let’s see the top colleges in New Zealand that offer bachelor's, and master's degrees in psychology.

Top Colleges in New Zealand for Bachelors in Psychology

S.No University Program
1. University of Otago B.Sc Psychology B.A Psychology
2. University of Canterbury B.A Psychology
3. Victoria University of Wellington B.Sc Psychology B.A Education and Psychology
4. Auckland University of Technology B.A Business and Psychology
5. University of Waikato B.Sc Human Development B.Sc Psychology

Top Colleges in New Zealand for Masters in Psychology

S.No University Program
1. University of Auckland M.Sc Health Psychology
2. University of Otago M.S Cognitive Science
3. Victoria University of Wellington M.A Educational Psychology M.S Forensic Psychology
4. Massey University M.A Educational Psychology
5. University of Waikato M.A Applied Psychology

Scholarships for Masters in Psychology in New Zealand

Tuition fees coupled with other expenses can be quite an investment, especially for students from countries where the value of a currency is much lower.

Despite the high cost of education, New Zealand offers various scholarship programs to help national and international students to aid their schooling financially. Your living and tuition expenses can be fully or partially covered if you qualify for these funding programs. Academic records play an important role in determining who qualifies.

Below is a list of scholarships for Master of Psychology in New Zealand:

Scholarship Awarding Institute Amount Awarded
International Student Excellence Scholarship University of Auckland 9,121
Master of Health Psychology First-Year Student Prize University of Auckland 500
AUT International Excellence Scholarship Auckland University of Technology 7,500
International Master’s Research Scholarship University of Otago 13,438 per annum
Otago Coursework Master’s Scholarship University of Otago 8,960
International Excellence Scholarship University of Waikato 10,000

Scope after Masters in Psychology in New Zealand

The average salary for a person working in the counseling and mental health department in New Zealand is approximately 159,000 NZD and typically ranges between 82,800 NZD to 244,000 NZD per annum. With 2 to 5 years of experience, the pay grade increases by up to 34%.

Following are the available jobs in New Zealand for psychology graduates:

Job description Average Annual Salary (in NZD)
Alcohol and Drug Counselor 106,000
Career Counselor 117,000
Director of Rehabilitation Center 147,000
Mental Health Counselor 134,000
Youth Care Specialist 70,900
Supervising Counselor 129,000

People Also Ask

Ques: Is New Zealand good for psychology?

Ans: Psychology is a popular choice of subject among students in New Zealand. A trainee of psychology in New Zealand earns around $56,000 - $59,000 per year and a qualified psychologist usually earns $72,000 to $103,000 per year. The annual salary of a senior psychologist may range from $106,000 to $125,000.

Ques: How much does it cost to study psychology in New Zealand?

Ans: The annual fee of a master's degree in psychology is around $31,000 to $44,500 per annum. Although this cost seems fairly high, there are various scholarships that a student can avail of and pursue the course with ease.

Ques: What are the eligibility criteria for getting admission to a master's in psychology?

Ans: To get admission in master's in psychology, a student must fulfill the following criteria:

  • Bachelor's degree in psychology/similar field OR bachelors in arts/science with a major in psychology
  • 65% or above at undergraduate level
  • Proof of proficiency in the English language

Note: Similar fields include Education, Education and Psychology, Counselling, Social Work, Speech-Language Therapy, or an approved teacher education degree.

Ques: How long does it take to become a psychologist in New Zealand?

Ans: To become a registered psychologist in New Zealand, it generally takes six years as first a student has to complete a bachelor's with psychology as a major for 3 years followed by 3 years of masters with an internship. After completion of the degree, one can work in clinics, and hospitals or even become a teacher.

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Found 7 universities

Sort By
RankingCollege InfoTop CoursesFees & Cost of Living
#51/350 QS Ranking 2025(Psychology)

University of Auckland, Auckland

6.3(Based on 10 User Reviews)North Island, New Zealand45%Acceptance Rate
M.A Counselling
Course duration:
1 year
Exams Accepted:
IELTS6.5
View 3 Other Programs
Tuition:  
(NZ$36,181/Yr)$21.7K/Yr
Living
(NZ$7,920/Yr)$4.8K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#101/350 QS Ranking 2025(Psychology)

University of Otago, Dunedin

South Island, New Zealand58%Acceptance Rate
M.A Indigenous Studies
Course duration:
1 year
Exams Accepted:
Duolingo120TOEFL95PTE58
View 3 Other Programs
Tuition:  
(NZ$41,269/Yr)$24.8K/Yr
Living
(NZ$17,200/Yr)$10.3K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#101/350 QS Ranking 2025(Psychology)

Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington

North Island, New Zealand70%Acceptance Rate
M.A Educational Psychology
Course duration:
16 months
Exams Accepted:
IELTS6.0PTE58
View 4 Other Programs
Tuition:  
(NZ$37,370/Yr)$22.4K/Yr
Living
(NZ$12,350/Yr)$7.4K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#301/350 QS Ranking 2025(Psychology)

Massey University, Palmerston North

North Island, New Zealand70%Acceptance Rate
M.A Educational Psychology
Course duration:
2 years
Exams Accepted:
Duolingo120TOEFL90PTE58
View 1 Other Program
Tuition:  
(NZ$66,150/Yr)$39.7K/Yr
Living
(NZ$16,440/Yr)$9.9K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#201/330 QS Ranking 2024(Psychology)

University of Canterbury, Christchurch

7.2(Based on 1 User Reviews)South Island, New Zealand50%Acceptance Rate
B.A Psychology
Course duration:
3 years
Exams Accepted:
Duolingo105IELTS6PTE50
Programs
Tuition:  
(NZ$33,570/Yr)$20.1K/Yr
Living
(NZ$1,600/Yr)$960/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#301/350 QS Ranking 2025(Psychology)

University of Waikato, Hamilton

10.0(Based on 6 User Reviews)North Island, New Zealand70%Acceptance Rate
M.A Applied Psychology
Course duration:
2 years
Exams Accepted:
Duolingo120IELTS6.5PTE56
View 3 Other Programs
Tuition:  
(NZ$40,713/Yr)$24.4K/Yr
Living
(NZ$14,504/Yr)$8.7K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements
#401/601 THE Ranking 2025(Psychology)

Auckland University of Technology, Auckland

8.7(Based on 4 User Reviews)North Island, New Zealand91%Acceptance Rate
B.A Business & Psychology
Course duration:
42 months
Exams Accepted:
IELTS6
Programs
Tuition:  
(NZ$43,700/Yr)$26.2K/Yr
Living
(NZ$13,480/Yr)$8.1K/Yr
Check Admission Requirements