Regulations for The Postgraduate Diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology - PGDipEdDevPsych

Qualification Regulations

Part I

Part II

Admission

1. Admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology requires that the candidate will:

(a) meet the University admission requirements as specified; and shall have

(b) been awarded or qualified for either a Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology or a Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Psychology, having achieved a grade average of at least a B+, or equivalent; and shall have:

(c) completed at least 60 credits of Academic Board or delegate approved psychology courses including at least 45 credits at 200 level or higher; and

(d) have completed at least 45 credits of Academic Board or delegate approved education courses including at least 30 credits at 200 level or higher; and

(e) have completed at least one year of full-time or equivalent part-time professional, learning or community learning experience in a relevant field.

(f) met all requirements as set by the New Zealand Psychologists Board for registration as an Intern Educational Psychologist; and

(g) met the requirements as set down by the New Zealand Psychologists Board, in terms of good character and fitness to be registered; and

(h) access to a suitable psychology practice context and professional supervision for the duration of the programme, as approved by Academic Board or their delegate.

2. Admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology will be granted or withheld on consideration of the admission requirements specified under Regulations 1, a Police Vetting report and a selection process which may include a written application, interview, and written and/or practical exercises as may be determined by the Academic Board or their delegate.

Qualification requirements

3. Candidates for the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology shall follow a flexible programme of study, which shall consist of courses totalling at least 120 credits, comprising:

(a) courses from the Schedule to the Diploma; and including:

(b) attending Contact Workshops, block courses, field trips, studios, workshops, tutorials, and laboratories as required.

Specialisations

4. The Postgraduate Diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology is awarded without specialisation.

Academic requirements

5. Every candidate shall perform to the satisfaction of Academic Board or their delegate supervised full-time practical work for a period of one academic year, in accordance with the requirements of the courses included in the schedule to the diploma. In exceptional circumstances and only with the approval of Academic Board or their delegate, the supervised practical work may be completed half-time over two academic years.

Student progression

6. Students must maintain their registration with the New Zealand Psychologist Board in terms of being 'a fit and proper person' to be registered.

7. The timeframes for completion as outlined in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Qualifications will apply.

Completion requirements

8. Candidates may be graduated when they meet the Admission, Qualification and Academic requirements within the prescribed timeframes.

9. In cases of sufficient merit, the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology may be awarded with distinction or merit.

Unsatisfactory academic progress

10. The following will lead to exclusion from the qualification:

(a) Failure to continue to meet the requirements for registration as set down by the New Zealand Psychologists Board in terms of being 'fit and proper person' to be registered.

(b) If the Pro Vice Chancellor or their nominee is of the opinion that a candidate does not meet the criteria outlined in the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act (2003), and regarding ‘fitness for registration’ (Section 16) the candidate's enrolment in the Post Graduate Diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology programme will be cancelled.

(c) If the Pro Vice Chancellor or their nominee is of the opinion that a candidate does not meet the criteria outlined by New Zealand Psychologists Board regarding ‘fitness for registration’ as a psychologist, the candidate's enrolment in the Post Graduate Diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology programme will be cancelled.

Transitional provisions

11. Subject to any Maximum Time to Completion and the Abandonment of Studies provisions specified in the Part I regulations for the degree, candidates enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma of Educational and Developmental Psychology prior to 1 January 2025 may be exempt from meeting the requirements of Regulation 1(d) and 1 (e) until 31 December 2026.

Schedule for the Postgraduate Diploma in Educational and Developmental Psychology