Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon
Skip to main content

Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (PGDipClPs)

    Overview

    The Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (PGDipClPs) programme normally extends over three years of full-time University study. This includes a Probationary Year during which a candidate completes the final year of a Bachelor with Honours degree or an equivalent course, and two Professional Years during which postgraduate students in Clinical Psychology are concurrently enrolled for a Master's or Doctoral degree in Psychology and the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology. In general, the syllabus is structured so that, as students proceed through the programme, there is progressively less emphasis on formal academic coursework and a correspondingly greater emphasis on practical training.

    The number of students accepted each year into the training programme is limited by the number of practical clinical placements available. The present annual intake is 12 students. Candidates for entry into the programme need to have achieved a high standard of performance in their examinations at 200- and 300-level for the Bachelor with Honours degree in Psychology or in their examination for the ordinary Bachelor's degree with a major in Psychology.

    Information for new applicants

    Applications for admission to the Probationary Year close on 20 October. Late applications will not be considered.

    Contact

    Department of Psychology

    Tel 64 3 479 7627
    Email psy.clinicaladmin@otago.ac.nz
    Website Clinical Psychology Programme

    Subjects

          Regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology (PGDipClPs)

          1. Admission to the Programme

            1. Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences), on the advice of the Clinical Psychology Admissions Committee.
            2. Candidates will be selected on the basis of their academic record, personal suitability and professional attributes. Applicants must demonstrate the capability to meet New Zealand Psychologists Board requirements for registration as a clinical psychologist, which shall include satisfying any police vetting and safety checking processes as prescribed by the Children's Act 2014.
            3. An applicant for provisional admission to the programme shall have completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree majoring in Psychology or equivalent.
            4. An applicant for final admission to the programme shall
              1. have been admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology or Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Psychology, or equivalent; and
              2. have passed Psychology 400-level papers with an average grade of at least B+.

          2. Structure of the Programme

            The programme of study after final admission shall consist of PSYC 501 Clinical Intervention (taken in the first professional year of the programme) and PSYC 601 Clinical Psychology Internship (taken in the second professional year). The final examination in the second professional year includes an assessment of the candidate's performance in clinical settings and an oral examination.

            Note: MAOR 102 is a prerequisite for PSYC 601.

          3. Concurrent Programmes

            1. A candidate shall have enrolled for the degree of Master of Science, Master of Arts (Thesis) or in exceptional cases Doctor of Philosophy, in Psychology, at the beginning of the programme for the diploma.
            2. A candidate shall not be awarded the diploma until the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, Master of Arts (Thesis), or Doctor of Philosophy, in Psychology, have been fulfilled.

          4. Terms

            1. A candidate must obtain terms for the second professional year before being permitted to sit the final examination for PSYC 601.
            2. Terms will be awarded by the Programme Director if the candidate has submitted for examination a thesis or dissertation that is a requirement of a concurrent programme.
            3. Candidates who are refused terms will be eligible to sit the final examination for PSYC 601 in the following year, subject to the awarding of terms during that year. Students who fail to meet the terms requirement within that year will be required to repeat the year as a whole before being permitted to sit the final examination.
            4. In exceptional circumstances (e.g. where completion of PSYC 601 is necessary for the timely completion of a concurrent programme), the terms requirement may be waived by the Head of the Department of Psychology.

          5. Duration of the Programme

            A candidate shall follow a programme of study for not less than two years.

          6. Exclusion from the programme

            Any student who, during the course of their studies, is

            1. subject to criminal charges;
            2. subject to disciplinary proceedings of the University or of a professional body;
            3. found to have an issue that compromises or is likely to compromise their meeting the New Zealand Psychologists Board requirements for registration as a clinical psychologist; or
            4. found to have failed to declare a matter covered by (a)–(c),

            may be excluded from further study in the programme by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences), on the advice of the Director of the Clinical Psychology Training Programme.

          7. Level of Award of the Diploma

            The diploma may be awarded with distinction or with credit.

          8. Variations

            The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.

          This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.

          Regulations on this page are taken from the 2024 Calendar and supplementary material.

          Back to top