Bachelor of Psychology

Summary

Study towards Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Bachelor of Psychology, and take your first step on the path towards changing the lives of others.

Take your first step on the path towards changing the lives of others—study towards a Bachelor of Psychology in Wellington.

Drive meaningful change

Think psychology if you care about people and are passionate about delivering better mental health outcomes. By studying Psychology here in Wellington, you’ll learn the skills to be part of positive, transformative change for all New Zealanders.

The perfect start

Our Bachelor of Psychology is made up of a required major—Psychological Science—and a set of eight optional complementary majors, covering a range of areas across psychology. If you’re interested in postgraduate study to become a registered psychologist, these optional majors offer clear pathways to help you achieve your goals.

Discover your ideal Bachelor of Psychology

Are you motivated to help others? Focused on understanding and analysis? Or maybe you want to look at the bigger picture to help society as a whole? Take our short quiz to learn more about the different major options and combinations in the Bachelor of Psychology.

Flexible study

The Bachelor of Psychology offers flexibility to choose your pathway to understanding human behaviour and mental processes. With a required major in Psychological Science as your foundation, you’ll have a broad base of knowledge to build on. You can then choose from eight optional complementary majors, each offering unique insights into different areas of psychology, to build your expertise and tailor your degree to your interests and career aspirations.

There are many different ways to study Psychology with us. You can study Psychology at undergraduate level as part of the Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Arts—giving you the chance to align your studies with your broader academic interests.

Globally ranked

The Psychology programme at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington is ranked in the top 150 worldwide in the QS World University Rankings 2026.

The QS World University Rankings is an annual global publication that gives overall rankings and subject rankings for more than 1,500 universities worldwide.

Scholarships for international students

We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree. Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.

Strong bicultural focus

Kaupapa and mātauranga Māori are woven through the core courses in the Bachelor of Psychology. You’ll boost your cultural awareness, social responsibility, and competence in the context of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Within the degree, you can choose a dedicated Māori Psychology major—the first of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand. This major bridges the gap between Western and Māori understandings of mental health and wellness.

Practical learning opportunities

The teaching is mostly face to face, with a mixture of laboratories, lectures, and tutorials. Some courses include self-paced online modules, and two courses—MAOR 126 and PSYC 101—are taught entirely online.

You’ll use modern technologies, such as brain imaging and virtual reality, to understand people’s emotional and physical responses to stressful situations.

As you progress through your studies, you’ll undertake workplace-integrated learning with input from employers working with the school. You’ll use your new knowledge and skills to come up with solutions to real-world problems.

Wellington is the science capital of New Zealand. Here, you’ll have plenty of opportunities for networking, internships, research placements, and future employment.

Wellington also offers unique access to the workings of Government, including key agencies such as Te Whatu Ora—Health New Zealand.

Gain transferable skills

Throughout your studies in Psychology, you’ll gain transferable skills in numeracy, critical thinking, cultural awareness, ethical scholarship, and written and oral communication.

In the first year of the Bachelor of Psychology, you’ll explore career paths available to Psychology graduates and you’ll see what knowledge and skills are needed to pursue those careers.

In your second year, you'll learn a range of research methods used across the discipline of Psychology. You’ll develop work-ready skills, such as being able to write reports and work cooperatively in groups.

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Career options

The skills you develop through the Bachelor...