Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Psychology
Dunedin, New Zealand
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
Request tuition fees
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Introduction
Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis)) in Psychology
The MA by thesis
The thesis option normally requires at least one year of full-time study and entails completion of a thesis. The thesis is a major piece of supervised research of up to 40,000 words on a topic of current interest.
The primary aim of the MA by thesis Program is to develop in a candidate skills needed to identify a significant topic, design and implement an extended piece of research, and present the findings in a form acceptable to an expert readership.
Why study Psychology?
The Department of Psychology at Otago has a highly-regarded teaching Program and is internationally renowned for the strength of its research.
The research conducted in the Department of Psychology addresses problems in areas as diverse as sleep disorders, industrial relations, phobias, drug rehabilitation, aircraft safety, hyperactivity in children, how nonhuman animals think, as well as how the brain works.
- Learn about human behaviour
- Start a challenging career
- Develop research skills in the social and behavioural sciences
- Improve career flexibility with Psychology in your degree
- Psychology is a very popular course.
You will learn
- How the brain stores memories and processes information.
- How our abilities change from childhood to old age.
- How emotions affect our reasoning.
- How prejudice and stereotypes arise.
- How parents' behaviour influences their children's development.
- What underlies disorders such as schizophrenia and dementia.
- Why drugs, head injuries and hormones influence behaviour.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the university website for more information.
Curriculum
- The degree can be undertaken as a 240-point Program of study comprising papers and a thesis for students with a bachelor's degree or as a 120-point thesis-only Program for students with appropriate postgraduate level study (see Section 1(c)).
- The degree may be awarded in any of the subjects listed in the MA(Thesis) Schedule. With the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) the degree may be awarded in a subject not listed in the MA(Thesis) Schedule.
- The student's course of study shall be approved by the Dean, Head of School, Program or Department. In the case of the 240-point Program, the Dean, Head of School, Program or Department will confirm that the combination of papers will provide adequate preparation for the thesis component.
- A candidate shall, before commencing the investigation to be described in the thesis, secure the approval of the Dean, Head of the School, or Head of Program or Department concerned for the topic, the supervisory team, and the proposed course of the investigation.
- A candidate may not present a thesis which has previously been accepted for another degree.
- A candidate taking the degree by papers and thesis must pass both the papers and the thesis components.For a thesis, the research should be of a kind that a diligent and competent student should complete within one year of full-time study.
Subject areas
The degree may be awarded in any of the following subjects:
- Anthropology
- Childhood and Youth Studies* (thesis only)
- Chinese
- Classics
- Communication Studies
- Computer Science
- Development Studies* (thesis only)
- Economics
- Education
- English
- Film and Media Studies
- French
- Gender Studies
- Geography
- German
- History
- Human Services* (thesis only)
- Indigenous Development / He Kura Matanui
- Information Science
- Japanese
- Linguistics
- Māori Studies
- Mathematics
- Music
- Peace and Conflict Studies* (thesis only)
- Philosophy
- Politics* (thesis only)
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Statistics
- Theatre Studies
*Not available for the Papers and Thesis option.
Program Outcome
Level of Award of the Degree
The degree may be awarded with distinction or with credit.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
In addition to specialising in Psychology, a degree in Psychology is useful for a wide range of other disciplines as well. Students take Psychology as part of degrees in Law, Marketing, Neuroscience, English, Physical Education, Management, Applied Science, Philosophy, Education, or Health Sciences.
There are many careers in Psychology in New Zealand and overseas, including positions as scientists in universities, government agencies, organisations, and industry. Otago graduates are studying pilot error in aviation, learning deficits in children, the causes of rugby injuries, the biological basis of memory, and the effectiveness of alcohol and drug rehabilitation.
Otago also offers training in Clinical Psychology for those wanting to work in health-related services. Clinical Psychologists work in hospitals, private practice, and in the Department of Corrections. Many of our Clinical Psychology graduates work for a time overseas – particularly in the UK or Australia.
Program delivery
Application details
Applicants must apply online. They should also attach all the necessary supporting documents which includes scanned copies of their previous official academic transcripts (awards gained, marks, grades) with their application, and provide proof of their identity this is usually achieved by providing a certified copy of the personal details page of their passport or a birth certificate (in English). Applicants must also submit detailed research proposal that shows they are familiar with current literature surrounding their topic; an up-to date curriculum vitae; and name of the academic staff member with whom they have been in contact; and with an approximate start date. They may also be required to submit an Educational Credential Evaluators report (ECE). As soon as applicants have completed their online application, their proof of identity document must be posted to International Office, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. International student applications for semester 1/summer school study close: Oct-31; Semester 2 study close: Apr-30.