Welcome from the Head of School
Thank you for taking time to visit our website.
The School of Psychology offers an attractive range of high quality learning and research opportunities for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Since we offer more than 20 undergraduate courses, you have the opportunity to gain an excellent foundation in the fundamentals of psychology, as well as exploring areas of particular interest to you, such as criminal psychology, neuropsychology, organisational psychology and cross-cultural psychology.
The School has a vibrant postgraduate student community that engages in cutting edge research in a wide range of topics and benefits from our excellent facilities and dedicated and experienced staff. Research in the School reflects a diverse range of topics in social, developmental, cognitive, biological, behavioural, cross-cultural, forensic and clinical psychology. Some current topics include: memory, eye-witness testimony, families and family change, drug addiction, gender and sexuality, attitudes to the environment, recognition of facial expression of emotion and children’s creativity.
The School of Psychology is on Victoria University's main Kelburn Campus, close to the city centre. As well as being New Zealand’s artistic and political capital, Wellington is very strong in science. With four Crown Research Institutes and Capital & Coast District Health Board all within easy reach of campus, Wellington offers tremendous opportunities for academic and applied scientific research and clinical experience in psychology.
On campus, staff contribute to the Roy McKenzie Centre for the Study of Families and the Institute of Criminology. Collaborations with staff in the School of Biological Sciences examine the behavioural and neurobiological aspects of drug abuse and animal psychology, and collaborations with GNS(Science) research earthquake preparedness and risk judgment. The School also supports the on-campus Victoria Psychology Clinic and the Centre for Applied Cross-Cultural Research, which has research partners in Asia and in Hawai'i. Through this Centre, Victoria is proud to offer New Zealand’s only Masters programme in Cross-cultural Research.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the School and wish you the very best for your studies.
Assoc. Prof. Marc Wilson