Applying for a Behaviour Analysis programme
MAppPsy, MPPBA, and PGDipPracPsych have yearly intakes and limited space. Applications are assessed competitively on grades, work history, your statement of purpose, and referee reports.
Application process
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Apply online via MyWaikato
Submit your application online.
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Academic check
If you meet the academic entry requirements, you must complete the selection form, linked in your offer or sent directly to you by the School, by the specified deadline.
If you do not meet the entry requirements, we will advise you that your application has been unsuccessful.
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Selection committee review
All applicants with complete documentation are assessed based on their academic background, work and life experience, statement of purpose, referee reports and other documentation required. The selection committee meets shortly after the closing date.
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Interview for MPPBA and PGDipPracPsych only
Applicants who progress to the next stage of the selection process will be invited to attend an interview in October, either in person or online. You will receive 1鈥�2 weeks' notice of your interview date.
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Decision communicated
Within two months of applications closing, you will be told you have been offered a place, placed on the waitlist, or not offered a place. Some offers are conditional on final results or other requirements.
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Behaviour Analysis Handbook
More information about our professional programmes can be found in the Behaviour Analysis Handbook.
What you need to submit
Requirements vary by programme and entry point. See your programme below for a list of required documents.
Police vetting requirements apply to all programmes:
- Applicants who have lived in New Zealand for at least six months before the programme start date must complete NZ Police Vetting, including a consent form and two forms of identification.
- Applicants who have lived overseas must also complete an International Criminal History Check for each country in which they have lived for 12 months or more within the last seven years.
- Statement of purpose
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Contact details for two referees
- NZ Police vetting consent and two forms of ID
- International police vetting (if applicable)
- Statement of purpose
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Contact details for two referees
- Sample of written work from the past year
- NZ Police vetting consent and two forms of ID
- International police vetting (if applicable)
Before applying, contact a potential supervisor from the whose research interests align with your own. Please ensure they hold the position of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, or Professor.
- Statement of purpose (via school selection form)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Contact details for two referees
- NZ Police vetting consent and two forms of ID
- International police vetting (if applicable)
- Statement of purpose (via school selection form)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Master's thesis or abstract
- Contact details for two referees
- NZ Police vetting consent and two forms of ID
- International police vetting (if applicable)
- Internship: Job description, agency letter of support, and on-site supervisor's CV
Statement of purpose
You must include a statement of purpose with your online selection form. This is an important part of the selection process, so take the time to prepare it carefully.
Use it to demonstrate who you are, what you have done, and how your experiences have prepared you for this programme. Clearly explain what motivates you to work in this field. Write in a positive and professional manner, and provide specific examples rather than general statements.
Check your spelling and grammar carefully before submitting. Keep each section to no more than 200 words, with a total word count of no more than 2,000 words. Submit your statement as a Word or PDF document.
| Section | What to cover |
| Why behaviour analysis? | Your motivation for this field and what inspired your decision to specialise. |
| Relevant experience | Paid or voluntary work in education, disability, health, community services, research or leadership. |
| Personal qualities | Empathy, analytical thinking, patience, ethical awareness, teamwork, and openness to supervision. |
| Commitment to people | Your understanding of and commitment to working ethically and effectively with diverse individuals, families and communities. |
| Cultural commitment | Connections with M膩ori and underrepresented communities and your commitment to equity and culturally responsive practice. |
| Programme commitment | How you will manage the academic, professional and placement requirements of the programme. |
| Your support network | Personal, wh膩nau, family, or institutional supports that will help you succeed and sustain your professional development. |
We encourage you to limit your use of artificial intelligence (AI) when writing your statement. AI-generated statements tend to be generic and repetitive, and will not help you stand out from other applicants. This is your chance to show who you are.
Research interest statement
For MAppPsy: Year 2 entry applicants only.
Your research interest statement helps us understand your proposed research focus and your readiness for postgraduate research.
Keep your statement to no more than 1,000 words and address each of the following points.
| Section | What to cover |
| Your research focus | Identify the specific issue, problem or research question you want to investigate. |
| Why this topic matters | Explain the significance of your chosen topic. Describe why it warrants further research and how it contributes to existing literature, professional practice or societal needs. |
| Your proposed approach | Describe how you would address your research question. You might outline your broad methodological ideas or theoretical perspective. |
| Potential challenges | Acknowledge any methodological, ethical, practical or resource-related challenges your research may face. Reflect on how these might be managed. |
| Your research experience | Tell us about any prior research experience that is relevant to your proposed topic. |
| Supervisor alignment |
Identify an academic from our programme whose research interests align with your own. Use the find an expert tool or check the programme handbook. Please contact a potential supervisor before you apply. Suitable supervisors hold the title of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor or Professor. |
Referees
As part of your online selection form, you will need to provide the contact details of two referees. Your referees will be sent a link to complete a referee report once you submit your selection form. Let them know to expect an email and to check their spam folder.
Choose referees who know you well, ideally for more than a year, and who can speak to your personal qualities in relation to the programme. The two referees should come from different contexts.
The selection committee expects one academic referee who knows your work well (for example, a paper convenor) and one referee from your workplace, such as an employer, line manager, or supervisor.
Do not provide two referees of the same type, and do not include family members, friends, or people who know you only socially.
Internship documentation
For PGDipPracPsych applicants only.
Securing an internship before applying is not required, but it may be helpful if you already work as a behaviour specialist, advisor, therapist, or in a similar role with an organisation that can support an internship.
Some applicants may already have an agency in mind where an internship could be arranged, but you must discuss this with programme staff first.
The selection form requires you to provide the following three documents:
Job description
Provide a job description for a role that is ongoing paid or unpaid employment in New Zealand and gives you the opportunity to practice behaviour analysis. The selection panel will assess whether the role meets the internship requirements based on this document. The selection committee may also wish to arrange a meeting with the internship provider.
Agency letter of support
Ask your prospective internship organisation to provide a letter of support confirming that the employment is appropriate for the programme. The letter should outline the expectations of both the student and the organisation, including permission for the student to attend regular classes and supervision, and details of the field supervision arrangement.
Onsite supervisor CV
Weekly field supervision must be provided by at least one person who is a registered psychologist with knowledge and expertise in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). This may be an existing staff member or someone employed specifically for the role. Provide your onsite supervisor's CV. If your primary supervisor is not a registered psychologist, also provide the CV of a registered psychologist who will hold clinical responsibility.
Behaviour Analysis programme FAQs
Before you apply
The MAppPsy and PGDipPracPsych require a B+ average, while the MPPBA requires a B average for entry. Grades are considered alongside work experience, personal qualities, bicultural awareness, and commitment to the profession, not in isolation.
Any relevant paid or voluntary work with wh膩nau, children, or adults is valued:
- teacher aide
- support worker
- behaviour therapist
- community worker
- youth worker
Experience that builds people skills is also recognised.
International students can apply for the MAppPsy, MPPBA and PGDipPracPsych. A limited number of spaces are available.
The PGDipPracPsych requires 1,500 internship hours, which may affect visa conditions. It is best to check with .
Email them briefly to introduce yourself, outline your background, and explain what interests you about their research.
Attach your CV and a short research idea that aligns with their research. Keep the tone professional, clear, and respectful of their time. A potential supervisor cannot guarantee that they will supervise your thesis.
The Behaviour Analysis programme and the School鈥檚 Postgraduate Committee decide supervisor allocations. They review all applications before making decisions. Final supervision arrangements are confirmed as part of this process.
During the process
No. Late applications are not accepted under any circumstances. This ensures a fair process for all applicants.
Deferrals are also not possible. If unsuccessful, you are welcome to reapply the following year.
Decisions are communicated within two months of applications closing. Interviews (for MPPBA and PGDipPracPsych) are held in October with at least 1鈥�2 weeks鈥� notice.
Due to the volume and complexity of applications, individual feedback is not provided on shortlisting or selection decisions.
Internship - PGDipPracPsych only
Internships are sourced nationally. Students should be prepared to relocate within New Zealand. Previous placements have included organisations in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and other regions across health, education, and disability sectors.
Unpaid placements are possible within approved settings. Historically, sufficient paid positions have been available for students willing to relocate. Some roles may require an initial employment period before the organisation formally supports an internship.