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POST GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
Prior to applying for the Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology, you should ensure that you have read
the relevant sections in the School of Psychology Post-Graduate Handbook and in the University Calendar,
and that you understand the eligibility requirements. To apply you will need to submit a completed application
form, certified academic transcripts and current curriculum vitae. You are asked to provide two referees to
complete an evaluation of you. Documentation is included for the referees (page 6).
The closing date for applications for the 2016 intake is Thursday 8th October 2015
Responsibility for forwarding the referees’ documentation is up to the applicant. It is advisable that one of your
referees be an academic staff member who is able to comment on your academic performance in psychology
courses. Other suitable referees are current or recent employers and or professionals familiar with your
volunteer activities or academic work. Do not include general letters of recommendations from past employers,
friends or mentors.
The referee evaluation is not to be included in your application, but sent by the referee separately. We
recommend referees be supplied with a pre-printed and postage paid envelope with the School of Psychology
address details and that referees be reminded of the closing date for applications being the 8th October 2015.
The CV should contain information about your educational experiences, work experiences (positions held,
voluntary activities) other professional kinds of activities as well as accomplishments and awards.
Applicants will be short listed on the basis of the information provided. If you are shortlisted you will be invited
to attend a 30-minute (approximate time only) panel interview on 9th or 10th November 2015. Members of the
panel are academic and clinical staff and senior psychologists within the community. Candidates are expected
to present in person for the interview and are entitled to bring a support person or whanau members to the
interview.
All documentation must reach the Programme Administrator, Clinical Psychology Programme, by Thursday
8th October 2015.
Do not bind documentation; you are to use a staple or paper clip or another fastener to secure documents
All applicants will be notified of the outcome in December. If you have any queries please feel free to contact
the Clinical Administrator by email at helen.lloyd@vuw.ac.nz, or by telephone 04 463 6400
Applications must arrive at the following address by Thursday 8th October 2015.
CONFIDENTIAL
c/o Programme Administrator, Clinical Psychology Programme
School of Psychology,
University of Victoria University of Wellington
Level 5, Easterfield Building
PO Box 600,
Wellington
Updated 9/02/2016
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Application for Admission Probationary Year Postgraduate Training in Clinical
Psychology
1.
Family name:
2.
First names:
3.
Present address:
4.
Contact address:
(November & December)
5.
Email address:
6.
Contact number(s):
7.
Date of Birth:
8.
Gender
9.
Ethnic origin:
Iwi:
10. Citizenship status:
In order to apply for entry into the programme you need to provide three sets of forms;
one set of original documents plus two sets of photocopies.
Each set must contain:



11.
Certified transcripts of academic record
Your current curriculum vitae
Your completed application form
List (below) the names and contact details of two referees who have agreed to supply a
confidential evaluation of your suitability for clinical training. A referee form and evaluation is to
be completed by both referees. Do not include references or testimonials with your application.
Name of Referee 1:
Contact number(s):
Email address:
Name of Referee 2:
Contact number(s):
Email address:
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12.
What was your most recent year of academic study?
Where were you enrolled during that year?
What is your highest qualification (in Psychology)?
Please confirm that you have completed the following prerequisite courses (or their equivalent
from your University)
PSYC221 Social Psychology
☐
PSYC231 Cognitive Psychology
☐
PSYC233 Brain and Behaviour
☐
PSYC235 Abnormal Psychology
☐
PSYC332 Behaviour Analysis
☐
PSYC325 Advanced Research Methods
☐
☐
PSYC327 Cognitive and Behavioural Neuroscience
List your four best Psychology grades, of your most recent year of study.
(You must also separately include certified academic records showing all other courses/grades).
Year
Course Code and Title
Updated 9/02/2016
Grade
4
13.
Give a brief account of the history of your decision to seek entry to clinical training (e.g., the
contribution of life events, experiences in your family of origin, personal experiences of
psychological distress, experience with mental health professionals etc.). How have these
experiences enhanced your understanding and abilities to work as a clinical psychologist? (300
words max) (You may attach this if necessary, however if completing this form electronically simply enter
this information into the box provided below)
14.
Briefly describe any relevant training, education or experiences you have that demonstrate a
commitment to living and working in a bicultural/multicultural society and the principles of the
Treaty of Waitangi. (300 words max) (You may attach this if necessary, however if completing this form
electronically simply enter this information into the box provided below)
15.
Briefly list any work-related, cultural and social experiences that are relevant to your decision to
apply for training as a clinical psychologist. (300 words max) (You may attach this if necessary,
however if completing this form electronically simply enter this information into the box provided below)
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16.
Please list other Clinical Psychology Programmes you have applied for this year.
Are there any particular reasons why you have chosen to apply for clinical training here at
VUW? (50 words max) (You may attach this if necessary, however if using an online application simply
enter this information into the box provided below)
The following questions ask you to disclose sensitive personal information. Disclosure
of such problems may affect your likelihood of selection. However, failure to disclose
such factors where they later become known may have a negative effect on judgements
made at that stage about your professional suitability.
17.
Have you experienced or are you currently experiencing any major physical or psychological
illness or disability, or problem with alcohol or drug use? (Please indicate using the boxes
provided)
YES
NO
If YES, please give the details on a separate sheet marked CONFIDENTIAL. Include, if
appropriate, an account of steps you have taken to address the problem(s), and/or an indication
of any special education supports you may need.)
18.
Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence or been the subject of a negotiated
agreement with the Human Rights Commission? (Please indicate using the boxes provided)
YES
NO
If YES please attach details on a separate sheet marked CONFIDENTIAL.
19.
Is there any other information about you that the selection panel should know in considering
your application? (Please indicate using the boxes provided)
YES
NO
If YES please attach details on a separate sheet marked CONFIDENTIAL.
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Applicant’s Declaration
I (insert full name) _______________________________________, agree that the Victoria University
of Wellington may collect, use, and store the information I and my referees have provided for the purposes
of considering my selection into the PGDipClinPsych programme.
I understand that my referee’s reports are confidential and will not be shown to me.
I understand that the selection panel reserves the right to communicate with previous staff/supervisors
from the School of Psychology (VUW) or Psychology Departments in other universities who know me
and are not listed as referees.
I understand that if I am successful in my application and enter the programme, a copy of my application
will be kept on file during my programme participation. If I am not accepted for training, then my
application documentation will be destroyed.
I understand the processes and criteria for selection into the PGDipClinPsych programme, as set out in
the School of Psychology Postgraduate Handbook and in the Information and Instructions for Applicants
sheet.
I accept that the decision of the selection panel is final and that no discussion will be entered into.
Signature:
Date:
Application Checklist
Please ensure that you have completed your application by using the following checklist:
Completed application form (x 3)
☐
Questions 16 and 17 completed?
☐
Academic transcript attached (x 3)
☐
Current CV attached (x 3)
☐
Referees have been approached and notified of closing date
☐
Applicants Declaration form signed
☐
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Post Graduate Diploma of Clinical Psychology Referee Evaluation
Applicant:
Dear Referee,
The applicant named above has applied for admission to the Post Graduate Diploma of Clinical Psychology
(PGDipClinPsyc) and has named you as a referee. It would be of assistance if you could provide a written
evaluation of the applicant in the following areas:
1.
Academic competence (if known), including details of academic performance to date and expected
outcome of courses/thesis in progress.
2.
Motivation and suitability for undertaking training as a clinical psychologist and working in the health
and justice related services
3.
Quality of interactions with other people.
Your evaluation will remain confidential and will not be shown to the applicant at any point. The closing date
for applications is Thursday 8th October 2015. All documentation including your evaluation must be returned
to the School of Psychology by this date.
Candidates will be short listed and invited to a 30-minute panel interview of academic clinical staff and senior
psychologists within the community. All applicants will be notified of the outcome by December.
It would be appreciated if you could forward your referee evaluation marked confidential, to the following
address:
Confidential
C/o Programme Administrator, Clinical Psychology Programme
School of Psychology
University of Victoria University of Wellington
Level 5, Easterfield Building
PO Box 600
Wellington
If you have any queries please feel free to contact Programme Administrator, Clinical Psychology
Programme, via telephone 04 463 6400, or by email: email helen.lloyd@vuw.ac.nz.
You may also contact me via telephone 04 463 5233 x 8230, or by email: Tony.Ward@vuw.ac.nz.
Yours sincerely
Professor Tony Ward
Programme Director
Clinical Psychology Training Programme
School of Psychology
Victoria University Wellington
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IMPORTANT ENROLMENT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS – please read carefully:
The clinical programme application deadline is the 8th October. Applicants will be shortlisted and invited
to attend a panel interview held in November.
If shortlisted applicants have yet to complete the requirements of an Honours degree and are intending on
applying for entry into the Honours programme they should complete their Honours enrolment via the
Online Enrolment system. This will ensure students awaiting the outcome of the clinical interviews are not
disadvantaged. When selecting courses choose courses that would make up a typical Honours degree.
Applicants will select 400 level courses, three courses for trimester 1 and three courses for trimester 2 plus
one alternative for each of the courses. This is in case the first preference is not available.
Note that PSYC 451 and 452 are only available to students selected for the clinical programme.
Students who enroll online and are later accepted into the clinical programme will have their courses
changed to align with the first year of the clinical programme.
Unsuccessful applicants for the clinical programme will have their Honours application processed.
Candidates that are successful and are invited to enter the clinical programme, who have completed an
Honours degree, Masters or PhD are asked to enroll by the 10 December in the following courses:
PSYC 412 Criminal Conduct 1
PSYC 442 Criminal Conduct 2
PSYC 451Clinical Adult Assessment and Intervention
PSYC 452 Child and Family Clinical Psychology
If applicants have already completed PSYC 412 or 442 in previous years they are not required to
complete the courses again.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The School of Psychology has recently created scholarships to support Maori and Pacific clinical
students. These scholarships pay for the first two years of fees for eligible students in the clinical
program.
If you are selected for the clinical Programme and eligible for one of these scholarships please email
Helen Lloyd at helen.lloyd@vuw.ac.nz for more information.
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Important Note: This statute is under revision and will be updated in August 2012.
Statute for Post Graduate Diploma of Clinical Psychology – PGDipClinPsyc This statute is
to be read in conjunction with the Personal Courses of Study Statute.
Entry Requirements
1. (a) For provisional admission to the PGDipClinPsyc, a candidate shall have completed the requirements
for a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Provisional admission is intended to guarantee the candidate a
place in the diploma subject to (b).
(b) Before enrolment, a candidate for the diploma shall have:
(i) completed a BSc(Hons) or BA(Hons) in Psychology, or completed the coursework for Part 1 of
the MSc in Psychology;
(ii) passed 120 400-level Psychology points (or their equivalent) as required by the Head of the
School of Psychology; and
(iii) been accepted by the Head of School as capable of proceeding with the proposed course of
study.
(c) Requirement (b)(i) may be waived by the Associate Dean (Students) of the Faculty of Science for a
candidate who is otherwise suitably qualified.
General Requirements
2. The course of study for the diploma shall consist of courses worth 210 points, including:
Part 1: PSYC 561;
Part 2: PSYC 562; two of PSYC 571, 572, 573
3. A candidate shall normally be enrolled for at least four trimesters and shall complete the diploma within
three years of first enrolling in it. The Associate Dean may extend the maximum period in exceptional
circumstances.
4. (a) By the beginning of the course of study for the diploma, a candidate shall have enrolled for or
completed an MA or PhD or Part 2 of the MSc degree by thesis.
(b) A candidate who has not completed the degree referred to in (a) shall not enrol for Part 2 of the diploma
before submitting a thesis for examination.
Award of Distinction or Merit
5. The diploma may be awarded with Distinction or Merit as described in sections 19 and 21 of the Personal
Courses of Study Statute.
Schedule to the PGDipClinPsyc Statute:
Course
Title
Pts
PSYC 561
Practicum
60
PSYC 562
Advanced Practicum
120
PSYC 571
PSYC 572
PSYC 573
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Advanced
Neuropsychology
Theory and Practice
Adult and Child Clinical
Psychology: Advanced
Intervention Skills
Clinical Criminal Justice
Psychology
Prerequisites (P), Corequisites
(C) and Restrictions (X)
15
P PSYC 451, 452, 561; C PSYC
562; X PSYC 551
15
P PSYC 451, 452, 561; C PSYC
562; X PSYC 551
15
P PSYC 451, 452, 561; C PSYC
562; X PSYC 504