Research Psychology at UKZN is not simply about gathering data but about co-producing knowledge that liberates, disrupts, and heals. At the Master’s level, the Research Psychology programme prepares students to register as professional Research Psychologists with the HPCSA. The training equips them with the skills to lead research and evaluation across sectors such as education, health, justice, governance, and development. Students undertake advanced coursework in statistics and qualitative analysis, monitoring and evaluation, participatory action research, and ethical practice, including instrument design and policy translation. The programme culminates in an independent research dissertation and a 12-month internship, during which students apply their skills in real-world settings, such as NGOs, academic institutions, research councils, or think tanks.

Graduates of this programme are uniquely positioned to translate evidence into policy and programmes, lead high-impact evaluations, develop culturally resonant tools, and advise on national frameworks in areas such as public health, education, and social development. Many pursue doctoral studies in transformative methodologies, indigenous research ethics, systemic evaluation, or intersectional knowledge production, thereby contributing to the relevance and transformation of psychology in post-apartheid South Africa through Research Psychology at UKZN.

Students complete a defined sequence of core modules, a dissertation, and a full-year internship. The following modules are on offer:

Year 1

• Quantitative Methods (16C)
• Qualitative Methods (16C)
• Applied Research (16C)
• Specialisation Module: Participatory Research and Human Action (16C)
• Community Intervention in Professional Psychology (16C)

Year 1 and 2: Short Dissertation: Research Psychology (128C)

Year 2: Internship Module (Non-Credit Bearing)