Deakin University

Master of Professional Psychology

Delivery: Face to Face
Study Level: Postgraduate
Duration: 12 months

Advance your professional psychology skills through applied learning, supervised practice and workplace experience as you prepare for the final stage of the pathway to general registration.

Course overview

Deakin University’s Master of Professional Psychology builds the advanced capabilities required for ethical, culturally responsive psychological practice. As an accredited fifth-year psychology program, it prepares you to progress to the final year of supervised practice on the pathway towards general registration as a psychologist.

Through practical workshops, simulated case work and placement within an organisation, you will develop skills in psychological assessment, diagnosis and evidence-based intervention. You will also explore practice across the lifespan, working with diverse populations and the application of research to professional decision-making.

After graduating, you can apply to complete one year of supervised practice under the 5+1 internship pathway. The course is delivered at Deakin University’s Burwood campus over one year full-time or two years part-time and includes online seminars, compulsory workshops, face-to-face intensives and supervised professional practice.

Key facts

Delivery

Face to Face

Study level

Postgraduate

Course type

Master's

Duration

12 months (Full time)

Units

Fees

FEE-HELP

Price per unit

From $4,475

Intake

February, 2027

What you will study

To earn the Master of Professional Psychology, you must successfully complete units totalling 8 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 1 credit point.

Core units

Practice and Ethics in Professional Psychology
Psychological Assessment in Practice
Psychological Interview and Intervention Strategies
Professional Practicum A
Psychological Practice Across the Lifespan
Working with Diverse Populations
Applied Methods for Professional Practice
Professional Practicum B

Professional practice

Professional Practicum A and Professional Practicum B combine simulated practice with placement experience within an organisation. The placement program is developed with the placement coordinators and supervising practitioners and students must complete all prescribed placement requirements.

Placement supervisors are registered psychologists and board-approved supervisors. Placement arrangements and attendance requirements vary according to the host organisation.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

To be eligible for this course, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

Completion of a four-year psychology program accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council, with a minimum Honours 2B average or equivalent.
Eligibility for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.

The four-year program may comprise an honours degree or a three-year undergraduate psychology program followed by an approved fourth-year psychology qualification.

Applicants who completed their psychology qualification more than 10 years ago must demonstrate how they have maintained the currency of their Level 2 pre-professional competencies. International qualifications must be assessed as equivalent by the Australian Psychological Society.

Entry is competitive and places are limited. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Supporting documents

Applicants must submit:

A course-specific personal statement.
A current curriculum vitae.
Academic transcripts.
Two referee reports, preferably from academic referees.
Evidence of completing the Casper test.

Referee reports must be submitted through the Psychology Reference Portal. Applicants may also be invited to attend an interview.

English language requirements

Applicants must provide evidence of at least one of the following:

A bachelor’s degree completed in a recognised English-speaking country.
An IELTS overall score of 7.0, with no individual band score below 7.0, or an accepted equivalent.
Other accepted evidence of English language proficiency.

Contact the university for further information.

Mandatory student checks

Students must hold provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia throughout the course.

Before commencing placement, students must also obtain:

A Working with Children Check.
A Police Record Check for each calendar year involving placement.
Any immunisation evidence required by the placement organisation.

Participation requirements

Full-time and part-time students must attend compulsory workshops and weekend intensives throughout the course and participate in at least 80% of scheduled live online seminars.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

Displays broad knowledge of common client presentations across the lifespan and understanding of the theoretical principles and research evidence underlying psychological practice in preparation for the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) internship program, ensuring safe and effective practice aligned with the competencies for complete registration as a psychologist.
Demonstrate written and verbal communication skills and expertise appropriate to professional settings and tailored to clients, carers, colleagues and multi-disciplinary teams.
Ethically use appropriate digital technologies to collect, evaluate and integrate information to support assessment, formulation and treatment plans, as well as monitor outcomes and communicate them to clients, carers and relevant professionals.
Critically evaluate, interpret and synthesise research findings to inform assessments, formulations and interventions and tailor these to the needs of clients/carers and context.
Demonstrate foundation knowledge and skills of evidence-based intervention and management approaches drawn from theoretical frameworks and tailor approaches to meet the needs of diverse client presentations.
Engage in ethical, reflective and professional practice, adhering to codes and legal and regulatory standards, recognising competency limits and scope of practice and demonstrating accountability, ongoing supervision and professional judgment that supports professional functioning and performance.
Develop, maintain and manage respectful, ethical and professional relationships with multidisciplinary team members and relevant others to collaborate effectively in the best interests of the client and the profession.
Demonstrate, report and apply ethical, legal and professional principles as a provisional psychologist within diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts whilst demonstrating reflexivity and culturally responsive practice with a commitment to decolonising psychology practice through meaningful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and cultural perspectives.

Career outcomes

This course provides a pathway into the one-year supervised internship that can lead to general registration as a psychologist. Once registered, graduates may practise psychology in areas such as: