Master of Psychology (Clinical)

What you will study

To earn the Master of Psychology (Clinical), you must successfully complete units totalling 16 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 1 credit point.

All units are compulsory and must be completed in the prescribed sequence.

Core units

Level 1 – Trimester 1

• Studies in Psychopathology
• Issues in Professional Psychology
• Psychological Intervention 1
• Psychological Assessment 1

Level 1 – Trimester 2

• Clinical Placement and Case Analysis 1
• Applied Methods for Professional Practice
• Psychological Intervention 2
• Research Thesis A

Level 2 – Trimester 1

• Clinical Placement and Case Analysis 2
• Psychological Intervention 3
• Research Thesis B
• Psychological Assessment 2

Level 2 – Trimester 2

• Clinical Placement and Case Analysis 3
• Clinical Health Psychology
• Research Thesis C (2 credit points)

Research Thesis A, Research Thesis B and Research Thesis C collectively comprise the 4-credit-point independent research project. All three units must be successfully completed.

The research component is supported by Applied Methods for Professional Practice and requires students to investigate a substantive research question relevant to psychology.

Clinical placements

Students must complete three compulsory clinical placements involving attendance for two to three days per week over approximately 20 to 25 weeks. At least one placement must be completed in the Barwon region.

Placements may be undertaken across metropolitan Melbourne, Geelong and other regional or rural locations. They may occur during standard university holiday periods, and each placement requires completion of all prescribed placement days.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

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

• Successful completion of a four-year tertiary psychology program accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council, with a minimum Honours 2A average or equivalent.
• Eligibility for registration as a provisional psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.

The fourth year may comprise an accredited honours program or a graduate diploma.

Applicants who completed their four-year psychology sequence more than 10 years ago must demonstrate how they have maintained the recency of their Level 2 pre-professional psychology competencies.

Internationally qualified applicants must have their qualifications assessed by the Australian Psychological Society as comparable to an accredited Australian psychology sequence before applying.

Selection also considers academic merit, research potential, professional attributes, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation and regulatory requirements and individual circumstances. Entry is competitive and only complete applications will be considered. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Indigenous Entry Stream

Applicants recognised as Indigenous Australians must meet all of the following requirements:

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

Applicants whose four-year psychology sequence was completed more than 10 years ago must demonstrate how they have maintained the recency of their Level 2 pre-professional psychology competencies.

Supporting documents

Applicants must submit:

• A personal statement.
• A curriculum vitae.
• A completed Casper test.
• Academic transcripts for all tertiary study.
• Two referee reports submitted through the Psychology Reference Portal.
• Evidence of English language proficiency, where required.
• Evidence of intermission or changes in candidature if previously enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program, where relevant.
• Evidence of any name change, where relevant.

Personal statement

The personal statement must be no more than one page and should address:

• The applicant’s interest in clinical psychology.
• Relevant paid or volunteer experience and how it has prepared the applicant for clinical psychology training.
• The relevance of Deakin University’s clinical psychology program to the applicant’s aspirations and circumstances.

Referee reports

Two academic referees are preferred. Suitable referees may include fourth-year supervisors, course directors or other lecturers and supervisors familiar with the applicant’s academic work.

Where a second academic referee is unavailable, a professional referee may be accepted if they can address the relevant assessment criteria.

Casper test and interview

All applicants must complete the online Casper situational judgement test. The test takes approximately 65–85 minutes and has a fee payable by the applicant.

Applicants may also be invited to an interview as part of the selection process. 

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 obtain and maintain provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia from the commencement of enrolment and throughout the course.

Students must also complete:

• A Working with Children Check at the commencement of the course.
• A Police Record Check before commencing placement in each calendar year of the course.
• Any immunisation declarations or evidence required by the relevant placement organisation.

Failure to obtain the required registration or checks may prevent students from undertaking placement and delay progression through the course.

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

• Apply advanced psychological knowledge of aetiology, progression and recovery from psychopathology and relevant taxonomies to culturally safe assessment and identification of psychological disorders, current functioning and risk to self and others.
• Display advanced knowledge of psychological theories and scientific methods, including through appropriate application of culturally responsive and evidence-based clinical psychology assessment and treatment across the lifespan.
• Communicate safely and effectively with clients, carers, and colleagues, discussing the risks and benefits of assessment and intervention in various settings, including health and medical settings where clinical psychologists work.
• Ethically use various digital technologies, including research databases, eHealth and artificial intelligence applications, to support evidence-based clinical psychology practice, research, innovation and evaluation.
• Critically evaluate, interpret and synthesise research findings with assessment data to inform formulation, diagnoses and treatment approaches for clients and apply these appropriately to the context.
• Demonstrate and apply an understanding of outcome-based and evidence-based treatment and assessment approaches relevant to clinical psychology, including through collaborative goal setting and client feedback and ongoing evaluation of symptom change and other therapeutic outcomes.
• Proactively engage in reflection and supervision to identify strengths and areas for development and the impact of culture, values, beliefs, biases and self-care practices on one’s practice; develop and implement related goals to practise competently in line with clinical psychology practice standards, codes of ethical practice and relevant legal frameworks.
• Operate effectively within intra- and inter-disciplinary teams, respecting diverse cultural perspectives, skills, contributions and practice within professional and cultural competence boundaries across various settings where clinical psychologists operate.
• Practise clinical psychology ethically and legally in culturally informed, trauma-aware and neuro-affirming ways. Apply knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples’ psychology frameworks and demonstrate a commitment to decolonising clinical psychology practice.

Career outcomes

Clinical psychologists assess, diagnose and treat psychological and mental health conditions ranging from mild concerns to severe and complex presentations. They may work with infants, children, adolescents, adults and older adults.

Professional directions may include:

• Clinical psychology practice
• Psychological assessment and intervention
• Mental health prevention and promotion programs
• Research
• Teaching and supervision
• Program development and evaluation
• Public policy
• Activities supporting psychological health for individuals, families and groups

Graduates must satisfy the applicable registration and endorsement requirements before describing themselves as endorsed clinical psychologists.

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2027: $6,579 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Indicative annual fee in 2027: $34,800 (Full-fee paying place)

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

• The number of units studied.
• Choice of units.
• Credit from previous study or work experience.
• Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

• Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
• Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
• Reviewed and adjusted each year.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.