La Trobe University
Master of Clinical Psychology
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Explore essential topics and develop skills in writing professional assessment reports, performing clinic intake assessments and conducting client casework.
Course overview
You'll learn practical skills and knowledge essential for a career in professional clinical psychology. The curriculum covers areas such as cognitive behavioural therapy, child and adolescent mental health, psychopathology, counselling skills, psychological assessment and treatment and advanced psychotherapy process skills.
You'll also explore the ethical and professional issues associated with work in this field and develop skills in writing professional-standard assessment reports suitable for various referral agencies or contexts.
During your clinical placement practicum, you'll perform clinic intake assessments and conduct case work with clients, including face-to-face assessment and intervention with adults and children.
You'll be required to work on a research project during your program. Working collaboratively with your research supervisor, you'll address a research question relevant to clinical psychology and produce a research report.
As a graduate, you'll have the relevant skills and knowledge to work with adults and children in various clinical settings (such as community health centres, schools, hospitals, prisons, applied research facilities and private practice).
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
From $592 (CSP)
What you will study
To qualify for the Master of Clinical Psychology award, students must complete a total of 240 credit points across two years. Each subject is valued at 15 credit points, unless otherwise indicated.
- Academic Integrity Module
- Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents (15 credit points)
- Clinical Practicum A (15 credit points)
- Clinical Practicum B (15 credit points)
- Ethics and Skills for Professional Practice (15 credit points)
- Foundation Skills in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (15 credit points)
- Psychological Assessment (15 credit points)
- Psychopathology PSY5PPY (15 credit points)
- Research Master's A (15 credit points)
- Advanced Process Skills (15 credit points)
- Advanced Research Methods (15 credit points)
- Assessment and Treatment of Major Disorders (15 credit points)
- Health and Mental Health Practice (15 credit points)
- Advanced Clinical Practicum A (30 credit points)
- Advanced Clinical Practicum B (30 credit points)
Entry requirements
Prerequisites
- APAC-accredited fourth-year psychology program..
- APAC-Accredited H2A in Honours year.
- Applicants must have completed their degree within the last 10 years.
- WAM - Weighted Average Mark (WAM) 75%.
- Specialisation - compulsory: Psychology.
Selection criteria
- Submit three referee reports with your application. At least one of these should be from an academic referee and at least one from a professional referee (i.e., you can submit two academic referee reports and one professional referee report, or one academic referee report and two professional referee reports). References should be submitted to www.psychologyreference.com.au.
- All applicants must complete and submit a Personal Statement.
- All applicants must complete and submit the Professional Experience Form.
- The University will access your official transcript upon application.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit for previous study (advanced standing) is the recognition of prior study or learning that can be counted towards a qualification. This can reduce the number of subjects required to complete your course. The amount of credit received depends on the level and relevance of your previous study and the number of subjects completed.
The University will designate courses for which admission is limited to Year 1. In these cases, credit is limited. Please take a look at the list of limited-entry courses.
Please visit the Advanced Standing webpage to check if this course is available for credit.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Apply integrated practical skills in clinical psychology with a critical understanding and mastery of the underpinning theory and evidence base.
- Engage in clinical psychology placements and practical experience that includes a wide range of clients, types of professional practice, multi-disciplinary teams and service delivery systems.
- Develop new understandings and concepts in clinical psychology, integrating research skills into clinical practice.
- Exemplify high standards of professional integrity by identifying and discussing the ethical basis of professional practice and legal and practical issues likely to be encountered in clinical psychology practice.
- Demonstrate a flexible and reflective approach to clinical psychology practice, research and service development.
- Justify and sensitively communicate outcomes of psychological assessments, professional decisions and research in psychology to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Career outcomes
This degree will provide you with the training required to apply for general registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (Psyba) and to commence specialist registrar training towards clinical psychologist endorsement with the Psyba. Clinical psychologists are equipped to work with children, adolescents and adults in various clinical settings, including schools, hospitals, prisons, consulting firms, market research companies, academic and applied research facilities and private practice.
Fees and CSP
Estimated fees per year 2026: $38,000 (domestic full-fee paying place).
Estimated fees per year 2026 : $4,738 (Commonwealth Supported Place).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of 120 credit points for one year.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- 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 unit you're enrolled in.
- Depending on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
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.
