Monash University
Master of Mental Health Science
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 36 months
Enhance your professional knowledge and skills in mental health care with a tailored course that equips you for impactful clinical practice
Course overview
The Department of Psychiatry offers this course in the School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health. This course seeks to develop professional knowledge and skills for clinicians delivering mental health care. Depending on your undergraduate studies, you will select from either child psychotherapy studies or psychiatry. These specialisations aim to meet the specific needs of these disciplines within mental health services. The course can be completed through coursework or for those professionals seeking to build their research capacity, the incorporation of a research project or minor thesis can be added to address that need.
Key facts
What you will study
To qualify for the Master of Mental Health Science award, students must complete a total of 72 credit points based on the courses listed below.
You must complete the following units from your specialisation
Child psychotherapy studies
You must complete the following units
- Foundations of Attachment and Psychoanalytic Developmental Theories 1
- Normal Developmental Observation
- Psychoanalytic and Developmental Theories 2
- Psychodynamic Assessment of Children and Adolescents
- Principles of Child Psychotherapy
- Principles of Adolescent Psychotherapy
- Principles of Short-Term Therapy
- Principles of Working with Parents
OR
Psychiatry
You must complete the following units
- Psychopharmacology And Physical Treatments In Mental Health Care
- Foundations Of Psychiatry 1
- Foundations Of Psychiatry 2
- Foundations Of Psychiatry 3
- Psychiatry Of The Medically Ill
- Child And Adolescent Psychiatry
Entry requirements
An Australian bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a cognate discipline with at least a credit average (60%) or equivalent qualification and relevant work experience approved by the faculty.
English requirements
- Applicants must also meet the English language requirements
University entrance requirements
- Minimum entrance requirements for admission to Monash University, Australia.
Extra Requirements
Applicants must meet the following requirements for their specialisation:
- A cognate discipline for the Child Psychotherapy Studies specialisation, including social work, psychology, medicine, occupational therapy, art therapy, play therapy, music therapy, speech therapy, counselling, education and at least one year of work experience in a child or adolescent mental health program.
- A cognate discipline for the Psychiatry specialisation, including medicine and have completed an intern year to qualify for medical registration.
All applicants must submit a comprehensive CV citing evidence of current and recent employment with a relevant mental health focus.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be able to get credit for your course based on prior formal, non-formal or informal learning. To apply, you will need to provide supporting documentation outlined by the university. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Critically evaluate mental health literature and identify gaps for research
- Evaluate the effectiveness of mental health care interventions using appropriate research tools
- Integrate a high level of discipline-specific knowledge, research-informed skills, critical analysis and evidence-based practice principles into advanced mental health practice
- Initiate new or innovative approaches to the delivery of mental health interventions that empower clients and patients to become knowing and willing partners in the mental health intervention
- Develop, apply and champion evidence-based best practice principles in their designated area of practice (child psychotherapy/psychiatry)
- Provide leadership in mental health care policy and practice reforms
- Exhibit cross-cultural competence and ethical values in applying specialised, expert skills in delivering mental health interventions.
Career outcomes
This course prepares graduates for senior clinical, management, policy and planning mental health positions in clinical and non-clinical settings. Students who choose the Child Psychotherapy specialisation and complete the 8 units in the prescribed order will meet some of the criteria to be eligible to apply for Professional recognition with the Psychotherapy Associations in Australia.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative 2026 first-year fee: $29,800 (domestic full-fee paying place).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 24 credit points (usually four units) per semester or 48 credit points (typically eight units) per year.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- 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.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
