University of Sydney
Master of Medicine (Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy)
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 36 months
Empowers clinicians to decode the lasting impact of trauma and deliver care that heals from the inside out, no matter where they're logging in Australia.
Course overview
The Master of Medicine (Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy) teaches an approach that helps people with personality or anxiety disorders, dysthymia, post-traumatic disorders, chronic depression, somatisation and other conditions in which trauma is a contributing factor.
This course is suitable for psychiatry registrars, CMOs and psychiatrists, general practitioners or other medical practitioners who wish to develop a career in psychotherapy. It has been designed to meet the needs of clinicians for training in psychotherapy and trauma-informed care.
Key facts
What you will study
Students must complete 48 credit points, including:
- 12 credit points of compulsory units of study
- 24 credit points of stream-specific units of study
- 12 credit points of stream-specific units of study or general elective units of study
Unless otherwise indicated, each unit is worth three credit points.
- Psychotherapy Research Methods (6 credit points)
- Critiquing Contemporary Practice A
- Critiquing Contemporary Practice B
Entry requirements
Admission to the Master of Medicine (Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy) requires a medical degree from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification, including:
- Minimum 12 months’ experience in a clinical area related to mental health.
- Current professional indemnity insurance to practise psychotherapy in Australia.
- Satisfactory performance at an interview as required.
English language requirements
If English is your first language, you may be able to meet the English language requirements if you have citizenship or permanent long-term residency (minimum ten years) and completed secondary or higher education (tertiary) studies recognised by the University in an approved English-speaking country.
If English is not your first language, you can prove English proficiency with an approved English skills test within two years of commencing the course.
Required scores:
- IELTS score: A minimum score of 7.0 overall and a minimum of 6.5 in each band.
- TOEFL - IBT score: A minimum result of 96 overall, including a minimum result of 20 in Reading, Listening and Speaking and 22 in Writing.
- Pearson's Test of English: A minimum result of 72 overall and a minimum result of 64 in each band.
Contact the university or visit its website for more details.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Related study may be credited towards your degree. This may also include relevant work experience for some postgraduate courses. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Graduates of this course are trained to deal effectively with people who suffer from:
- Personality disorders
- Complex traumatic and dissociative disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Dysthymia
- Chronic depression
- Somatisation
- Other conditions in which chronic complex trauma is a contributing factor
The therapeutic approach is based on the Conversational Model, but also incorporates concepts from other schools and theories, including self-psychology, intersubjectivity, development, attachment, trauma, memory systems and neuroscience.
Graduates and affiliates have become leaders and change champions in this area.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Total indicative amount in 2026: $35,000 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The indicative amount to complete this course in 2026 is calculated based on the total credit points (48 credit points).
A student’s fee may vary depending on:
- 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.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students.
