University of Southern Queensland
Master of Professional Psychology
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Offers a flexible, accredited pathway for aspiring psychologists to gain practical skills and supervised experience, all within a supportive digital learning environment.
Course overview
USQ's Master of Professional Psychology, plus one year of supervised practice, will qualify you for a career as a Psychologist. This professional psychology master's and practical experience will prepare you to provide psychological assessment and intervention strategies in various settings.
The Master of Professional Psychology has received accreditation with conditions from the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as a fifth-year program in Psychology.
Upon completion of your Master of Professional Psychology degree and a further year of full-time supervised practice, you will be able to apply for general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. Graduates will also be able to apply for full membership with the Australian Psychological Society after a period of supervised practice.
The external (hybrid or blended mode) offering combines mandatory residential schools on campus at UniSQ Toowoomba with online workshops. Students enrolled in the external mode must also complete a 12-week internship at the Toowoomba Psychology and Counselling Clinic for a minimum of three days per week.
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 $2,124 (CSP)
What you will study
To earn this degree, students must complete eight units.
Coursework courses
Complete the following courses:
- Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues
- Comprehensive Psychological Assessment
- Psychological Treatment and Intervention
- Evidence-based Practice for Psychologists
- Adult Psychopathology
- Child and Adolescent Psychology
Practicum courses
- Psychology Practicum 1*
- Psychology Practicum 2**
* Students must accrue a minimum of 300 hours of practicum experience with an additional minimum of 34 hours of supervision from a registered psychologist who is a board-approved supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia. All students must complete an internship at the Psychology and Counselling clinic (Toowoomba for External students or Ipswich for Ipswich-based students) for a minimum of three days per week for 12 weeks.
** Students must accrue a minimum of 300 hours of practicum experience with an additional minimum of 34 hours of supervision from a registered psychologist who is a board-approved supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia.
Entry requirements
Applicants must have:
- Completed an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)-accredited four-year bachelor's degree (Honours AQF Level 8).
- Hold or be eligible for, immediate Provisional Registration or General Registration from the Psychology Board of Australia.
- Provide two satisfactory referee reports and a report to address the selection criteria (PDF 665KB) indicating your abilities to successfully undertake the professional and research components of the program.
- Provide a CV of your work and study history.
- Provide an academic transcript demonstrating strong academic performance.
- Be assessed in a face-to-face interview with a panel of school staff.
Work and life experience
You may be able to use your work experience and other adjustment factors to increase your selection rank and meet UniSQ's entry requirements.
English language requirements
To meet the English language requirements for this degree, USQ accepts the minimum English language proficiency scores from one of the following tests. Your test must be completed within two years of applying to UniSQ.
- IELTS (Academic): Minimum overall score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 7.0 in the four components - listening, reading, writing and speaking.
- Pearson Test of English: Minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills - listening, reading, writing and speaking.
- TOEFL iBT: Minimum total score of 94 and minimum score in each test section: 24 for listening and reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have previously studied or have relevant work experience, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. This will help reduce the number of courses you must take to finish your program. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
- Select and critically apply an appropriate evidence-based approach to clinical psychology practice that is informed by the scientific practitioner framework.
- Critically evaluate the scope of Clinical Psychology practice, including how Clinical Psychology integrates within an interprofessional context.
- Integrate and apply advanced ethical, legal and professional frameworks in relation to the practice of Clinical Psychology.
- Critically apply a range of advanced skills and theoretical knowledge to conduct comprehensive psychological assessments using various techniques and instruments.
- Evaluate psychological disorders utilising international taxonomies of classification.
- Strategically utilise advanced knowledge and skills in individual and group Clinical Psychology interventions.
- Apply high-level research knowledge and skills to psychological practice.
- Employ a range of high-level technical and communication skills to evaluate and interpret information in oral, written and digital formats.
- Integrate and apply advanced knowledge and skills in providing clinical psychology services across the lifespan in a culturally responsive manner.
- Apply advanced theoretical knowledge and technical skills in the workplace within the scope of Clinical Psychology practice.
Career outcomes
As a graduate, you will be able to find employment as a general psychologist in various public health community services and private practice.
Fees and CSP
Indicative annual fee in 2025: $16,992 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Indicative annual fee in 2025: $29,200 (domestic full-fee paying place)
A student’s annual fee may vary per:
- The number of units studied.
- 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 some 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.