Handbook

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Overview

The combined Doctor of Philosophy/Master of Psychology (Clinical) degree program has an emphasis on research training in clinical fields. The combined degree program requires a minimum of four full-time years to complete, and offers advanced training in research skills that are particularly relevant to clinical areas. It is accredited by … For more content click the Read More button below. The program structure requires students to work on their research project during the entire candidature until submission, and the same research-related requirements as for the regular PhD degree (Program code 1400) will apply for the first two years of this program. University regulations and guidelines for good practice in postgraduate research supervision will apply to this program. Students will concurrently undertake a compulsory coursework component, which is set out below. The coursework program focuses on training in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of people with a range of psychological problems or disabilities, and the training stems from a strong theoretical and empirical background in experimental clinical psychology. See UNSW Higher Degree Research Learning Outcomes. Minimum Entry Requirements Prior to submitting an application, it must be established if supervision is available within the School. An academic’s willingness and ability to supervise is not a guarantee of admission. Applications must be approved by the School, the Faculty and the Graduate Research School, and an applicant for whom appropriate supervision or research infrastructure is not available cannot be admitted. The minimum academic entrance requirement is completion of an accredited four-year, or three-year plus a fourth year, APAC-accredited sequence in psychology, including a major research thesis, completed within the last 10 years with Honours Class 1 (85%) or equivalent. Psychology qualifications from overseas must include a major research thesis/project and must be assessed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) as comparable to a four-year APAC-accredited sequence of study in psychology completed in Australia. Applicants should refer to both the School of Psychology’s How to Apply page, and Graduate Research School's website for more detail about the application procedure and requirements. Registration as a Provisional Psychologist Enrolled students must register as provisional psychologists prior to program commencement. Registration must be maintained for the duration of their enrolment. Applicants should familiarise themselves with the relevant Registration Standards for the psychology profession. The requirements of these standards must be met before an application for registration as a provisional psychologist can be approved. All applicants, domestic and international, are encouraged to use AHPRA’s Pathways diagram for all professions (under ‘Additional resources’) to guide their understanding of the Registration Standard: English Language Skills.

It is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as the fifth and sixth years of study leading to full membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and registration as a psychologist with the national Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA). After completing a further 1.5 years of full-time equivalent supervised practice, graduates of the program are eligible to apply for endorsement as a Clinical Psychologist and for full membership of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.

The program structure requires students to work on their research project during the entire candidature until submission, and the same research-related requirements as for the regular PhD degree (Program code 1400) will apply for the first two years of this program. University regulations and guidelines for good practice in postgraduate research supervision will apply to this program.

Students will concurrently undertake a compulsory coursework component, which is set out below. The coursework program focuses on training in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of people with a range of psychological problems or disabilities, and the training stems from a strong theoretical and empirical background in experimental clinical psychology.

See UNSW Higher Degree Research Learning Outcomes.

Minimum Entry Requirements

Prior to submitting an application, it must be established if supervision is available within the School. An academic’s willingness and ability to supervise is not a guarantee of admission.

Applications must be approved by the School, the Faculty and the Graduate Research School, and an applicant for whom appropriate supervision or research infrastructure is not available cannot be admitted.

The minimum academic entrance requirement is completion of an accredited four-year, or three-year plus a fourth year, APAC-accredited sequence in psychology, including a major research thesis, completed within the last 10 years with Honours Class 1 (85%) or equivalent.

Psychology qualifications from overseas must include a major research thesis/project and must be assessed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) as comparable to a four-year APAC-accredited sequence of study in psychology completed in Australia.

Applicants should refer to both the School of Psychology’s How to Apply page, and Graduate Research School's website for more detail about the application procedure and requirements.

Registration as a Provisional Psychologist

Enrolled students must register as provisional psychologists prior to program commencement. Registration must be maintained for the duration of their enrolment.

Applicants should familiarise themselves with the relevant Registration Standards for the psychology profession. The requirements of these standards must be met before an application for registration as a provisional psychologist can be approved.

All applicants, domestic and international, are encouraged to use AHPRA’s Pathways diagram for all professions (under ‘Additional resources’) to guide their understanding of the Registration Standard: English Language Skills.

Stand Alone Programs

Click on the link below to find out more about each individual program.

Double Degree Structure

Students must complete,

Research thesis (PhD)

Coursework component (MPsychol(Clin))

1000 hours of supervised placement experience.

Coursework Component

Students will concurrently undertake the compulsory coursework and professional placement components, typically across the first three years of the program. The program concerns itself with adult, adolescent and child clinical psychology, neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation, and adheres to the scientist-practitioner model for clinical training, emphasising cognitive-behavioural approaches to the understanding and management of clinical programs.

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please read the Double Degree Program rules as some specific rules apply to particular Double Degree combinations.

You are responsible for ensuring you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and advice from your Program Authority. myUNSW enrolment checks that you have met enrolment requirements such as pre-requisites for individual courses but not that you are enrolling in courses that will count towards your program.

Additional Information

Supervision

If you are considering applying for a PhD with the School of Psychology, you must first make contact with the School. This will help to establish that your research interests are aligned with those of the School and Faculty, and that there is suitable supervision available for your particular area of research. You can search the School's Areas of Expertise page, or the Find a Researcher page for more information.

For further information on policies, procedures and forms, see the Graduate Research website. For additional admission information see the Admission to Higher Degree Research Programs Procedure.

Professional Placement

Each Professional and Ethical Practice (PEP) course is linked with either 1) pre-requisite clinical training workshops or 2) satisfactory progress on or successful completion of a professional placement. Until the pre-requisite clinical training workshops or any professional placement component of a PEP course have been successfully completed (or satisfactory progress has been made), a PE grade will be applied to the course. Failure to meet placement requirements and/or successfully complete the placement (as determined by both the Placement Coordinator and Program Director) will lead to failure of the PEP course. If the pre-requisite clinical training workshops or any professional placement is not completed to a satisfactory standard, or placement requirements have not been met, a UF grade will be applied to the PEP course. Hours from a professional placement that is not completed to a satisfactory standard will NOT count towards the minimum 1000 hours of supervised practical placement experience required for completion of the program.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning cannot be granted for the professional placement or research thesis components of this program because the program is designed to integrate theory, practice and research in order to develop the required competencies.

Course Fail

Should a student fail a course*, approval to re-enrol in the failed course will be at the discretion of the Program Director (and Placement Coordinator, in the case of PEP courses)^. If approval is not granted, the Program Director may recommend discontinuation from the Combined PhD/Master of Psychology program and a transfer into the stand-alone Doctor of Philosophy program (Program Code 1400).

* Any of the 13 courses required for the Master of Psychology component of the program, including any of the six PEP courses.

^ In Australia, the psychology profession is regulated by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act as overseen by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). The School of Psychology is responsible for adhering to federally legislated professional and accreditation standards for training provisionally registered psychologists in full compliance with the APS Code of Ethics and Ethical Guidelines. Master of Psychology students, as provisionally registered psychologists, are expected to display the competencies, professionalism and reputable behaviours the discipline demands. In making their recommendation, the Program Director will consider these factors not simply from an academic standpoint, but as the discipline's chief authority on such professional and ethical matters within the program.

Should a student disagree with a recommendation made by the Program Director, their avenue of appeal will be to the Head of School and/or School Board.

Program Fees

At UNSW fees are generally charged at course level and therefore dependent upon individual enrolment and other factors such as student's residency status. For generic information on fees and additional expenses of UNSW programs, click on one of the following:

Pre-2019 Handbook Editions

Access past handbook editions (2018 and prior)

Faculty
Faculty: The primary academic unit in which related disciplines of teaching and research are conducted.

Managing Faculty

Campus

Sydney

Study Level
Study Level refers to the academic level of a program, specialisation or course.

Postgraduate

Typical duration:

3 - 4 Year(s)

Intake Period

Term 1

Academic Calendar

Minimum Units of Credit

144

Award Type(s)

Masters (Coursework)
Doctor of Philosophy

Award(s)
Award(s): Qualification upon completion (all awards offered by UNSW are accredited by UNSW and align with the Australian Qualifications Framework).

Master of Psychology (Clinical) - MPsychol(Clin)
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

CRICOS Code

028106D

Psychology (Clinical) / Psychology

1404

144 Units of Credit