Overview

The Master of Psychology (Clinical) program began in 1971. The School's theoretical orientation has primarily been one of experimental empiricism, and the Clinical program adheres to the scientist-practitioner model for clinical training. The program has an emphasis on cognitive-behavioural approaches to the understanding and management of clinical issues. The program … For more content click the Read More button below.

Program Structure

Students must complete 96 UOC when taken as a standalone program.

The program consists of three components, all of which are compulsory, totalling 96 UOC:

1. Coursework - Weekly lectures and seminars with associated written forms of assessment (42 UOC)
2. Professional Practice - Completion of a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practice within the School Clinic and in field clinical settings, weekly Clinical meetings and Skills Training Workshops (36 UOC)
3. A Research Thesis (18 UOC).

Enrolment Disclaimer

Please note that this Handbook is a comprehensive catalogue of our offerings and includes courses that can be taken to satisfy program requirements irrespective as to their availability for a particular year. Availability of courses is best checked using filters on this site or on the class timetable site.

You are responsible for ensuring that you enrol in courses according to your program requirements and by following the advice of 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 requirements.

Sample Programs

Admission Requirements

Entry Requirements

Minimum Entry Requirements
Limitations on Recognition of Prior Learning

Special Admission Requirements

CV
Interview
Referee report

Program Requirements

Participation and Enrolment Requirements

Other

Internship, Placement and Exchange Opportunities

The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) Accreditation Standards require candidates in this program to complete a minimum of 1000 hours in professional placements

Compulsory Training Component

The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) Accreditation Standards require candidates in this program to complete a minimum of 1000 hours in professional placements.

Progression Requirements

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.

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 program.

* Any of the 16 courses required for the program, including thesis and 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.

For more information on university policy on progression requirements please visit Academic Progression

Associated Programs

Related Double Degree

Master of Psychology (Clinical) - MPsychol(Clin)
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
1404 - Psychology (Clinical) / Psychology

Professional Outcomes

Accreditations

Australian Psychology Accreditation Council

Professional Recognition

Graduates are eligible to apply for full membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS - https://www.psychology.org.au) and registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA - https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au). Graduates of the program are also eligible for Associate Membership of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists. After completing a Psychology Board of Australia approved Clinical Psychology registrar program (further two years of full-time equivalent supervised practice), graduates of the program are eligible to apply for APS College of Clinical Psychology Fellowship and endorsement as a Clinical Psychologist.

Recognition of Achievement

Award with Excellence
For more information, please visit:
The Award with Excellence is awarded in coursework masters programs, including Masters (Extension) but with the exception of Masters (Extended) such as JD and MD, when a Weighted Average Mean (WAM) of at least 80% has been achieved and at least 50% of the requirements of the award are completed at UNSW. All eligible programs will award 'with Excellence' except in special circumstances where approval of Academic Board has been given for a program to opt out.

Additional Information

Participation and Enrolment Requirements

All Master of Psychology students must meet registration standards developed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) in order to register as provisional psychologists. If a student is not approved to be registered as a provisional psychologist they will not be able to continue with the program.

Prospective applicants, regardless of current residency or citizenship status, should familiarise themselves with the registration standards and are encouraged to review AHPRA's "Pathways diagram" relating to the English language skills standard.

Prospective applicants should also familiarise themselves with the program's inherent requirements.


Study load and duration

The program does not strictly follow the University’s academic calendar, meaning that trainees should expect to have commitments prior to official teaching period start dates and past official teaching period end dates. A modified progression may be negotiated in close consultation with the program team.

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.

Course Fail

Should a student fail any 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 program.

^ 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.

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)