Master of Psychology (Clinical)

2024 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2024 course information
Award granted	Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Deakin course code	H750
Faculty	Faculty of Health
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Online	No
Duration	The Master of Psychology (Clinical) is a two year degree that is designed to enable completion of coursework, practical placement units and the research thesis within these two years. However, in some instances, students may require slightly longer to complete their placement or research thesis.
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2024. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	060023G Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9

Course sub-headings

Course overview

The Master of Psychology (Clinical) prepares you for professional practice as a registered psychologist. Make a profound impact on patients’ lives by diagnosing and treating mental health conditions, and set yourself up for further training in a specialised area, which can lead to area of practice endorsement.

You have worked hard to get to this point. Ready to gain general registration as a psychologist and reach your full potential?

For those seeking general registration as a psychologist, the Master of Psychology (Clinical) is where you might finish your study journey. Upon graduation, you will have the skills, experience and qualifications needed to apply to the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) for general registration. With this in mind, the course is designed to prepare you for the transition from student to professional psychologist. It’s also accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), making it a degree that’s sought-after by employers across the industry.

The course also provides a pathway to further training in order to gain area of practice endorsement with the PsyBA. An endorsement demonstrates a registered psychologist’s high-level knowledge and qualifications in a specialised area, such as clinical psychology or neuropsychology, and can open the door to more advanced roles.

Our clinical psychology teaching team was awarded a Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence award, and our award-winning teaching strategies and learning resources include simulation and competency-based assessment approaches.

Draw on everything you’ve learned in your studies, and add layers of new knowledge to become an expert in your field.

Some of the key areas you will study include:

advanced clinical assessment
psychological intervention
the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions
advanced clinical research methods
biological and neuropsychological perspectives on disorder
issues in professional psychology.

The course exposes you to the many different aspects of clinical psychology, beyond just professional practice. Graduate as a confident, well-rounded psychology professional with training in research, teaching and supervision, program development and evaluation, public policy, and mental health promotion. Tying all of these study areas together is a common thread of evidence-based practice. To create a degree that’s truly evidence-led, we’ve designed the course in consultation with industry partners, ensuring the latest theoretical principles, established knowledge and industry research is embedded within the curriculum.

The extensive practical experience you will gain throughout the course will make your transition into life as a professional psychologist even smoother. Practical learning opportunities allow you to apply your knowledge and skills with real patients in real clinics – invaluable preparation for the challenges of your future career. As a student in our clinical training program, you can work alongside established professionals through some of our key partnerships which are in public and primary mental health through our key partnerships (in particular Barwon Health). These experiences help to prepare you for what lies ahead, they help you to build your professional identity and create networks that support your career development.

Entry into the Master of Psychology (Clinical) is competitive. That’s because Deakin is ranked in the top 1% worldwide for psychology^, and leads all Victorian universities for education experience~, learning resources and support services^#. If you want to join a high-achieving group of students with a shared passion for exploring the human mind and helping others, the Master of Psychology (Clinical) is the course to take your career forward.

Learn more about your career options in psychology.

^QS rankings

~Student Experience Survey 2017, 2018

#Compared university comparison tool compared.edu.au/compare/study-areas

Indicative student workload

The Master of Psychology (Clinical) is a full-time course and as such, it requires a full-time commitment from students. Nevertheless, it is recognised that many students will need to work to support themselves for the duration of their study. Students are advised that working over and above 8 hours per week is likely to impact their progress through the course.

The Master of Psychology (Clinical) program is a multi-campus program across Deakin Burwood (Melbourne) and Deakin Waterfront (Geelong). The face-to-face coursework component is predominantly held at the Burwood Campus in a purpose built clinical teaching facility. Some teaching will be held in Geelong including some full-day clinical teaching workshops while other aspects of the teaching and learning occurs in the online environment. As part of their placement program, trainees will engage in placements in key partnerships across Barwon Health and metropolitan Melbourne as well as rural and regional placement opportunities.

Professional recognition

The Master of Psychology (Clinical) is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), and recognised by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA), the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and its College of Clinical Psychologists. Graduates of the course will be eligible to apply to the PsyBA for general registration as a psychologist and to the APS for full membership.

If you’re seeking membership of the clinical college of the APS and endorsement by the PsyBA as a clinical psychologist, a further two years of approved supervised practice is required. Visit psychology.org.au for more details.

Note: This course is currently accredited at the date of publishing. The eligibility of students for registration by the PsyBA, and for membership of the APS and its clinical college is subject to meeting the requirements of the regulatory body and the professional association. Deakin University makes no representation that students will meet those requirements.

Career opportunities

Upon successfully completing the course, you will become eligible to apply for general registration as a psychologist. Once you’re registered, you will have the qualifications and experience needed to practise as a psychologist.

The course also provides a pathway to further training in order to gain area of practice endorsement with the PsyBA (Clinical Psychology). An endorsement demonstrates a registered psychologist’s high-level knowledge and qualifications in a specialised area, such as clinical psychology or neuropsychology, and can open the door to more advanced roles.

Learn more about psychology pathways and career outcomes.

Participation requirements

Students are required to complete 3 compulsory clinical placements of 2-3 days per week for approximately 20-25 weeks. These placements include at least one placement in the Barwon region.

Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Department of Human Services policy - Police Record Check and Working With Children Check

In accordance with Department of Human Services policy, all students are required to undertake a National Police Record Check prior to clinical placements in each calendar year of their course.

In accordance with the Department of Justice 2007, Working with Children Act 2005, amended 2017, all students are required to undertake a Working with Children Check at the commencement of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check and a Working with Children Check prior to the commencement of clinical placement will not be able to undertake clinical placement and this will impede progress in the course.

Students may also be required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health organisations where they will be undertaking their clinical learning experience. A health organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if the student’s immunisation status is not satisfactory to the health organisation.

Under the regulations of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, Master of Psychology students are required to be provisionally registered from the commencement of enrolment and for the duration of enrolment in their degree. This is a mandatory requirement. Students should apply online for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia as soon as they have been accepted into the degree. Alternatively, a paper form is available on the Board’s website (see Application for provisional registration - APRO-76).

Pathways

Master of Psychology (Clinical) students who wish to enrol in the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) program can apply in the usual manner for entry into the D Psych (Clinical) course at the end of the first year of the M Psych (Clinical), competing with newly applying D Psych (Clinical) students. They must also successfully undertake a Doctoral level thesis confirmation. Successful students will receive Recognition of prior learning for all comparable units completed thus far allowing direct entry into the second year of the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical).

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Display an advanced and integrated knowledge of psychopathology and the theoretical principles underlying the practice of clinical psychology, with respect to evidence-based practice of assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention across the lifespan.
Communication	Compose clearly written case reports; demonstrate effective verbal and interpersonal communication skills using appropriate language to communicate with specialists and non-specialists such as other health professionals, clients and carers within a range of professional settings.
Digital literacy	Expert use of appropriate technologies to collect relevant discipline-specific information; assemble, evaluate, justify and integrate this information to formulate appropriate hypotheses, assessment and treatment approaches and disseminate this information to clients and health professionals.
Critical thinking	Skills in the design and conduct of research; and critically evaluate, synthesise and integrate complex scientific evidence, transform this information into case formulations, assessment, interventions and policy that demonstrate evidence-based professional practice in the field of clinical psychology.
Problem solving	Skills to analyse theoretical frameworks and adapt knowledge and skills from psychological, biological and medical fields to design multiple, creative assessment and treatment approaches tailored to meet the needs of diverse client presentations.
Self-management	Demonstrate ethical and professional practice, showing personal autonomy, accountability, good judgment and reflective practice in all areas of psychological and professional work and scholarship.
Teamwork	Develop, maintain and manage professional, ethical and collaborative relationships with multidisciplinary team members and stakeholders to work effectively together in the best interest of the client and the profession.
Global citizenship	Demonstrate, report and apply ethical, legal and professional principles to work productively as a clinical psychologist within diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts by collaborating and communicating in a self-reflective and culturally sensitive manner.

Course rules

To complete the Master of Psychology (Clinical) students must attain 16 credit points covering three strands: theory, research and practice. Students will complete a minimum of 4 credit points each trimester over two years. All units are core (these are compulsory).

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0 credit point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Course structure

Core units

Level 1 - Trimester 1

DAI001

Academic Integrity Module (0 credit points)

HPS714

Studies in Psychopathology

HPS776

Issues in Professional Psychology

HPS777

Psychological Intervention 1

HPY740

Psychological Assessment 1

Level 1 - Trimester 2

HPS706

Clinical Placement and Case Analysis 1

HPS707

Advanced Clinical Research Methods

HPS708

Psychological Intervention 2

HPS766

Research Thesis A

Level 2 - Trimester 1

HPS709

Clinical Placement and Case Analysis 2

HPS711

Psychological Intervention 3

HPS767

Research Thesis B

HPS779

Psychological Assessment 2

Level 2 - Trimester 2

HPS712

Clinical Placement and Case Analysis 3

HPS778

Psychological Interventions for Clinical Health and Trauma

HPS787

Research Thesis C

Note: Consistent with a developmental approach, there is a prescribed sequence for coursework and placement units such that successful completion of earlier units is required to enrol in later units. Specific information regarding pre-requisites are described in the individual Unit Guides.

Work experience

Placement program

The clinical placements are designed to equip students with a range of professional skills and an awareness of professional issues. Students will benefit from Deakin’s key placement partnerships including Barwon Health and other organisations to ensure they gain experience of across child, adolescent and adult populations. The placement program will be determined jointly by the student, the placement coordinators, and the course leadership team. Each placement requires the full complement of days to be completed. Failure of any one placement may result in exclusion from the course.

Other course information

There are limited CSP places in the Master of Psychology (Clinical). Therefore CSP places are not guaranteed and are allocated according to time of receipt of a completed application.

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Third party arrangements

Quality assurance arrangements

Course design, revision and quality improvement is focussed on design principals provided for in the draft Design Principles for Units and Courses (Deakin). In addition, quality assurance is supported by external accreditation by the APAC which occurs on a 5 year cycle. External Industry feedback is provided for by the contribution of a well-engaged Advisory Board and is incorporated to annual and major course review processes. This is supplemented by robust student feedback with the nomination of Student Representation at each Course level who feed into mid and post Semester Clinical Team meetings and annual Course reviews.

Research and research-related study

As per APAC, It is a requirement that accredited Masters Level Programs ensure that graduates have investigated a substantive individual research question relevant to the discipline of psychology. This is equivalent to a Bachelor Honours Degree or Graduate Diploma Research project specifically developed over 3 (4 credit points) Units (Research Thesis A, B, and C) and supported by the completion of Advanced and Applied Research methods (1 credit point).

Furthermore, APAC accreditation assumes ongoing compliance with the HESF for the accreditation and delivery of programs of study, including meeting the requirements of the AQF Higher education programs at all levels of the AQF accredited by APAC. The Master of Psychology (Clinical) is a Level 9 with graduates demonstrating application of knowledge and skills via the planning and executing of a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship.