Key facts
Locations
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course overview
Build advanced skills in psychological assessment, ethics and therapeutic interventions with the Master of Professional Psychology. This fifth-year, APAC-accredited psychology course prepares you for a final year of supervised practice that leads to general registration as a psychologist.
If you want to elevate your understanding of human behaviour to an expert level, why not do it at a university that’s ranked #1 in Victoria for education experiences in postgraduate psychology?
The Master of Professional Psychology is all about preparing you for the next stage of your career. If your aim is to progress to the one-year internship that leads to registration as a psychologist, you will graduate with professional practice skills that allow you to thrive in your chosen setting. If registration isn’t your goal and you’re ready to explore new, more challenging roles in the workforce right away, the specialised knowledge you will develop throughout the course set you up to make a positive impact in people’s lives from day one.
Haven’t mapped out your path beyond graduation? This course exposes you to the many different roles, topics and challenges that exist within psychology, allowing you to sample different career options before making your choice.
Key areas of study include:
- psychology across the lifespan
- working with diverse populations
- ethics in professional psychology
- psychological intervention strategies such as cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches
- the application of different psychological assessment methods such as personality, intelligence and ability tests.
All of these skills are ingrained through practical experience. Take your learning beyond textbooks to participate in demonstrations, role-play, individualised feedback and collaboration sessions that give you a chance to apply your skills to authentic scenarios. These techniques are a step up from those learned at the undergraduate level and allow you to apply more complex interventions to a broader range of psychological symptoms.
Your studies will be enriched further by professional practicums that consist of three key activities: workshops, placement and supervision. Practicums are another opportunity to apply the principles learned in the classroom in real-life settings. Learn on your feet, build relationships and problem-solve under the guidance of established professionals.
Combine this extensive practical experience with a strong focus on applied research to graduate as a well-rounded professional. Learn how to apply research to your decision-making, become confident at critically analysing research and discover what it takes to conduct your own.
Entry into the Master of Professional Psychology 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 Professional Psychology is the course to take your career forward.
Learn more about your career options in psychology.
Read MoreCourse information
- Award granted
- Master of Professional Psychology
- Year
2024 course information
- Deakin code
- H744
- CRICOS code?
- 111856F Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
- Level
- Higher Degree Coursework (Masters and Doctorates)
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Course structure
To complete the Master of Professional Psychology students must attain 8 credit points. All 8 units are core. The course has a strong emphasis on the development of skills and evidence-based practice. Students will complete a minimum of 4 credit points each trimester over one year for full-time study or part-time equivalent.
Students are required to complete and pass both Practicum units. Failure of placement is grounds for exclusion.
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.
Core units
Level 1 - Trimester 1
Level 1 - Trimester 2
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
Trimester 1 - March
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Waterfront (Geelong)
Additional course information
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Mandatory student checks
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
Workload
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include online lectures, practicals, face-to-face intensives, placements and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Participation requirements
All students, whether full-time or part-time, will be required to attend a number of compulsory workshops and weekend intensives throughout the course. In addition, students will be expected to attend at least 80% of blackboard collaborate sessions for their Units across the year. Students should expect to commit 10-12 hours of study per week per unit. Requirements for placements will vary depending upon where a student completes their practicum.
Work experience
Placement program
Placements are designed to equip students with a range of professional skills and an awareness of professional issues in psychological practice. You will have placements in at least two different settings. Your placement program will be determined jointly by you, the placement coordinators, and the practitioners supervising the placements. Contracts will be drawn up which will clearly specify the skills to be taught and the responsibilities of the student and placement supervisor. Placement supervisors are registered psychologists, eligible for membership of the Australian Psychological Society. Each placement requires the full complement of days to be completed. Failure of any one placement may result in exclusion from the course.
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
Please note, there are limited places in this course and entry is competitive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible. Applications for this course may close prior to the published closing date if all places are filled.
Academic requirements
To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet all the following criteria:
- completion of a four year sequence of study* in an accredited psychology program which meets national registration requirements
- eligibility for Associate membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) or equivalent
*The four-year sequence may be either an honours program or the combination of a three-year undergraduate degree including a psychology major and an approved postgraduate program.
If you are an International applicant, you will need to have your qualifications assessed by APS to determine if these are comparable to an APAC sequence of study in psychology. Further information regarding international qualification assessment can be found at the Australian Psychological Society.
English language proficiency requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country
- IELTS overall score of 7.0 (with no band score less than 7.0) or equivalent
- other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
Non-academic requirements
You will be required to provide two referee reports with your application. Two academic referees are preferred but where a second academic referee cannot be sought by an applicant, a professional referee may be suitable if they are in the position to respond to the criteria assessed in the referee reports. Information on how to obtain and share references can be found at the Psychology Reference Portal.
Preferred referees include 4th year supervisors and course directors from your university, however we will also consider other academic referees with working relationships within the area of psychology. You are not required to include referee information through the Deakin University direct application portal.
Admissions information
Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.
Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn’t have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you are able to commit to your study.
Recognition of prior learning
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the Recognition of prior learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Normal University regulation and guidelines pertain to students applying for Recognition of prior learning within this program. In all cases credit will need to be determined on a case-by-case basis with maximum credit granted being consistent with university policy.
Credit for coursework can be approved only if it is strictly equivalent to coursework in the current course and was successfully completed in an APAC accredited course within the previous ten years. Credit for placement experience completed as part of their current employment can only be given if it is of direct relevance to the course, would ordinarily be undertaken by a qualified psychologist, and if supervision fulfils all of the usual requirements of course placements. Credit cannot be provided for previous employment experience prior to entry into the course as it is not integrated into the overall learning undertaken during the course.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Learn more about fees and your options for paying.
Fees and charges vary depending on your course, your fee category and the year you started. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit www.deakin.edu.au/fees.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship could help you pay for your course fees, living costs and study materials. If you've got something special to offer Deakin - or maybe you just need a bit of extra support - we've got a scholarship opportunity for you. Search or browse through our scholarships
Postgraduate bursary
If you’re a Deakin alumnus commencing a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible to receive a 10% reduction per unit on your enrolment fees.
Apply now
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service. For information on the application process and closing dates, see checklist (PDF, 156.0KB) and how to apply web page. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.
Fill out the application form and submit to a Deakin International office or take your application form to a Deakin representative for assistance
For information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply webpage.
If you’re still having problems, please contact Deakin International for assistance.
Entry pathways
H744 is a stand-alone, post graduate course that has no direct pathway to another Deakin course. Nearly 100% of graduates transition directly to full-time work. A small number of students with research aptitude and interest enrol in the PhD program.
Careers
Career outcomes
This course is a pathway into the one-year internship that leads to general registration as a psychologist. Once you’re registered, you will have the qualifications and experience needed to practise psychology in areas such as:
- mental health settings
- schools
- rehabilitation settings
- disability
- aged care
- return to work
- forensic settings
- private practice
Not looking to become a registered psychologist? You’ll still have a broad and exciting range of career opportunities to explore when you graduate from this course. Your deep understanding of advanced psychological assessment methods combined with your client-centred approach to practice will equip you for roles in:
- community welfare and case management
- human resources
- education
- mental health rehabilitation
- drug and alcohol services
- public health
- youth and family support.
Professional recognition
The Master of Professional Psychology is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) in accordance with the Accreditation Standards for Psychology Program.
When you graduate, you will have the right skills, experience and qualification to secure a final year of supervised practice in the field. After this one-year supervised internship, you will be eligible to apply for generalist registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) under the '5+1 internship model' for registration.
Eligibility for registration as a general psychologist through the PsyBA is subject to meeting the requirements of the regulatory body (including the National Psychology Examination). Deakin makes no representation that students will meet those requirements.
Course learning outcomes
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Displays broad knowledge of common client presentations seen across the lifespan and understanding of the theoretical principles and research underlying psychological practice that prepares students to undertake the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) internship program leading to full registration as a Psychologist. |
| 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 | Use 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 | Critically evaluate and integrate scientific evidence and under supervision, transform this information into case formulations, assessment, interventions and policy that demonstrate evidence-based practice in the field of psychology. |
| Problem solving | Under the guidance of a supervisor, analyse theoretical frameworks and adapt foundation knowledge and skills to design evidence-based intervention and management approaches tailored to meet the needs of diverse client presentations. |
| Self-management | Demonstrates ethical and professional practice, showing an appreciation of the need for continued supervision, accountability, good judgment and reflective practice in all areas of psychological and professional work and complies with the National Law requirements for conduct, health and performance. |
| 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 provisional psychologist within diverse social cultural and environmental contexts by collaborating and communicating in a self-reflective and culturally sensitive manner. |
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