Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Meet the requirements for registration as a psychologist. Learn at the Thompson Institute, a world-class hub for mental health research, teaching and clinical services, close to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. The Institute addresses mental health in the community, particularly for youth, adolescents and older community members.
In this program you will:
- Complete three major components—coursework in professional and clinical psychology, supervised practicum placements, and a research project and thesis
- Participate in placements involving supervised working as a provisional psychologist, in numerous settings, beginning in the University’s Psychology Clinic
- Review relevant literature, design and conduct a study, data collection and analysis, and prepare a thesis
This program is offered at USC Thompson Institute. Applications are closed for Semester 1, 2023.
Location
CRICOS code
Duration
Full-time or equivalent part-time Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.Indicative fees
Indicative 2023 fees (A$)
CSP / Fee-paying Annual fee / Estimated total feeStart
- Semester 1
For Thompson Institute (TI) students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast Campus
- Start
-
- Semester 1
- Delivery mode
-
- Blended Learning
- Total courses
- 16
- Total units
- 192
- Duration
- 2 years 2 years
- CRICOS code
- 070701B
- UniSC program code
- AR703
- Program coordinator
Required courses (16) 192 units
PSY700 Advanced and Transcultural Counselling
PSY701 Advanced Psychological Assessment and Reporting
PSY702 Clinical Psychological Practice 1
PSY703 Practicum Placement 1
PSY704 Advanced Research Design and Methods
PSY705 Clinical Psychological Practice 2
PSY706 Practicum Placement 2
PSY707 Research Project 1
PSY750 Ethical Professional Practice of Psychology
PSY751 Clinical Psychological Practice 3
PSY752 Practicum Placement 3
PSY753 Research Project 2
PSY754 Clinical Health Psychology and Psychopharmacology
PSY755 Research Project 3
PSY756 Research Project 4
PSY757 Practicum Placement 4
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all UniSC courses are available on every UniSC campus.
This study sequence reflects the current program structure. Continuing students must follow their commencing structure, which can be found in the previous student handbooks.
The entry requirements for admission to the Master of Psychology (Clinical) are:
- Successful completion of an APAC accredited four-year degree or fourth year in Psychology in the last 10 years.
- An upper second class Honours (2A) OR psychologists with demonstrated equivalent experience and compliance with PsyBA CPD requirements.
- Applicants must have provisional or general registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia via the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Master of Psychology (Clinical) offers a limited number of places.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you also need to meet the minimum English language requirements for your chosen program. If you do not meet the minimum requirements, you may like to enrol in one of our English Language Programs.
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 192 units as outlined in the Program Structure
Program notes
- For Thompson Institute (TI) students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast campus
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- This program consists of the three major required components, as follows:
- 50 percent coursework (8 courses)
- 25 percent research project and thesis (4 courses), and
- 25 percent Practicum placements (4 courses)
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student visa
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.
WIL notes
- It is a Queensland Government requirement that students undertaking a placement within a clinical setting are fit tested annually for an approved respirator. Clinical settings include hospitals, residential aged care facilities, residential disability care facilities, prison health services, youth detention health services, community health care settings, and vaccination clinics). If the Fit Testing requirement applies to placement activity within your Program it will appear in your mandatory checks on Sonia Online. In accordance with Australian Standards, you must be clean shaven for your fit test. Facial hair that lies along the sealing surface of a tight-fitting respirator prevents an effective seal. Therefore, it is a requirement that there is no hair growth between the skin and the facepiece sealing surface in order to achieve a fit. At this stage, there is no exemption in Queensland to this requirement for religious or other reasons and UniSC is unable to waive this requirement.
- Students will undertake a minimum of 1,000 hours of practicum placement in total across the 4 practicum placement courses
-
It is no longer a requirement that students in Master of Psychology (Clinical) are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Please note that some placement host organisations have chosen to continue requiring COVID-19 vaccination. If you are not fully vaccinated, it is important to know that placement opportunities in your program may be limited and may result in a delay to your placement.
UniSC still strongly recommends that all students undertaking placement are fully vaccinated and provide evidence of this vaccination status to the University.
- Refer to Master of Psychology (Clinical) - Placements
Prospective students must consider the Inherent Academic Requirements before applying to study this program.
UniSC strongly supports the rights of all people to pursue studies. The University embraces diversity and endeavours to accommodate all students.
What are Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs)?
The IARs of a program are those fundamental skills, capabilities and knowledge that students must be able to demonstrate in order to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the program, while maintaining the academic integrity of that program.
Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to enable them to meet these requirements.
UniSC is committed to making reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, placement and other activities to enable students to participate in their program.
Reasonable adjustments must not fundamentally change the nature of the IAR.
Consideration is given to a student's cultural and religious background/beliefs, which may impact on participation in their program or course. For further information contact Student Support.
Why are Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs) important?
IARs ensure the academic integrity of a program is maintained and preserves the University's learning, assessment and accreditation processes. They must be met by all students.
How does this affect you?
To successfully complete a program at UniSC, you need to be able to meet all the Inherent Academic Requirements.
If you are applying for a program, you should read the IAR statement carefully to ensure you are able to meet them.
If you have a disability or chronic health condition, contact a UniSC Disability Advisor to talk about the adjustments that may be put in place so you can meet the requirements.
Career opportunities
- Non-government organisations
- Private health sector
- Psychologist
- Public health sector
Memberships
Graduates may be eligible to become members of:
- Associate Membership of the Australian Psychological Society’s College of Clinical Psychologists
Accreditation
Accredited by The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Graduates of the Master of Psychology (Clinical) are eligible to apply to the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) for general registration via the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
- CSP estimate
- A$4,120
- Fee-paying estimate
- A$21,352 - 2023 Fees
- Annual tuition fee (A$, 2023)
- A$30,200
- Estimated total tuition fee (A$, 2023)
- A$60,400
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth supported places are substantially subsidised by the Australian Government so that students only pay 'student contribution" amounts. The student contribution amount will vary depending on the course you are studying and how much funding the Government provides.
If you accept a Commonwealth supported place you are a Commonwealth supported student. As a Commonwealth supported student you must make a contribution towards the cost of your education (unless you are enrolled in Enabling or Tertiary Preparation Pathway courses) with the majority of the cost met by the Commonwealth Government.
Commonwealth supported places are only available to domestic students. As a domestic student you are entitled to a Commonwealth supported place in an eligible program if you:
- meet the citizenship and residency requirements
- complete an electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form (eCAF)
- meet the University's entry requirements for your chosen program.
Postgraduate coursework places
All postgraduate coursework programs are subject to tuition fees unless the postgraduate program is offered under Commonwealth support arrangements.
Eligible students (Australian citizens, permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand Citizens who hold a Special Category Visa and meet the eligibility requirements) may seek assistance to defer payment via a FEE-HELP loan.
International student fee information is available on the Tuition fees and other costs page. For information on how higher degree by research student fees are calculated, including the Student Services and Amenities Fee, visit the Higher Degree by Research Student Fee Calculation Information page. Visit the HDR scholarships page for information on available scholarships.
Estimated total tuition fees are based on 2023 rates and the minimum number of courses required within the programs standard duration.
Annual tuition fees are based on 2023 rates and the equivalent full-time student load as per the recommended study sequence in the relevant program.
Actual fees payable are based on the actual enrolment load in a teaching period (excluding Study Abroad and Postgraduate Qualifying Pathway).
All prices quoted are in Australian Dollars (A$).
To apply for the Master of Psychology (Clinical), submit the completed application form and personal statement form to USC. You must also request two referees (one academic and one professional) provide USC with reports using the online Psychology Reference system. For more information visit Application forms.
International students please refer to the International students - how to apply.
Domestic applicants apply for admission direct to UniSC.
Find out about how to apply and key application closing dates.
No matter what kind of future you’re looking for, you can find it at UniSC. Our programs offer the choice and flexibility you need to get started on any career goal.
Visit How to apply for simple steps to submit your international student application and start your UniSC experience today.
Need help with submitting your application?
UniSC has appointed representatives to assist you with submitting your application and provide information about the steps you need to complete to begin your studies. You can contact a UniSC Representative in your area.
Any questions? Contact us.
Student story
“In the first year of the Master of Psychology (Clinical), you have your first placement in the USC Psychology Clinic at the Thompson Institute, which is where you first get to develop your clinical skills. In the second year, you have two external placements. I was placed with the Sunshine Coast Mental Health Service’s Acute Care Team the first semester, and at a local private practice, Mind Potential Psychology, in the second."