Postgraduate Coursework
Master of Psychology (Clinical)
2021
The Master of Psychology (Clinical) prepares you for your career as a specialist in the health services.
Your studies are a combination of coursework, placements, and a thesis to develop and strengthen your skills and knowledge so you are a confident and experienced practitioner ready to make a positive change in your community. Key areas of focus include interviewing and intervention strategies, biological and neuropsychological perspectives on disorders, psychological assessment and therapies, ethics and issues in professional practice, as well as advanced research methods.
After you accept your offer into this course, you must register with AHPRA as a provisional psychologist before the study semester starts.
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and is approved by the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists.
Credit transfers and pathways
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
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This course is being accredited for delivery in 2021.
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Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
This is a quota course with limited places available.
Admission criteria
- Successful completion of an APAC accredited four-year sequence in Psychology with either
- a minimum upper second class Honours (2A) OR Graduate Diploma in Psychology with a minimum GPA of 6.00.
All applicants are required to provide:
- 2 referee reports submitted via https://www.psychologyreference.org/; and
- a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and cover letter addressing why you are interested in the CDU Course; to be uploaded to your application at the time of submission.
Invitations to attend an interview will be extended to applicants based on a combination of academic performance, CV and references.
Essential requirements
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. International applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either undertaking previous education in an English-speaking country or undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.
| IELTS Academic Module | A minimum overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0. |
| Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) | A minimum overall score of 176, with no skill below 169. |
| Common European Framework Certificate of English Proficiency | A minimum overall grade of C1, valid for three years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU. |
| Navitas Academic English (will not be accepted from 2021 onwards) | A minimum overall pass and 65% in Academic English 3 with a 65% pass in the research essay. (Note: this score will not be accepted from 2021 intakes onwards). |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic module | A minimum overall score of 58 with no score lower than 50. |
| TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) | A minimum overall score of 79 with a minimum writing score of 21. |
* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.
Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.
All students enrolled in the program are required to be provisionally registered as a psychologist on commencement of the course.
Prior to commencing clinical practice, all students are required to undergo a 'working with vulnerable people' check, and Australian Federal Police Record Check. Depending on requirement of health departments, some health facilities may request students to present a complete immunisation schedule, and First Aid certificates including CPR. A current Working with Children check may also be required.
Course structure
The Master of Psychology (Clinical) is a two-year full time course of 160 credit points comprising 40cp thesis, 30cp clinical placements and 90cp of coursework. It is not currently offered as a part-time course.
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 160 credit points as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
| Unit type |
Credit Points |
Specific requirements |
| Core (10 units) |
130cp |
Compulsory Core units totalling 130 credit points as per list of units detailed below:
PSY501 Interview and Intervention Strategies |
| Research (3 units) |
30cp |
Research Units totaling 30 credit points selected from the list of available units detailed below:
PSY810 Research Project Plan (new unit title from S2 2021) |
|
160 |
Total Credit Points |
Students who commenced in or after 2013
The grade of "PC" cannot be counted towards a Masters Degree by Coursework AQF Level 9 course award.
Students should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.
Study plan
Students commencing in Semester 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard load.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | P = Placement | R = Research Core |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| PSY501 Interview and Intervention Strategies | CO | PSY505 Applied Methodology | CO |
| PSY502 Issues and Ethics in Professional Practice | CO | PSY810 Research Project Plan (new unit title from 2021) | R |
| PSY503 Psychological Assessment | CO | PSY511 Clinical Placement 1 (20cp) | P |
| PSY506 Studies in Psychopathology | CO | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| PSY512 Psychological Therapies | CO | PSY504 Biological and Neurological Perspectives on Disorders (available from 2022) | CO |
| PSY811 Thesis 2 | R | PSY821 Research Project | R |
| PSY513 Clinical Placement 2 (20cp) | P | PSY515 Clinical Placement 3 (20cp) | P |
Course fees
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:
(a) Australian Citizenship; or
(b) a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident visa holder who will be resident within Australia for the duration of the unit.
2021: Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.