Introduction
The gateway to your career as a clinical psychologist
Welcome to the UC Master of Clinical Psychology course, an intensive two-year academic journey that will provide you with rigorous professional training and equip you with the skills and knowledge to become a registered clinical psychologist.
Through a mix of advanced coursework, supervised practicum placements, and a research project on a topic of clinical relevance, you will acquire in-depth assessment, evaluation, and intervention skills readying you to work as a practicing psychologist.
On enrolment, you will be registered as a provisional psychologist and then go on to complete up to 1000 hours of supervised practical placements. The first two placements will be in the University’s student-led Health Clinic, where you will gain exposure to inter-professional practice with additional training opportunities occurring in workplace settings, always under the support and supervision of experienced academic mentors.
Study a Master of Clinical Psychology at UC and you will:
- use your knowledge of psychology and mental health to critically assess, diagnose, develop case formulations, treat and prevent psychological problems and mental health issues across the lifespan
- understand your profession concerning the unique role of clinical psychologists in providing evidence-based psychological services, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, research and consultancy services across diverse settings
- understand psychopathology, psychopharmacology and psychological medicine, and neurological issues relevant to mental health presentations, diagnostic systems, health psychology and behavioural medicine
- transform research and evaluation findings into policy, applied knowledge, and improved treatments
- provide competent expert oral and written reports to various stakeholders on psychological matters for health, medical, medico-legal, and forensic purposes
- competently work within a cross-cultural context
- practice with children, adolescents, adults and older persons in a manner relevant to Clinical Psychology
- conduct high-level advanced independent research on a topic of clinical relevance.
Work Integrated Learning
During this course, you will undertake four practical placements, totaling 1000 hours. The first two placements will be in the student-led clinic on campus and take place in a range of different settings, including working with children, adolescents, adults, and older people, and in a variety of organisations. In each situation, you will develop your competencies as a clinical psychologist by working with clients under supervision.
Career opportunities
Career opportunities for Clinical Psychologists are considerable, and UC graduates are in high demand across a wide range of services within the public and private sectors. For example:
- Private practice supporting members of the public
- Health departments, hospitals, and community practices
- National, state or local government or non-government organisations
- Welfare agencies, educational institutions, defense, justice and community services.
Course-specific information
To be eligible for consideration for the UC Master of Clinical Psychology program, you must be able to provide evidence of completing a four-year sequence in psychology within the last ten years – with accreditation by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), or equivalency as determined by the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
This requirement is necessary to ensure eligibility for provisional registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and Associate Membership of the APS and the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA).
Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend an on-campus interview which will help determine your eligibility.
Provisional registration with AHPRA will also require a federal police clearance and all relevant immunisations must be up to date before participating in any work placements.
Some placement organisations may also require a current Working with Vulnerable People clearance.
Domestic applicants to this course must apply for admission via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). See http://www.uac.edu.au/postgraduate for further information.
Professional Accreditation
The Master of Clinical Psychology (MCP) provides the 5th and 6th years of APAC accredited postgraduate training required to be eligible for general registration as a psychologist and entry into the registrar program for Clinical endorsement. The program also meets the requirements for membership of the Australian Psychological Society and Associate Membership of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.
Admission Requirements
Requirements
This course has an early closing date to submit applications by the 31st October of every year. Domestic applicants must apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) (http://www.uac.edu.au/postgraduate/). Referee reports must be submitted through the Australian Psychology Post-graduate Program Reference Request System (https://www.psychologyreference.org/). Applicants must ensure they share the reference with the University of Canberra. If the reference is not shared we cannot access the referee report and the application will be deemed incomplete and not be processed further.
Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
1. A completed four year sequence in psychology accredited by APAC and completed within the last 10 years
2. A GPA of 6.0 or higher in fourth year psychology honours or graduate diploma course
When no GPA is given for the honours year:
- UC graduates - hold upper second class psychology honours (of at least 80%)
- Non-UC graduates - hold first class psychology honours (of at least 85%)
Additional Admission Requirements
Applicants must also provide:
- a current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- proof of eligibility for registration as a provisional psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia, and
- two referee reports submitted through the Australian Psychology Postgraduate Program Reference Request System (https://www.psychologyreference.org/)
Shortlisted applicants (domestic and international) will be required to attend an interview in which their suitability for clinical practice will be assessed. In person interviews are preferred, but in the event that this is not possible, video link can be used. Applicants are expected to attend the interview, whether in person or video link, at the date and time offered to them, no alternative arrangements or exceptions will be made.
NOTE
Above requirements are the minimum standard and not negotiable. Entry is competitive and places limited. Shortlisting for interview is determined against the applicant's academically ranked place in the applicant list, and the referee reports. The thresholds for interview considerations vary each year in response to characteristics of the applicant pool. It is emphasised that meeting the minimum entrance requirements does not of itself guarantee an interview. Please note that it is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that UAC and UC have the correct and most current information against which applications are assessed.
Information on admission closing dates can be found here.
Notes for Domestic Applicants
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) for this course are limited. If you wish to be considered for a CSP for 2021, you will need to apply for admission before midnight Sunday 8 November 2020.
English Language Requirements
There are non-standard English language requirements for this course. To be eligible you must have an overall IELTS Academic score (or equivalent) of 7.0, with no band score below 7.0. For alternate/equivalent ways of meeting the English requirements for this course please view the English Proficiency Requirements document on the university website.
Fees
Information for Fee Paying Students
| Year | Domestic | International |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CSP/Domestic Tuition Fee (see below) | $41,600 |
The fees detailed above are the annual fee rates for the course. The annual rate is the fee that applies to standard full-time enrolment, which is 24 credit points. The final fee charged is based on the proportion of 24 credit points in which a student enrols. Students enrolled in a Commonwealth Support Place (CSP) are required to make a contribution towards the cost of their education, which is set by the Commonwealth Government. Information on Commonwealth Supported Places, HECS-HELP and how fees are calculated can be found here.
Government Support
| Year | CSP Places Available | Eligible for Student Income Support (Centrelink) |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | YES | YES |
Typical Study Pattern
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UC - Canberra, Bruce
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Standard Full Time, UC Trimester 1 Commencing
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Print this Study Pattern
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Year 1
- Trimester 1
- Semester 1
- Winter Term
- Semester 2
- Year 2
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Standard Full Time, UC Trimester 1 Commencing
Course Information
In addition to course requirements, in order to successfully complete your course you may need to meet the inherent requirements. Please refer to the inherent requirements statement applicable to your course.
Course Duration
Standard four semesters full-time or equivalent. Maximum completion period of eight semesters over 4 years from commencement of the program.
Unit Delivery Modes
Delivery modes for units in this degree are yet to be confirmed. Please contact us for more details.Admission Periods
| Year | Location | Domestic | International |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | UC - Canberra, Bruce | Trimester 1 |
Trimester 1 |
| 2022 | UC - Canberra, Bruce | Trimester 1 |
Trimester 1 |
| 2023 | UC - Canberra, Bruce | Trimester 1 |
Trimester 1 |
Additional Placement Requirements
This course requires students to meet compulsory placement requirements prior to undertaking professional placement (Work-Integrated Learning) in a clinical or professional setting. For information on what these requirements are and how to meet these requirements, please visit www.canberra.edu.au/placement
Awards
| Award(s) | Official Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Master of Clinical Psychology | M ClinPsych |