Course

Master of Clinical Psychology

Approved Abbreviation: MClinPsy

Western Sydney University Course Code: 1812.2

AQF Level: 9

CRICOS Code: 042101C

Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year for this course is 2018 or later.

Units may be revised or replaced to ensure students are provided with up to date curriculum throughout their studies, and this may result in a new course version. Refer to the Check My Course Progress page in MySR for the most up to date information for your course.

For Commencement Year 2016 or 2017 - please refer to 1812.1 Master of Clinical Psychology

The Master of Clinical Psychology is a Masters course designed to develop competent clinical psychologists.

The objective of the Master of Clinical Psychology is to provide two year's full time training in the professional practice of clinical psychology after which graduates will be eligible to apply for full registration as a psychologist and as a Clinical Psychology registrar. Following successful completion of the Master of Clinical Psychology, Clinical Psychology Registrars will need another 2 years of supervised clinical practice to be eligible to apply for endorsement as a Clinical Psychologist.

The course provides a thorough training in the knowledge and skills necessary to understand a range of mental health issues experienced within diverse contexts and to implement a range of effective evidence-based interventions (including cognitive behavioural therapy) that are tailored to clients’ needs and preferences. The scientist-practitioner model of training will be adopted to equip you with specialised competencies through completion of specified coursework, a research project and 1,000 hours of supervised practice in clinical and other appropriate settings.

This course is accredited without conditions by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and approved by the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists.

Study Mode
Two years full-time or four years part-time.

Accreditation
This course is fully accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and the Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychologists (APS).

Inherent requirements

There are inherent requirements for this course that you must meet in order to complete your course and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this course online.

Inherent Requirements

Admission

Applicants will be subject to competitive selection based on academic excellence and capability for practitioner competence evaluated by interview, external referees’ reports, and consideration of relevant professional experience.

Applicants must:

Hold an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited four-year undergraduate Psychology degree with an undergraduate honours level of class 2 upper level (2A or 2.1 Honours) or equivalent;

Be eligible for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia;

Arrange for completion and submission of referees reports; and

Attend an interview, by invitation, with the School of Social Sciences and Psychology.

To be considered for admission applicants must have an undergraduate honours level of class 2 upper level (2A or 2.1 Honours) or equivalent and an excellent undergraduate record. An indicative academic achievement based on entry in previous years is a grade point average of 5.5 or higher (counting Year 1 to 3 as 50% and Year 4 as 50%).

Applicants whose degree was completed more than 10 years prior to the year of entry will not be admitted unless they hold current full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.

No deferrals will be accepted for this course.

Academic and Professional Referee Reports

Academic and Professional referee reports are to be provided via the Post-Graduate Programs Reference Request System.

Click the link below or copy and paste this url: http://www.psychologyreference.org

Post-Graduate Program Reference Request System

Additional Information for successful applicants

There are some additional requirements you must meet before you can start your Clinical work as detailed in the Western Sydney University special requirements website

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/currentstudents/current_students/enrolment/special_requirements

Additional requirements for Domestic applicants with international qualifications:

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website: http://www.uac.edu.au

International qualifications will be assessed for an equivalent GPA level.

International qualifications must also be assessed before applying for entry into the Master of Clinical Psychology by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). International qualifications must be deemed by the APS to be equivalent to 4 years of Australian qualifications in order for applications to be considered

Applicants who have undertaken studies in other countries may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Details of the minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof can be found on the Universities Admissions Centre website: http://www.uac.edu.au/ See also the additional English proficiency requirements for this course, as listed at the end of these admission requirements.

International Applicants

International applicants must apply directly to Western Sydney University via the International Office.

International qualifications will be assessed for an equivalent GPA level through the International office at Western Sydney University

International qualifications must also be assessed before applying for entry into the Master of Clinical Psychology by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). International qualifications must be deemed by the APS to be equivalent to 4 years of Australian qualifications in order for applications to be considered.

Assessment of international qualifications by the APS can be made at:

https://www.psychology.org.au/membership/qualifications/

International students applying to the University through the International Office need to have their applications submitted by 31 October of each year. Applications will then be assessed by the School of Social Sciences and Psychology and if academic and English proficiency criteria are met then students may be invited to an interview. Any invitation to an interview will come from the School of Social Sciences and Psychology.

Positions for the Master of Clinical Psychology Program will be offered based on outcomes from academic criteria, English proficiency and the interview process, including consideration of referee reports and professional experience and capacity as for other applicants.

Details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof can be found on the international office website (International Office) and include the additional admission requirements of:

IELTS (Academic) - 7.0 overall score with a minimum 7.0 in each subtest

TOEFL Internet based test - 100 (writing = 27 and all other subtests = 22)

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

International applicants must apply directly to the Western Sydney University via the International Office.

International students applying to The University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Special Requirements Prerequisites
Full or provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia; A Criminal Record Check; A National Police Certificate; Prohibited Employment Declaration prior or a Working with Children Check Student Declaration; Child Protection training seminar.

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 160 credit points which include the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time

Year 1

Autumn session

101810

Core Skills and Ethical Practice

102400

Assessment: Cognitive Functions

101812

Clinical Psychopathology 1

101213

Psychological Interventions 1