Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Course information for - 2025 entry
Domestic
- Domestic
- International
- Domestic
- International
Offered at 2 locations
- Melbourne
- Strathfield
- Melbourne
- Strathfield
- Duration
- 2 years full-time or equivalent part-time
- Fees (first year)*
- Start dates
-
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2026Applications open August 2025Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Not available
Applications for this course closed on 30th September 2024
Overview
The Master of Psychology (Clinical) degree at ACU is a two year postgraduate course consisting of academic coursework, practical training in assessment, diagnosis and intervention, and completion of a research project.
Successful completion of the course allows registration as a general psychologist and upon completion of an additional period of supervised practice, for area of practice endorsement in clinical psychology with The Psychology Board of Australia.
Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this course. See the Courses costs section below, under Fees.
Professional experience
Students must complete 1000 hours of practicum placement in clinical settings with at least 400 hours of face-to-face client contact.
Work placement
During the course, students complete three practicum placements. The first practicum usually occurs in the on-campus training clinic. During this placement students gain experience in assessment, diagnosis and therapy under close individual and group supervision conducted by experienced psychologists. Students must be supervised by a psychologist who is an approved supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia. During the second year of the course, most students complete two six-month external placements, again under supervision by a fully endorsed Clinical psychologist. Practicum options include placements in health care, community mental health teams, non-governmental and private practice settings.
Professional recognition
This course is currently accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)
Please note that a minimum six-year sequence of education and training in psychology is required for an individual to become eligible for general registration as a psychologist in Australia.
Careers
Graduates will be well-prepared for work as practitioner psychologists and skilled researchers who work with individuals, families, groups and organisations in a range of institutions and agencies providing psychological and mental health services.
Clinical psychologists often work in:
- hospitals
- health care centres
- community mental health teams
- private practice
- academic settings
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Master of Psychology (Clinical), a student must complete 160 credit points (cp).
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
Additional course information
Applications to study individual units within this degree must be approved by the Course Coordinator.
This course is available as a combined degree with the Doctor of Philosophy, subject to the student meeting PhD admission criteria.
Please note that Inherent Requirements, i.e. the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to completed this course that need to be met by all students, have been developed for this course. For further information please visit the Inherent Requirements for Psychology courses webpage.
Students are required to obtain provisional registration as a psychologist prior to commencing the course, and to have completed a Working With Children check and appropriate police checks before they are able complete practicum units.
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
International applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites:
a.
i. a Bachelor degree with honours in an accredited Psychology course with minimum of IIA Honours completed in the last 10 years; or
ii. a Bachelor degree with accredited four year major study in Psychology completed in the last 10 years;
OR
b.
i. a Bachelor degree with accredited three year major study in Psychology and satisfactory completion of an additional year of accredited study in psychology, or equivalent, with an overall mark equivalent to IIA Honours completed in the last 10 years; or
ii. qualifications and experience assessed as equivalent by the selection committee;
AND
c. demonstrated suitability to undertake the course as evidenced by satisfactory:
i. academic referee report;
ii. professional referee report; and
iii. for short-listed candidates, interview with the selection committee;
AND
d. be eligible for registration with the Psychology Board of Australia as a conditional/provisional psychologist.
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2025 Admission.
Applicants with higher education study
You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, we’ll assign you with a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration, and grade point average.
If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.
You can use our credit search tool to see what you might be eligible for. For more information about credit and recognition of prior learning at ACU, follow the link below.
English language requirements
Applicants require an academic IELTS minimum overall score of 7.0 (with a minimum score of 7.0 in all bands), or an equivalent acceptable test score as outlined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy (see English Language Proficiency).
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course or unit. Learn more about inherent requirements and how they affect you, and explore the requirements for your course.
Pathways
Further study
Graduates may be eligible to progress to higher degree research programs.
ACU also offers the Master of Psychology (Clinical)/Doctor of Philosophy which combines professional training within clinical psychology with a research Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Students interested in this combined degree must first apply for and complete one year of the Master of Psychology (Clinical).
Fees
Course costs
*This is an indicative first-year fee based on the tuition fee rates for a full-time student, using unit enrolment data from domestic students who studied the course in the previous year.
A student’s annual fee will vary depending on factors including:
- Number of units studied per year
- Choice of major or specialisation
- Elective units
The University reviews fees annually.
You can view current course costs and domestic tuition fee rates by unit.
A 10% rebate on fees will be offered to domestic ACU graduates (from any faculty) enrolling in full fee-paying postgraduate studies in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Conditions apply.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support. Students enrolled in this course may be eligible to receive Youth Allowance (student), or Austudy and/or the Pensioner Education Supplement
Scholarships
You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
How to apply
Deferment
No deferment available.
Staff Profile
Dr Madeleine Fraser
Senior Lecturer, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Dr Madeleine Fraser started at the ACU Strathfield campus in 2015. She is the co-ordinator of the Master of Clinical Psychology program on Strathfield campus and supervises Honours and Masters research projects. Dr Fraser was the recipient of the 2017 APS Sydney Branch Outstanding Lecturer in Psychology award and was awarded the 2019 APS Early Career Teaching Award. She also runs the Clinical Psychology Research Lab (CPR lab) with Associate Professor Keong Yap.
A registered psychologist with clinical endorsement, Dr Fraser is a PsyBA accredited supervisor and a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Her qualifications include a Doctor of Clinical Psychology and Masters of Philosophy at Macquarie University in 2015, and a PhD focused on the clinical application of self-compassion at the University of Sydney in 2021.
Dr Fraser’s research focuses on self-compassion and cultivating a healthy and supportive way of relating to oneself, as opposed to harsh self-criticism. Her research goal is to promote psychological wellbeing through the scientific study and clinical application of self-compassion and healthy ways of self-relating.
Testimonial
I chose ACU for the smaller cohorts and the amazing academic staff with extensive practical experience across psychology fields. As a result, I have built strong, lasting relationships with both peers and staff that continue to enhance my university experience. I have completed my entire tertiary education here, from undergraduate to masters, and I could not have chosen a better place to study.