Master of Professional Psychology
Course information for - 2025 entry
Domestic
- Domestic
- International
- Domestic
- International
Offered at 1 locations
- Melbourne
- Melbourne
- Duration
- 1 year full-time or equivalent part-time
- Fees (first year)*
- Start dates
-
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2025Applications open August 2024Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Not available
Overview
The Master of Professional Psychology (MProfPsych) is a fifth-year program in psychology, open to graduates of an APAC accredited fourth-year psychology program.
The MProfPsych program is designed to provide graduates in psychology with an additional year of full-time education in the professional practice of psychology. This year prepares graduates for a final year of supervised practice prior to general registration as a Psychologist.
The MProfPsych program provides students with an opportunity to learn and demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the 8 core capabilities and attributes as required to practise psychology. This program includes a simulated practicum unit as well as an external placement which enables students to translate their theoretical knowledge to professional and simulated environments to enhance their skill development.
This program offers students the ‘5 + 1’ model to register as a Provisional Psychologist through this supervised practice pathway.
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.
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Master of Professional Psychology, a student must complete 80 credit points (cp).
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
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.
- a Bachelor degree with Honours in an accredited Psychology course with a minimum of Honours IIB completed in the last 10 years;
- OR
- a Bachelor degree with accredited 4th-year equivalent major study in Psychology (with performance deemed of the same level as Honours IIB) completed in the last 10 years;
and
b. demonstrated suitability to undertake the course as evidenced by satisfactory:
- academic referee report;
- professional referee report; and
- for short-listed candidates, interview with the selection committee.
and
c. be eligible for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.
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 that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Pathways
Further study
Graduates may be eligible to progress to other psychology higher degree programs.
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 Elizabeth Pizarro-Campagna
Lecturer, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Dr Elizabeth Pizarro-Campagna is a psychology lecturer and course co-ordinator in the School of Behavioural and Health Sciences based in the Melbourne campus. She coordinates the Master of Professional Psychology program, provides research and clinical supervision to students completing the Master of Clinical Psychology and the Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology programs, and provides research supervision to psychology honours students.
Dr Pizarro-Campagna has worked as a psychologist since 2006, and has dual endorsements in clinical, and educational and developmental psychology. In 2019 she completed her PhD at ACU, in collaboration with Orygen’s Helping Young People Early (HYPE) research team, on the socioemotional functioning of young people with borderline personality disorder. She is an ECR and has research interests and collaborations with a focus on understanding psychological and transdiagnostic factors, such as social cognition and emotion regulation, that are associated with mental health and functional outcomes in typically developing adolescents and clinical populations (borderline personality disorder, chronic pain).