Master of Psychology (Clinical)/Doctor of Philosophy
Course information for - 2023 entry
This course is only available to students already undertaking ACU’s Master of Psychology (Clinical) or ACU’s Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental). If you are a current student and interested in transferring to the combined Master of Psychology / Doctor of Philosophy course, please contact your course coordinator for further details.
Offered at 2 locations
- Study mode
- Attendance
- Duration
- 4 years full-time or equivalent part-time
- Fees (first year)*
$31572 Fee-paying
- Start dates
-
Semester 1 intake: Not availableMidyear (Semester 2) intake: Not available
Approval to study an Individual unit within these degrees must be sought from the Course Coordinator.
Overview
These concurrent degrees combine professional training within educational and developmental psychology with a research Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
During these concurrent degrees, students will:
- Gain valuable experience in the delivery of psychological services through practicums;
- Study subjects such as Professional Practice in Psychology, Psychological Assessment, Therapeutic Skills and Evidence-based Practice for Psychologists;
- Complete a doctoral thesis
Specialisation subject units in the clinical psychology stream are:
- Adult Clinical Psychology
- Child Clinical Psychology
- Clinical Health Psychology and Psychopharmacology
- Advanced Psychotherapeutic Interventions
Professional experience
Students must complete 1000 hours of practicum placement in clinical settings with at least 400 hours of face-to-face client contact.
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.
Accreditation
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 or skilled researchers in a range of institutions and agencies providing psychological and mental health services.
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Master of Psychology (Clinical)/Doctor of Philosophy, a student must complete 370 credit points (cp).
Sample program map
| Year - Study period | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 | Unit 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year 1 - Semester 1 | PSYC621 Professional Practice in Psychology | PSYC638 Therapeutic Skills | PSYC630 Psychological Assessment | PSYC622 Practicum Skills | |
Year 1 - Semester 2 | PSYC660 Adult Clinical Psychology | PSYC661 Child Clinical Psychology | PSYC613 Practicum A | PSYC624 Evidence-Based Practice for Psychologists | |
Year 2 - Semester 1 | PSYC663 Advanced Psychotherapeutic Interventions | ||||
Year 2 - Research Terms A and B (PhD) | PHDY701 Doctoral Thesis FT or PHDY702 Doctoral Thesis PT | ||||
Year 2 - Semester 2 | PSYC614 Practicum B | ||||
Year 2 - Research Terms C and D (PhD) | PHDY701 Doctoral Thesis FT or PHDY702 Doctoral Thesis PT | ||||
Year 3 - Semester 1 | PSYC662 Clinical Health Psychology and Psychopharmacology | ||||
Year 3 - Research Terms A and B (PhD) | PHDY701 Doctoral Thesis FT or PHDY702 Doctoral Thesis PT | ||||
Year 3 - Semester 2 | PSYC615 Practicum C 20 cp | ||||
Year 3 - Research Terms C and D (PhD) | PHDY701 Doctoral Thesis FT or PHDY702 Doctoral Thesis PT | ||||
Year 4 Research Terms A, B, C and D (PhD) | PHDY701 Doctoral Thesis FT or PHDY702 Doctoral Thesis PT |
This is a sample program only and units will vary depending on your campus and mode of study. Please refer to the handbook for the prerequisite units and the current listing.
* PHDY701 and PHDY702 are available in the four research terms A, B, C and D. Students selecting one of these units enrol in the unit in all four research terms for the duration of the candidature. Each of these two units accrues a total of 240cp for the duration of the candidature.
AQF framework
Entry requirements
Admission into this course is subject to supervision and resource availability. Students already enrolled in the Master of Psychology (Clinical) who have completed Year 1 with a Distinction average across all subjects and were admitted to the Master with a minimum of Second Class Honours – Division A (HIIA) or equivalent may be eligible to transfer to the combined degree.
Applicants must first contact the School of Behavioural and Health Sciences to explore potential research areas, identify a potential PhD supervisor and write a brief research proposal. Upon successful completion of the first year of studies, candidates may then apply to Candidature Services for admission to the PhD program.
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2023 Admission.
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 (Schedule 3).
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
Fees
Course costs
$31572 Fee-paying
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of 40 credit points (normally 4 units) per semester.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- the number of units studied per semester;
- the choice of major or specialisation; and
- elective units.
The University reviews fees annually.
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.
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.