Overview

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.

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.