The aim of this course is to give you the knowledge and skills required for the professional competencies in clinical psychology specified by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and to prepare you for the Registrar Program to gain an Area of Practice Endorsement in Clinical Psychology with the Psychology Board of Australia. You will be engaged in postgraduate training focussed on psychopathology across the lifespan and culturally sensitive psychological assessment and intervention for culturally and linguistically diverse populations including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, through a variety of learning modalities including classroom instruction, engagement in practical skills training, supervised practice, and research training.
Clinical psychologists are employed in a wide range of practice-related fields including outpatient, inpatient, counselling, educational, forensic, health and other settings that focus on assisting people across the lifespan, from children through to elderly. They are also employed in teaching and research settings. Clinical Psychologists work in both the private sector and they also are employed in the public sector, including hospitals, government departments and agencies.
Duration | 2 years full-time or 4 years part-time |
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Credit Points that Must be Earned | 96 |
Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
Course Type | Postgraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | MClinPsych |
AQF Level | Level 9: Masters Degree (Coursework) |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
Not Applicable |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
The COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory to be eligible to attend a WIL placement for this course. Students will be required to provide evidence of having completed a COVID-19 vaccination schedule by the closing date prior to a WIL placement. The vaccine received must be a vaccine approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia.
To be considered for entry into this course, applicants must meet the following requirements:
Entry is competitive with limited places available. To be considered for a place within this course, applicants must supply the following documentation:
*References must be for the Master of Clinical Psychology course. References for other courses may not be considered.
Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend an interview (face-to-face or via teleconferencing).
All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in CQUniversity's English Language Proficiency Requirements Policy and Procedure.
Students will be required to obtain registration as a provisional psychologist with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Additional security checks are included in this registration. Students may be asked to undergo additional checks (working with children and criminal history check) to satisfy the requirements of external placement sites.
Vaccination requirements currently apply for provisional psychologists in Queensland, including the COVID-19 vaccination. Proof of your vaccination status, including a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or medical exemption certificate, must be submitted before practicum placement commencement. Students must be able to attend practicum work three days per week (for full-time students) in addition to attending classes.
Interim Awards | Not applicable |
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Exit Awards | Not applicable |
Accreditation |
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No Residential School for this course.
PSYC21007 - Students are required to undertake clinical work at the university based clinic. |
PSYC22005 - Students are required to undertake an off-site placement. |
PSYC22006 - Students are required to undertake an off-site placement. |
PSYC21008 - Students are required to undertake clinical work at the university based clinic. |
Year | Number of Students |
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2022 | 23 |
2021 | 22 |
2020 | 21 |
2019 | 17 |
2018 | 16 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
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Course Learning Outcomes | ||||
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Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice | ||||
2. KNOWLEDGE Have an understanding of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning | ||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and professional practice or scholarship | ||||
4. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice | ||||
5. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level | ||||
6. SKILLS Have communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences | ||||
7. SKILLS Have technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice or scholarship | ||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning | ||||
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use high level personal autonomy and accountability | ||||
10 APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship. | ||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Communicate, interact and collaborate with others effectively in culturally or linguistically diverse contexts in a culturally respectful manner |
Number of units: 15 | Total credit points: 96 |
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Students must be registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA) for the entire duration of this course.
Core. This component comprises the 14 core units of the Master of Clinical Psychology course. Students also do one elective unit to complete the course.
Year 1 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
PSYC20054 | Psychopathology and Formulation 1 | |
PSYC21001 | Assessment 1 | |
PSYC20058 | Interventions 1 | |
PSYC21007 | Research and Clinical Practice 1 |
Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
PSYC20060 | Psychopathology and Formulation II | |
PSYC20059 | Therapy: Skills, Approaches, and Techniques | |
PSYC20061 | Research Evaluation for Psychology Practice | |
PSYC21008 | Clinical Practice 2 |
Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
PSYC21002 | Assessment II | |
PSYC21004 | Advanced Clinical Intervention | |
PSYC22005 | Clinic Team III |
Year 2 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
PSYC22002 | Health Psychology and Rehabilitation | |
PSYC22004 | Thesis II | |
PSYC22006 | Clinic Team IV |
Elective. Students select one unit from a list of approved electives. The list includes PSYC29001 Applied Positive Psychology, and PSYC29003 Coaching Individuals for Positive Change. Additional electives may be added as their availability is confirmed.
Available units | ||
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Students must complete 1 from the following units: | ||
PSYC29003 | Coaching Individuals for Positive Change | |
PSYC29001 | Applied Positive Psychology |
Applications
for the Term 1, 2023 intake will open on 1 August 2022, and
have an early closing date of 31 October 2022.
Application outcomes are not released until Early December, with Interviews expected to take place in Late November.
Computing Requirements
It is a requirement of enrolment in this course that students have access to the CQUniversity website. Students may be required to undertake various components of study in the course using email and the Internet.
It is strongly recommended that students have access to a broadband connection or higher to access online student resources that would include but not limited to, email, internet, video streaming, electronic assessment submission.
Work Integrated Learning
For placement activities, there is the overall requirement of 1000 placement hours that includes 400 hours of client face to face contact and 140 hours of direct supervision. A minimum of three placements, including one internship and two externships is required.
Four units in the Master of Clinical Psychology course: Clinic Team l, Clinic Team ll, Clinic Team III and Clinic Team IV, are attached to practical placements.
Each placement typically lasts for about 12 weeks, minimum 2 or 3 days per week. In the first year of the course, internal placements (for Clinic Team I and II) take place at the Psychology Wellness Centre, on Rockhampton North CQUniversity campus. Internal placements commence in March and go through to end of October.
In the second year, external placements (for Clinic Team III and IV) commence in February, allowing early completion of the placement and possible early commencement of subsequent placements. In this way, students can then have more time to work on thesis course components towards the end of the second year of the Master’s course.