University of Technology Sydney

C04300v2 Master of Clinical Psychology

Award(s): Master of Clinical Psychology (MClinPsych)
CRICOS code: 084263D
Commonwealth supported place?: No
Load credit points: 96
Course EFTSL: 2
Location: City campus

Notes

Applications have now closed for the 2024 intake.


Overview
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course program
Rules and regulations
Professional recognition
Other information

Overview

The UTS Master of Clinical Psychology provides students with a practice-based and research-led education in clinical psychology, encompassing on-campus and online learning, on-campus and off-campus clinical placement, and research. The course is delivered in custom-built, state-of-the-art facilities including the on-campus 100 Broadway Clinic.

The course offers training in professional practice as a clinical psychologist. Uniquely, all academic staff are also experienced, currently practicing clinical psychologists. Through expert supervision in the university clinic, as well as on external placements, students develop strong clinical skills applicable to a wide range of clinical psychology areas of practice.

Career options

Career options include work in hospitals, community health, specialist and private practice settings addressing, among others, adult mental health, child and family health, and drug and alcohol difficulties.

Course intended learning outcomes

.001 Apply in practice accurate and comprehensive knowledge of the current state of psychological theories and models, the application, implementation and interpretation of psychological investigations, and the implementation of psychological interventions.
.002 Provide ethically and legally accountable client-centred care, with awareness of own capabilities and limitations.
.003 Assess and report on individual and population psychological health status, using appropriate testing and/or observation methodologies.
.004 Design and evaluate psychological interventions to optimise client or organisational health.
.005 Evaluate evidence and engage in systematic inquiry.
.006 Communicate effectively and accurately with clients and stakeholders in written or spoken language appropriate to their needs.
.007 Demonstrate respect and value for diverse ways of knowing, being and doing, in particular recognising the diversity of Indigenous Australians, while critically reflecting on the impact of ongoing colonisation and its pervasive discourse on their health and wellbeing, and integrating this knowledge into practice
.008 Contribute as leader and collaborator in the delivery of client-centred care
.009 Reflect on the knowledge, skills and attributes required for the evaluation and integration of emerging evidence into practice, promoting the growth of personal and professional learning, and the education of others.
.010 Represent the psychologist's perspective in multidisciplinary environments, and through self-awareness and acknowledgement of the contribution of other health practitioners, support an interdisciplinary approach to attain the best outcomes for clients.
.011 Demonstrate knowledge of psychological practice in national and global communities, with awareness of their social and cultural contexts, using a consultative approach to the formulation and implementation of management plans to meet diverse needs.

Admission requirements

Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised bachelor's degree, or an equivalent or higher qualification, or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate studies.

For this course, applicants must have successfully completed an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited Level 1 and Level 2 sequence in psychology within the last 10 years, with a first class or an upper second class Honours (2A) or equivalent overall mark, and be eligible for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.

Psychology qualifications from overseas must be assessed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) as equivalent to an APAC accredited four-year undergraduate sequence. The degree must include a major research thesis component. The APS does not assess psychology qualifications for the purpose of registration, and an additional assessment may be required by the Psychology Board of Australia for this purpose.

For Level 2 Graduate Diploma degrees, applicants must provide a completion letter from their University to confirm their equivalent honours class and grade.

For Level 2 Bachelor Honours degrees, applicants must provide a completion letter from their University to confirm their honours class and grade, if not stated on their transcript.

Applications must include:

  • All official academic transcript(s)
  • A personal statement. The personal statement should be between 100-500 words, and should outline why are you applying for the degree, what makes you a suitable candidate, and which of your skills and experiences are most relevant.
  • Two references: one academic and one professional.
    • An application that does not contain one academic and one professional reference is considered incomplete.
    • References must be submitted via the Psychology Reference Portal and shared with UTS.
    • A professional reference must account for the applicant’s experience in mental health.
    • An academic reference must account for the applicant’s ability to write, undertake research and respond to research supervision.
    • A reference should clearly state the referee’s relationship to the applicant.
    • It is recommended that only two references are submitted.
  • Resume to demonstrate previous relevant experience in mental health of at least 6 months.

Applications are assessed for interview based on academic performance, relevant experience in mental health, academic and professional references, and personal statement.

Selected competitive applicants are invited to interview and final offers are dependent upon interview rank. At interview, applicants are assessed on their knowledge of research, clinical training, ethical practice as well as their interpersonal effectiveness and suitability for clinical practice. Final offers are ranked on interview performance.

Professional and clinical requirements

All successful applicants are required to:

  1. obtain registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) as a provisionally registered psychologist
  2. acquire a Working With Children Check and an Australian National Police Check
  3. complete a series of NSW Health forms including a Code of Conduct, and
  4. demonstrate evidence of protection against a number of specified infectious diseases.

The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 7.0 overall with a minimum score of 7.0 in each subset; or TOEFL: internet based: 94 overall, reading 24, listening 24, speaking 23, writing 27; or PTE: 65-72 overall with a minimum score of 65 in each subset; or OET: minimum score of B in each of the 4 components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.

Local students

Domestic applicants can apply directly.

International students

International applicants apply via UTS: International.

International applicants, in addition to the above requirements, are required to obtain a police certificate/criminal clearance from every country they have resided in. If a country does not issue police certificates/criminal clearances, applicants are required to complete a Statutory Declaration for Overseas Students.

Course duration and attendance

This course is offered on a two-year, full-time basis. Students are not permitted to enrol part time.

Course structure

Students must complete 96 credit points, including 24 credit points of research, and 1000 clinical hours.

Course completion requirements

STM91016 Core subjects (Clinical Psychology) 96cp
Total 96cp

Course program

The following example shows a typical full-time program.

Year 1
Autumn B Session
96043 Introduction to Clinical Practice Skills   6cp
96044 Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology   6cp
96045 Adult Clinical Psychology 1   6cp
96049 Assessment Across the Lifespan   6cp
Spring B Session
96046 Research Project 1   6cp
96047 Clinical Placement 1   6cp
96048 Adult Clinical Psychology 2   6cp
96050 Clinical Health Psychology   6cp
Year 2
Autumn B Session
96051 Clinical Placement 2   6cp
96052 Clinical Placement 3   6cp
96053 Advanced Clinical Skills 1   6cp
96054 Research Project 2   6cp
Spring B Session
96073 Clinical Placement 4   6cp
96074 Advanced Clinical Skills 2   6cp
96056 Research Project 3   12cp

Rules and regulations

Inherent Requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are inherent in or essential to the successful completion of a course. The inherent requirements framework for the Master of Clinical Psychology is based on the following six themes:

  1. Legal and Behavioural Requirements;
  2. Communication Tasks – verbal; written; non-verbal;
  3. Cognitive/Intellectual Tasks – literacy; numeracy; knowledge and information;
  4. Sensory Tasks – visual; auditory; tactile;
  5. Physical Tasks – gross and fine motor requirements; and
  6. Sustainable Performance.

It is a course requirement that students complete a number of clinical placements. Clinical placements involve a clinical psychology student going into a clinical setting to undertake the practical components of the course required for registration. If a student has a condition or disability that prevents them from completing a placement, completion of the degree may be hindered. Students should consult the full inherent requirements.

Professional recognition

The Master of Clinical Psychology provides the fifth and sixth year of study required to register as a psychologist in Australia. Graduates are eligible, following two years of supervised practice (external to the university), for endorsement as a clinical psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) and full membership of the Australian Psychological Society, College of Clinical Psychologists, and/or the Australian Clinical Psychology Association.

The UTS program has full accreditation by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Other information

Register to attend an information session and/or contact:
UTS: Clinical Psychology
email gsh.future@uts.edu.au
telephone +61 2 9514 1448