Key facts
Duration
2 years part-time
Note this course is only available part-time
Locations
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course overview
Our Master of Clinical Psychology (Post Registration) is a pathway for registered psychologists to gain an area of practice endorsement (AoPE) to work as a clinical psychologist.
Advance your professional knowledge and acquire new skills to care for patients with complex mental health conditions. You’ll gain 750 hours of clinical experience while you study, ensuring you graduate with the skills and qualification you need to practice in clinical psychology.
Are you ready to take the next step in your psychology career?
Boost your employment prospects in the fast-growing mental health sector. There are 12,500 new jobs projected to be created for psychologists by May 2033* with strong demand in the discipline of clinical psychology.
As a clinical psychologist, you’ll embark on a rewarding career supporting individuals with mild to severe mental health conditions. You’ll be equipped with an in-depth knowledge of the clinical features and causes of psychological disorders through this course. Further enhance your skills in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for patients across the lifespan.
Through practical learning opportunities including simulations and supervised placements, you will build your diagnostic interviewing and assessment skills. Across 750 hours of clinical placement, you’ll gain diverse experience working with patients across different demographics - including youth, adult, aged, inpatient, outpatient, community, forensic, and rehabilitation services.
Explore topics of interest to you and gain a competitive employment advantage by choosing from a range of elective units in your second year of study. You will be able to deepen your knowledge of topics including clinical governance in psychology, feedback informed practice, occupational wellbeing, and how to use evidence and applied methods to establish yourself as a scientist practitioner.
Balance your study with work and life commitments by completing the course part-time. You can also complete most of your learning online, with some in-person requirements for intensive units and placement hours.
At Deakin, you’ll gain a well-rounded knowledge of psychological practice and will be equipped with the skills to integrate advanced theories and therapeutic techniques into your clinical practice. Apply now and gain the qualification you need to compassionately support patients experiencing adverse mental health conditions.
*Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Projections May 2023 – May 2033
Read MoreCourse information
- Award granted
- Master of Clinical Psychology (Post Registration)
- Year
2025 course information
- Deakin code
- H745
- Level
- Higher Degree Coursework (Masters and Doctorates)
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9
Course structure
To complete the Master of Clinical Psychology (Post Registration) students must attain 8 credit points. All units are 1 credit point each. Students complete 7 core units and 1 course elective. The course is only available part-time, thus students can complete the course over four trimesters by enrolling in two credit points in each trimester.
The eight units comprise:
- 5 core units
- 2 core practicum units
- 1 course elective unit
All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Core units
All students must complete the following core units, ^practicum units and one zero credit point unit
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
Mandatory student checks
In accordance with Department of Human Services policy, all students are required to undertake a National Police Record Check prior to clinical placements in each calendar year of their course.
In accordance with the Department of Justice 2007, Working with Children Act 2005, amended 2017, all students are required to undertake a Working with Children Check at the commencement of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check and a Working with Children Check prior to the commencement of clinical placement will not be able to undertake clinical placement and this will impede progress in the course.
Students may also be required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health organisations where they will be undertaking their clinical learning experience. A health organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if the student’s immunisation status is not satisfactory to the health organisation.
Workload
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals, placements and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Participation requirements
Students are required to complete two compulsory clinical placements totalling 750 hours, or approximately 100 days.
Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Work experience
Placement program
The clinical placements are designed to equip students with a range of professional skills and an awareness of professional issues. Students will benefit from Deakin’s key placement partnerships including Barwon Health and other organisations to ensure they gain experience of across child, adolescent and adult populations. The placement program will be determined jointly by the student, the placement coordinators, and the course leadership team. Each placement requires the full complement of days to be completed. Failure of any one placement may result in exclusion from the course.
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
Please note, there are limited places in this course and entry is competitive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
Academic requirements
For entry to the Master of Clinical Psychology (Post-Registration) students must currently hold general registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia and have practiced for a minimum of 12 months full-time equivalent, without any current conditions upon this registration.
English language proficiency requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- bachelor degree
- IELTS overall score of 7.0 (with no band score less than 7.0) in each component of test
- other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
Non-academic requirements
You will also need to provide all of the following documents:
- a CV with evidence of the previous 12 months Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- a personal statement
- TWO references. Applicants are encouraged to include one professional and one academic reference
Please note: there are limited places in this course and entry is competitive, you may be asked to attend an interview as part of the selection process.
Admissions information
Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.
Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn’t have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you are able to commit to your study.
Recognition of prior learning
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Learn more about fees and your options for paying.
The available fee places for this course are detailed above. Not all courses at Deakin have Commonwealth supported places available. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical first-year tuition fees for students enrolled in this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.
One year full-time study load is typically represented by eight credit points of study. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.
You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook. Learn more about fees and available payment options.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship could help you pay for your course fees, living costs and study materials. If you've got something special to offer Deakin - or maybe you just need a bit of extra support - we've got a scholarship opportunity for you. Search or browse through our scholarships
Postgraduate bursary
If you’re a Deakin alumnus commencing a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible to receive a 10% reduction per unit on your enrolment fees.
Apply now
To apply, create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal details and education experience, upload supporting documents and submit. Need help? Play this video, or contact one of our friendly future student advisers on 1800 693 888 or submit an online enquiry.
For more information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply webpage. If you're still having problems, please contact us for assistance.
Contact information
Our friendly advisers are available to speak to you one-on-one about your study options, support services and how we can help you further your career.
- Call us: 1800 693 888 Monday – Friday, 9am–5pm
- Live Chat: Monday - Friday
- Submit an online enquiry
- Help hub find common and trending questions and answers
Careers
Career outcomes
Expand your employment options by gaining the qualifications and skills to practice as a clinical psychologist. The Master of Clinical Psychology (Post Registration) allows you to pursue an area of practice endorsement and meets accreditation requirements of the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). With 12,500 new jobs expected to be created for psychologists by May 2033*, your enhanced qualifications will ensure you can meet the high demand for clinical psychologists in the healthcare sector.
*Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Projections May 2023 – May 2033
Professional recognition
The Master of Clinical Psychology (Post Registration) is currently accredited with the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), until 31 December 2025 and is seeking continuing accreditation.
Course learning outcomes
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply advanced psychological knowledge of aetiology, progression and recovery from psychopathology, and relevant taxonomies, to culturally safe assessment and identification of psychological disorders, current functioning, and risk to self and others. Display advanced knowledge of psychological theories and scientific methods, including through appropriate application of culturally responsive and evidence-based clinical psychology assessment and treatment across the lifespan. |
| Communication | Communicate safely and effectively with clients, carers, and colleagues, including discussing risks and benefits of assessment and intervention, in a variety of settings in which clinical psychologists work, including health and medical settings. |
| Digital literacy | Ethically use a range of digital technologies including research databases, eHealth, and artificial intelligence applications to support evidence-based clinical psychology practice, research, innovation and evaluation. |
| Critical thinking | Critically evaluate, interpret and synthesise research findings with assessment data to inform formulation, diagnoses and treatment approaches for clients and apply these appropriately for the context. |
| Problem solving | Demonstrate and apply an understanding of outcome-based and evidence-based treatment and assessment approaches relevant to the practises of clinical psychology, including through collaborative goal setting and client feedback, and ongoing evaluation of symptom change and other therapeutic outcomes.
|
| Self-management | Proactively engage in reflection and supervision to identify strengths and areas for development, and the impact of culture, values, beliefs, biases and self-care practices on one’s own practice; develop and implement related goals to practice competently in line with clinical psychology practice standards, codes of ethical practice and relevant legal frameworks. |
| Teamwork | Operate effectively within intra- and inter-disciplinary teams, respecting diverse cultural perspectives, skills and contributions, and practicing within the boundaries of professional and cultural competence across a range of settings in which clinical psychologists operate. |
| Global citizenship | Practise clinical psychology ethically and legally, in culturally informed, trauma-aware and neuro-affirming ways. Apply knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands peoples’ psychology frameworks and demonstrate a commitment to decolonising clinical psychology practice. |
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