A candidate shall:
(a) hold an AQF Level 8 four-year Bachelor honours, or AQF Level 7 three-year Bachelor plus an AQF Level 8 fourth-year Bachelor honours or Graduate Diploma, in an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)-accredited sequence in Psychology at the level of at least second class division one honours or equivalent obtained within the preceding 10 years. An exception to the 10-year rule may be made for currently registered psychologists who can demonstrate current compliance with the Psychology Board of Australia continuing professional development requirements; and be eligible for Provisional Registration with the Psychology Board of Australia; and completion and provision of the following:
1. Working with Children Check;
2. National Police Certificate; and
3. Provisional Registration with the Psychology Board of Australia; or
(b) hold an AQF Level 9 Master of Professional Psychology from the University of New England (or have completed all the units in that course except PSYC531) in addition to satisfying the requirements of Rule (a); or
(c) hold General Registration with the Psychology Board of Australia without conditions for a minimum of 12 months; have completed a minimum of 12 months practice in the role of psychologist with General Registration, and can provide documentary evidence of this in the form of a letter from an employer(s); in addition to satisfying the requirements of Rule (a) (with the exception of the requirements for eligibility for Provisional Registration).
Please note: Places in the Master of Psychology (Clinical) are limited, because of this, applications are ranked: first for an offer of interview, then again for a place in the program. Final offers are based on interview performance, academic record and referee reports. Failure to receive an invitation to interview or offer of candidature in the program does not indicate a determination of lack of suitability for postgraduate professional psychology training but, instead, reflects the high standard of applications UNE receives each year.
Due to the high number of applications to our professional psychology programs, the University of New England does not provide individual feedback on applications or interview performance.
Candidates applying for admission under Rule (c) will need to demonstrate their suitability for this course by responding to selection criteria designed to ensure that candidates can demonstrate competencies in the preceding level of training (Levels 1, 2 and 3 under the 2019 APAC Accreditation Standards). The admission process will include an application, referee reports and interview.
Students must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.
There are also several mandatory requirements that need to be completed as part of the University enrolment process. Please note a number of these requirements take some time to complete, thus admitted students are advised to commence processes immediately to ensure early compliance requirements are met. Please note that these are requirements that must be met by all students before commencing placement.
Students in APAC accredited professional programs must be provisionally registered from the commencement of enrolment and for the duration of enrolment.
Within the first trimester of the course and prior to undertaking a professional clinical placement, students must acquire immunisations required by NSW Health for Category A risk personnel.
Students must sign and return a confidentiality agreement at the commencement of the course, which relates to confidential and sensitive information which will be raised within the class setting and also within clinical skills training and practice sessions.
All students in UNE professional psychology programs will be required to complete an electronic Student Declaration form at the commencement of the course, by the due date. Students must read the document carefully and ensure that they fully understand and comply with all compulsory requirements for the clinical placement components of the course. Students MUST complete the document prior to enrolment in the placement unit.
It is the individual student's responsibility to ensure that they are aware of the contents of the declaration, including all associated documents and abide by it at all times when enrolled in the Master of Psychology (Clinical) course.
Students who are aware of any injury or health impairment which may affect the safety of themselves or others in the clinical placement setting, will be required to provide a Fitness for Practice Certificate signed by their Medical Practitioner prior to commencement of clinical placement. According to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, a health impairment is defined as a physical or mental impairment, disability, condition or disorder (including substance abuse or dependence), that detrimentally affects or is likely to detrimentally affect a registered health practitioner's capacity to safely practise the profession or a student's capacity to undertake clinical training.
Non-compliance with the above requirements will result in students being ineligible for placement. Ineligible students must withdraw from the placement unit prior to the last day to withdraw without academic penalty (if they have not already withdrawn by census date). Failure to do so will result in a fail grade for the placement unit. Compliance with all the above requirements at all times remains the sole responsibility of the student.
Candidates admitted under Rule (a) or Rule (c) may be granted Advanced Standing for a maximum of 48 credit points of coursework units. In accordance with the course accreditation standards, students may only be given credit for coursework that is strictly equivalent to coursework in the current course.
Candidates admitted under Rule (b) shall be granted a maximum of 36 credit points of coursework units for PSYC503, PSYC504, PSYC505, PSYC506, PSYC507 and PSYC512.
Advanced standing will not be granted for the four Clinical Psychology Placement units (PSYC513, PSYC514, PSYC523, PSYC524) or research experience or employment experience prior to entry into the course.
For candidates admitted under Rule (a) and Rule (c), the period of candidature shall be:
(a) two years as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to six years as a part-time candidate.
For candidates admitted under Rule (b), the period of candidature shall be:
(a) one and a half years as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to four years as a part-time candidate.
1. To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 96 credit points as prescribed in the course accreditation standards and approved by the course coordinator. These units shall cover coursework, research and practicum requirements.
2. Candidates admitted under Rule (a) must undertake the first trimester of the course by internal, full-time on-campus study only.
Candidates shall complete an approved program of study as outlined in the Course Schedule comprising:
| Course Structure | Credit Points |
|---|---|
| Core Units including 1000 hours of practicum | 96 cps |
| Total | 96 cps |
To view complete Program of Study click here
| Course Structure | Credit Points |
|---|---|
| Specified Advanced Standing | 36 cps |
| Core Units including 1000 hours of practicum | 60 cps |
| Total | 96 cps |
To view complete Program of Study click here
| Course Structure | Credit Points |
|---|---|
| Core Units including 1000 hours of practicum | 96 cps |
| Total | 96 cps |
To view complete Program of Study click here
Candidates who meet the course requirements shall be admitted to the Master of Psychology (Clinical).
Subject to meeting Advanced Standing rules, candidates admitted to the Master of Psychology (Clinical) under Rule (a) or Rule (c) who apply to discontinue their studies in the course may be eligible to exit with the Master of Professional Psychology upon completion of 48 credit points comprising units PSYC503, PSYC504, PSYC505, PSYC506, PSYC507, PSYC512 and PSYC513 or PSYC514.
Candidates who apply to discontinue their studies and exit with the Master of Professional Psychology must apply for re-admission and will be subject to current course requirements of the Master of Psychology (Clinical). This may mean that they will not receive full recognition for their previous studies should the course structure have changed in response to University requirements.
1. For candidates admitted to the Master of Psychology (Clinical) under Rule (a) or Rule (b), one of the three periods of practical work shall be completed (at a minimum of 100 hours) in the UNE Psychology Clinic of the School of Psychology and Behavioural Science. The remaining practica may be completed outside the University.
2. For candidates admitted to the Master of Psychology (Clinical) under Rule (c), all three periods of practical work shall be completed outside the University.
3. Candidates will be responsible for meeting all expenses arising from practica undertaken away from Armidale.
1. A candidate shall submit a dissertation in the form of a literature review and associated research report. The research report is to be in accordance with reporting standards set out in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association [APA] (6th Edition) and is to embody an original investigation of a topic with relevance to the field of clinical psychology.
2. Depending on the topic under investigation, the approval of the relevant Ethics committee must be sought if required.
3. The School, on the advice of the course coordinator, shall appoint a supervisor, who shall be a member of the teaching or research staff of the University's Discipline of Psychology. An associate of the University (at the rank of academic Level B or higher) may act as Co-supervisor. The supervisor shall advise and supervise the candidate during the period of candidature.
4. The dissertation shall not exceed 2,500 words of text for the literature review and 5,500 words of text for the research report, both excluding appendices.
5. Except in exceptional circumstances, candidates shall be required to enrol in and complete the dissertation in one year long honours period.
1. The dissertation must be e-submitted by the due date.
2. Submission of both the literature review and the research report must include a signed and dated Plagiarism Declaration Form.
3. The research report must include a signed 'Right of Access to Masters Thesis' form for public access via the University library.
4. A processed data file must also be e-submitted for retention in the University's research data repository.
5. One copy of the dissertation is to be printed in hard copy and submitted to the School for the Supervisor's records.
1. The supervisor will assess the literature review. At least two examiners will assess the research report.
2. The examiners may be internal or external to the University of New England at the discretion of the course coordinator.
3. A candidate's supervisor must not be an examiner of the research report.
4. The final result will be determined by a committee from within the Discipline, not including the supervisor, on the basis of all assessors' reports and confirmed by the School's Teaching and Learning Committee. The dissertation will be awarded the grade of Fail, Pass, Credit, Distinction or High Distinction.
1. Candidates may have their candidature terminated on the grounds of unsatisfactory progress or unprofessional or unethical conduct.
2. Unprofessional or unethical conduct shall be determined with reference to the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics and the UNE General Rules, Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Rule and the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Procedures.
3. Failure in any unit shall result in termination of candidature.
4. Before a candidate has his/her candidature terminated, he/she shall be given opportunity to show cause why such action should not be taken.
Candidates are referred to the Academic Assessment Appeals Policy and the Academic Assessment Appeals Procedures.
Candidates are referred to the Course Progression Rule and the Course Progression Procedures.
Candidates are referred to the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Rule and the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Procedures.