Program Requirements

The Masters of Professional Psychology requires completion of 96 units which must consist of:

PSYC8410 Foundations of Professional Psychology

PSYC8411 Research Methods and Statistics in Professional Psychology  

PSYC8413 Psychological Assessment   

PSYC8421 Psychological Interventions

PSYC8422 Contextualizing Professional Psychology

PSYC8510 Advanced Assessment in Professional Psychology

PSYC8511 Advanced Psychological Interventions  

PSYC8512 Ethics and Professional Practice

PSYC8513 Preparation for Professional Psychology Placements

PSYC8520 Evidence in Professional Psychology

PSYC8521 Advanced Health Psychology and Lifestyle Medicine

PSYC8522 Professional Psychology Placement (12 units which must be taken in the final semester of the program)

PSYC8412 Professional Psychology Research Project (18 units which must be taken during the first year - as 6 units in first semester and as 12 units in second semester)

Students must satisfy the progression requirements of provisional registration or equivalent with the Psychology Board of Australia before progressing to the final 48 units.

Students who do not satisfy the progression requirements of provisional registration or equivalent with the Psychology Board of Australia will be transferred to graduate from the Graduate Diploma of Professional Psychology.

Capstone Courses

Study Options

Admission Requirements

A Bachelor degree or international equivalent with an APAC accredited sequence of courses in Psychology

1.   with GPA of at least 5/7 

2.   Successful assessment of suitability based on interview and 2 referee reports

Where ranking of applications is required, the GPA will be used to determine the selection rank.

All applicants must meet the University’s English Language Admission Requirements for Students

Students must satisfy the progression requirements of provisional registration or equivalent with the Psychology Board of Australia before progressing to the final 48 units.

Students who do not satisfy the progression requirements of provisional registration or equivalent with the Psychology Board of Australia will be transferred to graduate from the Graduate Diploma of Professional Psychology.

This program has a quota on places due to availability of supervision. 50% of places will be reserved for ANU undergraduate students. 10% of places will be reserved for Indigenous applicants and will be awarded if there are suitable applicants and the opportunities for accessing professional scholarships will be explored.

Applicants with an AQF 8 Graduate Diploma or Honours degree with an APAC accredited sequence of courses in Psychology may be eligible for up to 48 units (one year) of credit.

Applicants who are deemed eligible for the full 48 units of credit will also need to satisfy the progression requirements of provisional registration or equivalent with the Psychology Board of Australia as an admission requirement.

Due to the highly structured nature of this program, it is highly recommended that this program should be taken full-time. Part-time enrolment should be negotiated with the Program Convener and would require part-time with a minimum of two courses per semester, taken in the order prescribed by the Research School of Psychology.

Applications must be received by the 31st October in order to be considered.

Credit Granted

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 48 units (one year) of credit.

Cognate Disciplines

Psychology with an APAC accredited program https://www.psychologycouncil.org.au/standards_review

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Learning Outcomes

1. Advanced knowledge of the theoretical and conceptual foundations of assessment and intervention relevant to professional psychology practice

2. Advanced communication skills in oral and written formats

3. Understanding of, ability to apply and commitment to the ethical, legal, culturally competent and self-reflective professional practice of psychology

4. The ability to critically analyze and synthesize complex information relevant to the practice of professional psychology

5. The ability to collaborate effectively with clients and other service providers

6. The ability to conduct and interpret research relevant to the professional practice of psychology  

7. The skills required to engage in psychological assessment under appropriate supervision

8. The skills required to engage in psychological interventions under appropriate supervision

9. Awareness, knowledge and skill in interacting and working with clients across the lifespan and from diverse cultural settings including those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds

Inherent Requirements

Information on inherent requirement is currently not available for this program.

Further Information

Additional information for admissions purposes:

• Referee report forms should be sent directly by your referees via email to rsp.hdr.sa@anu.edu.au
• Alternatively, domestic applicants who are applying to the Master of Professional Psychology program through the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) are able to access the National referee system offered by Psychology Reference. The Reference Request System allows applicants for Australian post-graduate programs in Psychology to apply for a reference from academic and /or professional referees and for these references to be shared with the nominated institutions. For further information regarding this system please visit http://www.psychologyreference.org
• Applications close on the 31st October. In order to be considered, referee reports must have been received by the school by this date.

Information on provisional registration or equivalent with the Psychology Board of Australia:

• Provisional registration or equivalent with the Psychology Board of Australia must be maintained for the entirety of the second year of the program. For information, please see the Board’s Provisional Registration Standard https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Registration/Provisional.aspx and all other Standards that apply to Provisional registration https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Standards-and-Guidelines/Registration-Standards.aspx
• Please note that the English Language Skills Standard must be met by all applicants please check https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Standards-and-Guidelines/Registration-Standards.aspx .

Students will also have to seek additional documentation prior to enrolling in the placement course in the second 48 units of the program. This may include:

• Any requirements of the ANU, ACT Health and NSW Health and other external placement providers including immunisation and health screening.
• ACT Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP) Card
• An AFP National Police Check Certificate

Applicants from Australian Universities (other than ANU) must provide evidence from their University that their qualification is APAC accredited. Applicants with qualifications obtained outside Australia must have a formal assessment of comparability against the Australian psychology education pathway (called an “assessment of psychology qualifications”) by the Australian Psychological Society.