Clinical Psychology

Are you fascinated by the human mind? Do you want to help people think in a positive way at work, in their home life and socially?

Our well-regarded program will provide you with postgraduate clinical training to practise in a range of clinical settings such as hospitals, community health centres and private practice, all while giving you a strong foundation for life-long professional learning.

The ANU Master of Clinical Psychology degree is a program of clinical coursework, clinical field placements (1000 hours) and a research project (12,000 words). Our contemporary training is founded on the scientist-practitioner model where clinical skills and interventions are considered on the basis of available scientific evidence and knowledge.

Career Options

Employment Opportunities

This degree is the basic professional qualification in clinical psychology. However, this degree also can form the basis of a career in other areas in psychology as well as outside the discipline. 

Within psychology, graduates from this program have gone on to work as clinical psychologists, counsellors, forensic psychologists, neuropsychologists, health psychologists, organisational psychologists and sport psychologists.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Clinical Psychology graduates will be able to demonstrate:

1. Advanced knowledge of and the ability to critically evaluate theory in clinical psychology including a deep understanding of theories underlying assessment, diagnosis, case formulation, and the treatment of psychopathology across the lifespan.
2. An advanced level of skill in the application of psychological knowledge to a wide range of psychological problems and disorders across the lifespan.
3. An advanced level of skill in diagnostic interviewing and counselling and a high level of competence in the principles and practice of clinical assessment, diagnosis, case formulation, and psychological therapy.
4. An advanced level of skills in psychological testing and test data interpretation and in the writing of psychological reports.
5. Advanced knowledge and skills in the interpretation and critical evaluation of psychological and other research relevant to the broad field of clinical psychology practice.
6. Advanced knowledge and skills in the application and implementation of appropriate research methodologies to advancing knowledge in both fundamental and applied issues in clinical psychology.
7. Understanding of the principles and application of the scientist-practitioner model and evidence-based psychological practice to the field of clinical psychology.
8. Knowledge and application of the ethical, professional, and legal frameworks relevant to the practice of clinical psychology.
9. Advanced skills in communicating and working with other health professionals and non-professionals including a high level of ability in written communication (e.g., clinical and research reports) and oral communication (e.g., research, case presentations, seminars).
10. Awareness, knowledge and skill in interacting and working with clients from diverse cultural settings including those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds

For admission to the Master of Clinical Psychology degree, students must have satisfactorily completed 12 compulsory courses totalling 96 units, with a grade of Course Requirements Satisfied (CRS) in each.

PSYC8101 Clinical Coursework I

PSYC8102 Clinical Coursework II

PSYC8103 Clinical Coursework III

PSYC8104 Clinical Coursework IV

PSYC8201 Clinical Field Placement I

PSYC8202 Clinical Field Placement II

PSYC8203 Clinical Field Placement III

PSYC8204 Clinical Field Placement IV

PSYC8301 Clinical Research I

PSYC8302 Clinical Research II

PSYC8303 Clinical Research III

PSYC8304 Clinical Research IV

Clinical Coursework

The coursework covers the areas of basic and clinical research, clinical assessment, psychological intervention, as well as professional and ethical issues. A variety of teaching methods are used including didactic teaching, problem and case based learning, skills workshops and site visits.

Sub-courses in Clinical Coursework I and II (first year for full time student)

Presentation of Psychological Abnormality

Clinical Psychological Assessment

Child and Family Assessment and Treatment

Psychological Interventions

Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy

Models and Methods in Clinical Psychology

Professional Ethics and Professional Development

Research Methods in Clinical and Health Psychology

Clinical Case Presentations

Sub-courses in Clinical Coursework III and IV (second year for full time student)

Neuropsychology

Health Psychology

Interpersonal processes in psychotherapy

Community Psychology

Clinical Workshops

Clinical Case Presentations

Clinical Field Placements

In their first semester, students attend courses preparing them for their first clinical placement which begins in June-July of the first year in the ANU Psychology Clinic. Subsequent to this placement they undertake three or more supervised clinical field placements.

Clinical Research

Part of the requirements of the Master of Clinical Psychology degree is the completion of an appropriate empirical research project normally supervised by a member of staff of the School of Psychology. Students begin work on this project from the beginning of the first year of the course and are expected to submit the two completed written components of this project by  31 January of the year following their second year. These written components are (1) a literature review of the research topic of no more than 6000 words (2) a journal article manuscript of the research project of no more than 6000 words.

Performance and attendance

The Clinical Program is a professional training program and the School has a responsibility to ensure that graduates complete certain training requirements to a high standard. Both attendance and the satisfactory completion of assessment processes are necessary conditions for the successful completion of any of the degrees offered in the clinical program. High standards of academic and professional performance as well as ethical conduct are expected of all our students. All components of the program  will be assessed. Students must satisfy course requirements in each and every component of the program (coursework, clinical placements and research) in order for the degree to be awarded. Students will not be permitted to proceed with their research if failures are recorded in the coursework or clinical placement components of their study program.

A Bachelor degree in Psychology with Honours or international equivalent with an average mark of at least 70%

Entry to this program is highly competitive.

The minimum academic requirement for entry is an honours degree in psychology at the IIA level or better.  Entry by a fourth year postgraduate diploma in psychology will also be considered.  However, diplomas must (a) be of honours standard, (b) contain a substantial research methodology component, and (c) be accredited for Associate Membership of the Australian Psychological Society.  Applicants can check the acceptability of their degree by contacting the Australian Psychological Society (www.psychology.org.au/).  Applicants with qualifications obtained outside Australia must have a formal assessment completed by the Australian Psychological Society before submitting an application for study.
 
Additional factors considered in assessing applications are previous relevant experience, availability of supervision for research component and written application. The Clinical Committee will invite prospective students to a personal interview prior to making a final decision on admission.

Prerequisites

Completion of undergraduate courses in abnormal psychology is a prerequisite and completion of undergraduate courses in the areas of psychometrics, personality and health psychology is highly recommended.  As the Clinical Program focuses on a science-based approach to clinical practice, prior acquisition of competence in statistics and research methodology is an important criterion, usually demonstrated by the successful completion of a fourth year thesis.

Eligibility for conditional registration as an intern psychologist with the Psychologist's Registration Board of the Australian Capital Territory is a condition of entry into the School of Psychology's Clinical Program. Other entry qualifications need to be assessed for their compliance with the above-mentioned standards. 

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to current and future students to assist with the cost of their studies. The University is committed to enabling all students, regardless of their background, to achieve their best at ANU and realise their potential. 

Eligibility 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.