Master of Clinical Psychology
A top 20 university globally (QS World University Rankings 2024)
Information for
students, undefined levels, undefined
About this course
Gain the knowledge and practical experience to work as a professional clinical psychologist through the Master of Clinical Psychology (MCP), with expert supervision in clinics, teaching hospitals and community settings.
Who is it for?
If you have studied psychology and wish to further your experience and education, the MCP is the perfect course for you, and will help you to gain full registration as a professional psychologist in Australia.
Key information
Duration
2 years full-time
(Not available part-time)
Intake/s
Location
Camperdown/Darlington University of Sydney
Study mode
Face to face
Additional information
Credit points
Total amount of credits points required to complete this course. All subjects have a credit point value to indicate their contribution towards completing the course.
Career paths
By the end of this degree, you will have the highly developed knowledge base and strong clinical skills needed to work as a professional clinical psychologist in many clinical and community settings.
Our graduates can be found working across a variety of roles, including:
- clinical, forensic, organisational or sports psychologist (with further study)
- neuroscientist
- market researcher
- school counsellor
- advertising executive
- management consultant
- social policy analyst
- learning and attention researcher
Honours graduates have the necessary training to work in schools, hospitals, prisons, human resources, with people with developmental disabilities, and in various social policy areas in the private and public sectors.
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council as a 5th and 6th year of graduate study in professional psychology.
Graduates are eligible for full registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia, and are also eligible for a registrar program in clinical psychology.
To gain full registration, graduates also need to satisfy additional requirements available on the how to become a registered psychologist page.
Following successful completion of a registrar program, graduates are eligible for endorsement in clinical psychology with the Psychology Board of Australia.
What you’ll study
The Master of Clinical Psychology is an accredited postgraduate coursework degree that will provide you with the skills to work in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of psychological disorders. You will gain knowledge and practical experience with supervision in clinics, teaching hospitals and community settings. You will complete core units of study according to a prescribed pattern of study, along with 1200 hours of supervised clinical placements and a research project on an approved topic.
View sample study plan
For indicative information on course structure, units of study and course rules, please refer to the latest course handbook via the 2024 Handbooks website. Handbooks for future years, including for new courses commencing in a future year will progressively be available in November each year.
Professional practice
This course involves supervised clinical placements and research. Qualified Clinical Psychologists provide trainees with supervised clinical practice in the internal Psychology Clinic as well as a variety of external teaching hospitals and clinics.
Mandatory work hours
This course requires you to complete the following number of work hours:
1200 Total hours
Fees
*How this is calculated
Admission criteria
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Qualifications
Mandatory for course entry
- Completion of an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited four year bachelors degree with honours in psychology from a higher education provider, gaining at least first class honours or equivalent.
- The bachelors degree with honours must include a major research project and thesis as an essential part of the degree.
- The bachelors degree with honours must include a major research project and thesis as an essential part of the degree.
- You must satisfy the Head of the School of Psychology (or delegate) of your personal suitability for the practice of clinical psychology through your application, references and selection interview.
- Applicants for the MCP/PhD must additionally meet the PhD admission requirements.
Gadigal Program applicant qualifications
Please note that Gadigal Program applicants have different qualification requirements, please see detailed information below.
Non-Australian qualifications (if relevant)
- The Australian Psychological Accreditation Council (APAC) provides information on APAC accredited psychology qualifications in Australia.
- The Australian Psychological Society (APS) assesses non-Australian qualifications for APAC equivalence. All qualifications obtained from a non-Australian Higher Education Provider must be assessed as equivalent by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) before an application may be submitted.
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Prerequisites
Provisional registration
Before commencing candidature in the MCP degree, all students are required to have applied for provisional registration with AHPRA's Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA).
Students must hold provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) in order to commence clinical placements in the first year of the MCP degree.
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Inherent requirements
Key consideration
Inherent requirements are the essential tasks and activities necessary to be able to achieve the core learning outcomes of a course.
Before applying, it is important for you to read and fully understand the inherent requirements for this course.
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English language requirements
Mandatory for course entry
Admission to this course requires evidence of your English proficiency through one of the options below.
English proficiency is based on standards set by the University of Sydney as well as the English language requirements of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Where the standards may vary the higher requirements will apply.
How to apply
Before applying
Read application procedure guide and prepare documents
Admission is very competitive due to the large number of high calibre applications received and limited number of places available each year. It is important to read the application procedure guide to understand:
- Application steps
- Application timeline
- Supporting documents
- Selection criteria
- Admission pathways
- FAQ's
Gadigal Program applications
Eligible Gadigal applicants will be given priority for the selection interview and may apply with an honours grade H2.1 (Class II, Division 1) and above. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants who wish to be considered for admission under the Gadigal Program must provide evidence of their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander identity in accordance with our policy. Please email our team at [email protected] for more information or support with your documentation.
Authorisation form
If you are currently enrolled in your fourth year, your final result may not be available at the time of application closing. If this is the case, please complete this Authorisation Form (pdf, 523KB) to provide written consent for your institution to release provisional results to the University of Sydney.
Arrange references
All applicants must provide references via the Psychology Reference System. See further information in the Application Procedure Guide on types of references needed and when to submit them.
Submit application
You can apply online via the ‘Apply’ button on this course page.
Applicants should commence submission of their application through the online portal early enough to ensure that computer/internet issues do not prevent submission by the closing time, as late submissions will not be accepted.
Visit the How to apply page for other important information
| Applications open | Applications close |
| Tuesday 1 August 2023 for 2024 admission | 9am, Monday 23 October 2023 for 2024 admission |
This course has limited places available. Not all applicants who meet the application deadline and requirements may be successful. Apply early as applications can close prior to the advertised closing dates if course capacity is reached.
Additional information
You may be eligible for the NSW Health Tertiary Health Study Subsidy Program. For information on how to apply, see here.
For admissions enquiries please contact:
