Work component

Mandatory work component = 1200 hours.

This mandatory work component must be completed as part of the award requirements for the course.

Applying for entry

2024 applications open on 1 August 2023 

Inherent requirements

There are inherent requirements for clinical psychology study at the University of Sydney, including for both the MCP and the MCP/PhD. Applicants should review these inherent requirements to ensure they are able to successfully complete the course.

Inherent requirements are the essential components of a course that demonstrate the abilities, knowledge and skills required to achieve the core learning outcomes of the course, while preserving the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment and accreditation processes.

The University welcomes and encourages applications from students with disabilities, and from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. Where there are physical, intellectual, cultural, religious or other factors that impact on a student’s ability to meet the inherent requirements, the University will make reasonable adjustments to assist the student to meet the requirements. 

Admission requirements

• 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 an 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.
    
• 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.
• Prior to applying, you must arrange a research supervisor from the School of Psychology, by contacting academics directly to discuss potential supervision. 
• You will be required to provide evidence of supervisor contact and acceptance. Once you have arranged a supervisor, you will be required to submit a research proposal to support your application. 
• Search for a potential supervisor with clinically relevant research areas via:
  • Research Supervisor Connect 
  • School of Psychology Research Areas

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.

English language requirements (if relevant)

Applicants must comply with the English language requirements of the University of Sydney (a minimum of 7.0 overall and a minimum result of 7.0 in each band). English language test scores must be less than two years old from course commencement.

Applicants must also comply with the English language requirements of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Additional English language requirements apply under the current AHPRA standards for registration. Where AHPRA standards are inconsistent with University of Sydney standards, the higher standard will apply. 

Applicants relying on primary, secondary and/or tertiary qualifications to satisfy AHPRA's English language requirements must provide documentary evidence to demonstrate completion of the qualification, language of instruction, duration and recognised country. Recognised countries include: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, UK or USA.

English language requirements must be met by the application closing date.

Selection criteria

Admission is very competitive due to the large number of high calibre applications received and limited number of places available each year. All applications must be submitted by the application closing date. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered for the selection interview. Only top-ranking applicants meeting all academic admission requirements and selection criteria will be invited to attend a selection interview.

In order to be competitive:

• Within the Faculty of Science in the University of Sydney, first class honours is considered to be an overall fourth year/stage 2 result of no less than 80%. A minimum result of first class honours is required for entry into MCP/PhD.
• The overall fourth year/stage 2 result includes fourth year/stage 2 units of study only. Results from the first three years of undergraduate study are not included in the calculation.
• If you are unable to provide evidence of your overall honours result as a mark out of 100 (%) on your transcript or as a letter from your fourth year/stage 2 coordinator or administrator, your numeric GPA or non-numeric grade will be mapped to the lower end of the scale for ranking purposes.

The selection interview aims to identify applicants who have a demonstrated interest in clinical psychology, an awareness of clinical issues, and are personally suitable for clinical practice, with sound interpersonal and relational skills. We are looking for applicants who demonstrate the capacity to achieve high levels of scholarship, to be responsive to diversity, and to handle the stress and demands of clinical training. We aim for our graduates to become emerging leaders in the profession, in clinical, research or academic contexts. The selection interview is usually held in the first week of December.

Offers of admission will be made to qualified applicants on the basis of academic merit and interview, according to the admissions and selection criteria. Offers are usually made from mid-December.

How to apply

What to apply for?

• The MCP/PhD double degree is only available to domestic applicants. Applicants submit two separate admission applications - one for MCP and one for PhD.
• Please note that the application for PhD (for MCP/PhD) is different to the application for standalone PhD. Please do not submit an application for standalone PhD.

Gadigal Program

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants who wish to be considered for admission under the Gadigal Program must additionally submit a Gadigal application. Eligible applicants may be given priority for the selection interview.

Application procedure

• Review the School of Psychology’s Application Procedure Guide (PDF, 205KB) for detailed step-by-step instructions. 
• Upload no more than 5 supporting documents to your application:

1. Identification PDF
2. Academic PDF
3. English PDF (if relevant)
4. Research PDF (research proposal, supervisor acceptance)
5. Authorisation PDF (for applicants currently enrolled in fourth year honours)

Referee reports

All applicants must provide references via the Psychology Reference System.

MCP/PhD applicants must provide two academic references.

Applicants must register with the Psychology Reference System to nominate their two referees online. Referees are then prompted to complete an online reference. Applicants must share the completed references with the University of Sydney via the Psychology Reference System.

• Applicants who do not correctly provide completed references and share these with the University of Sydney via the Psychology Reference System by the application closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that the University of Sydney does not operate the Psychology Reference System. The University of Sydney is not responsible for monitoring and reviewing content of the Psychology Reference System website.

Professional accreditation, registration and endorsement

Accreditation

The MCP/PhD provides a professional postgraduate qualification in clinical psychology. 

• The MCP/PhD is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as a 5th and 6th year of study, and is an approved qualification for Associate Membership of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA) and the Australian Psychological Society (APS) College of Clinical Psychologists. 
  

• The Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA), through APAC, also recognises both courses for the purposes of registration and for endorsement of practice in clinical psychology.

• The MCP/PhD is recognised, in principle, by the New South Wales Ministry of Health as qualifying the holder for progression to the grade of Clinical Psychologist. 

Registration

Provisional registration

• Before commencing candidature in the MCP/PhD, 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/PhD.
  

Full registration

• MCP/PhD students will be eligible for full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA), following the completion of all coursework and placements of the MCP, and research writing has progressed sufficiently to be equivalent in size and scope to the thesis requirements for the MCP.
  

Clinical endorsement

In order to gain endorsement from the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) as a Clinical Psychologist, following the completion of the MCP/PhD, graduates need to undertake a two-year full-time equivalent Registrar program. 

• The Clinical Psychology Registrar program is a two-year full time equivalent program which involves clinical psychology practice, supervision, and continuing professional development.

• Students are eligible to apply to AHPRA's Psychology Board of Australia, seeking approval to undertake the Registrar program once they have been granted full registration.
  

International equivalency

In regard to international equivalency for accreditation and registration of the MCP/PhD, students are advised to contact the relevant accreditation and registration bodies in their own country for accurate advice.

However, with careful selection of clinical placements and additional clinical placements hours, MCP/PhD graduates may meet UK, European, US and Canadian standards.