Master of Clinical Psychology (Post Registration)
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Clinical Psychology (Post Registration) |
| Deakin course code | H745 |
| Course credit points | 8 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Campus | This course is only offered Online with on campus intensives. |
| Duration | 2 years part-time Note this course is only available part-time |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Advance your clinical psychology practice capabilities with the Master of Clinical Psychology (Post Registration), designed for registered psychologists seeking a pathway towards an area of practice endorsement (AoPE) in clinical psychology. Through advanced coursework, practical learning and supervised placement experience, you will strengthen your skills in assessment, diagnosis and intervention across complex mental health presentations.
The course includes 750 hours of clinical placement experience across diverse settings including youth, adult, aged, community, forensic and rehabilitation services. Practical learning experiences, simulations and supervision support the development of advanced clinical assessment, interviewing and therapeutic skills across the lifespan.
Delivered part-time with flexible online learning, the program allows you to balance study with professional commitments while deepening your understanding of evidence-based clinical practice. Elective study options provide opportunities to explore areas including occupational wellbeing, clinical governance and scientist-practitioner approaches to psychology.
Indicative student workload
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals, placements and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Professional recognition
The Master of Clinical Psychology (Post Registration) is currently accredited with the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)
Career opportunities
Expand your employment options by gaining the qualifications and skills to practice as a clinical psychologist. The Master of Clinical Psychology (Post Registration) allows you to pursue an area of practice endorsement and meets accreditation requirements of the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). With 12,500 new jobs expected to be created for psychologists by May 2033*, your enhanced qualifications will ensure you can meet the high demand for clinical psychologists in the healthcare sector.
*Jobs and Skills Australia, Employment Projections May 2023 – May 2033
Participation requirements
The course involves two compulsory clinical placement units HPS712 and HPS709 with 750 clinical hours or approximately 100 days required for course completion.
Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.
Intensive workshops are held on-campus for units:
HPS711, (Burwood, 5 days) and
HPY716 (Burwood campus 4 days)
At Deakin, we’re committed to creating an inclusive learning environment that supports all students to succeed. We work closely with students to identify and reduce barriers, and where possible, provide tailored support to help students engage with learning and assessment activities, ensuring every student has the opportunity to belong and thrive.
If you are disabled, neurodivergent, Deaf, and/or you live with the effects of a mental health condition, chronic health condition, or other condition that impacts your studies or participation in university life, we encourage you to reach out to our Disability Resource Centre for a collaborative and confidential discussion.
Mandatory student checks
Department of Human Services policy - Police Record Check and Working With Children Check
Under the regulations of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009, Master of Clinical Psychology (Post Registration) students are required to be generally registered from the commencement of enrolment and for the duration of enrolment in their degree. This is a mandatory requirement.
In accordance with the Department of Justice 2007, Working with Children Act 2005, amended 2017, all students are required to undertake a Working with Children Check at the commencement of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check and a Working with Children Check prior to the commencement of clinical placement will not be able to undertake clinical placement and this will impede progress in the course.
In accordance with Department of Human Services policy, all students are required to undertake a Police Record Check prior to clinical placements in each calendar year of their course.
Students may also be required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health organisations where they will be undertaking their clinical learning experience. A health organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if the student’s immunisation status is not satisfactory to the health organisation.
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Apply advanced psychological knowledge of aetiology, progression and recovery from psychopathology, and relevant taxonomies, to culturally safe assessment and identification of psychological disorders, current functioning, and risk to self and others. Display advanced knowledge of psychological theories and scientific methods, including through appropriate application of culturally responsive and evidence-based clinical psychology assessment and treatment across the lifespan. |
| Communicate safely and effectively with clients, carers, and colleagues, including discussing risks and benefits of assessment and intervention, in a variety of settings in which clinical psychologists work, including health and medical settings. |
| Ethically use a range of digital technologies including research databases, eHealth, and artificial intelligence applications to support evidence-based clinical psychology practice, research, innovation and evaluation. |
| Critically evaluate, interpret and synthesise research findings with assessment data to inform formulation, diagnoses and treatment approaches for clients and apply these appropriately for the context. |
| Demonstrate and apply an understanding of outcome-based and evidence-based treatment and assessment approaches relevant to the practises of clinical psychology, including through collaborative goal setting and client feedback, and ongoing evaluation of symptom change and other therapeutic outcomes. |
| Proactively engage in reflection and supervision to identify strengths and areas for development, and the impact of culture, values, beliefs, biases and self-care practices on one’s own practice; develop and implement related goals to practice competently in line with clinical psychology practice standards, codes of ethical practice and relevant legal frameworks. |
| Operate effectively within intra- and inter-disciplinary teams, respecting diverse cultural perspectives, skills and contributions, and practicing within the boundaries of professional and cultural competence across a range of settings in which clinical psychologists operate. |
| Practise clinical psychology ethically and legally, in culturally informed, trauma-aware and neuro-affirming ways. Apply knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands peoples’ psychology frameworks and demonstrate a commitment to decolonising clinical psychology practice. |
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Master of Clinical Psychology (Post Registration) you must pass 8 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
An 8-credit point Master of Clinical Psychology (Post Registration) includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 7 core units
- 1 electives (you can choose which ones to study).
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units
All students must complete the following core units, ^practicum units and one zero credit point unit
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HPS711 | Psychological Intervention 3 |
| HPS714 | Studies in Psychopathology |
| HPS778 | Clinical Health Psychology |
| HPS779 | Psychological Assessment 2 |
| HPY715 | Clinical Governance for Clinical Psychology Practice |
| HPS709 | Clinical Placement and Case Analysis 2 ^ |
| HPS712 | Clinical Placement and Case Analysis 3 ^ |
Course electives
Students must choose one of the following units:
| HPY716 | Feedback Informed Practice |
OR
| HPY728 | Applied Methods for Professional Practice * |
*Students who have not completed an APAC accredited Master of Psychology must complete HPY728.
Work experience
Placement program
The clinical placements are designed to equip students with a range of professional skills and an awareness of professional issues. Students will benefit from Deakin’s key placement partnerships including Barwon Health and other organisations to ensure they gain experience of across child, adolescent and adult populations. The placement program will be determined jointly by the student, the placement coordinators, and the course leadership team. Each placement requires the full complement of days to be completed. Failure of any one placement may result in exclusion from the course.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.