Master of Professional Psychology

Name: Master of Professional Psychology
Price: <p>Tuition: per semester AU$18,200</p> AUD

VU course code: HMPP | CRICOS: 103252A | Level of study: Postgraduate

Duration

1 year

Delivery mode

In person

Fees

Tuition: per semester AU$18,200

Location

Footscray Park

Next start date

24 February 2025

Overview

Prepare for your final internship to become a practising psychologist, with a Master of Professional Psychology at Victoria University.

The Master of Professional Psychology at VU provides an accredited pathway to register with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) as a practising psychologist. Accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC), this course concludes five years of university training, followed by a required year of supervised psychology practice at a professional internship of your choice, outside the university.

Through in-depth learning and supervised placements under expert guidance, you will build your skills and knowledge to progress towards becoming a practising psychologist.

At VU Psychology Clinic, you will provide psychological services under close supervision to a culturally diverse community seeking support for a range of mental health issues. For strong career outcomes, you will have opportunities to:

practise both face-to-face and using telehealth
facilitate group psychotherapy programs
apply for a placement at our Orygen outpost where you will gain experience in providing early-interventions for youth mental health.

Applications & closing dates

Due to limited places and a high volume of applications, it is important applicants apply early. If places are filled in the timely round, round two and three applications will not be considered, or applications may close early. Below are the closing dates for each round:

Round 1 closes 25 October 2024
Round 2 closes 18 December 2024
Round 3 closes 12 January 2025.

A reminder that applicants need to arrange two referee reports (one personal and one academic) via the Psychology Reference Portal.

Applicants also need to provide a resume/CV with their application and complete the supplementary form available as part of the application process. Find more information about how to apply on this page.

: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Critically review and elucidate the contribution, demands and responsibilities of psychologists in the delivery of comprehensive collaborative care;

Critically analyse social and psychological issues from diverse perspectives and levels incorporating cultural responsiveness, including with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities;

Formulate and evaluate evidence-based and effective intervention plans for clients with psychological difficulties across the lifespan;

Critically review evidence-based literature to identify and apply best practice guidelines for psychological assessment and intervention;

Exhibit advanced interpersonal and interprofessional communication skills to debate and elucidate complex ideas and to engage in a culturally responsive manner with diverse individuals and multiple stakeholders;

Critically review psychological research literature, using established research procedures, to investigate a topic relevant to the evidence-base of professional psychology practice; and

Appraise ethical and professional conduct issues faced by practising psychologists and exhibit high standards of social and ethical responsibility.
: Based on the scientist-practitioner model of advanced psychology training, this postgraduate psychology course combines practical classes and supervised practice to help you acquire and apply the following skills:
psychological and cognitive assessment, case formulation and diagnosis of a range of common mental health and neurodevelopmental issues
ethical decision-making to support your safe and effective practice across interprofessional settings
culturally sensitive practice to assist your work with diverse communities
evidence-based interventions to support the wellbeing and recovery of young people, adults, older adults, groups and families.
: Over two practicum units, you will undertake at least 300 hours of supervised work placement at VU Psychology Clinic, where you will provide psychological services to members of a culturally diverse community seeking support for a range of mental health issues. You can also apply for a placement at our Orygen outpost.
In addition, several of our units include role-playing practitioner-client interactions in different contexts to ensure you feel best prepared to support real clients at VU Psychology Clinic. Our teaching, clinic and supervision staff bring a wealth of practical experience from the private and public mental health sectors to enhance your professional development at every stage of your training.
: Upon completing a Master of Professional Psychology at VU, graduates will have the competencies to complete a required year of supervised psychology practice at a professional internship of your choice, outside the university.
After completing this final internship year, you will become eligible to sit the National Psychology Exam and apply for general registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) through the '5+1 internship model' for registration.
The Master of Professional Psychology is currently accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and approved by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) as a suitable program of study for the purpose of gaining registration as a psychologist.
: Study this course via our award-winning VU Block Model®, where you complete one subject at a time over four weeks, rather than juggling several at once.
Learning in workshop-style classes, you’ll develop strong connections with your peers and practical skills for your future career.
You’ll also get fast feedback on your assignments, helping you to improve quickly as you progress through your course.
Learn more about the VU Block Model®

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your education, work experience, current skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a different course. We call this a ‘pathway’.

For PhD applicants, we offer a related ‘Integrated PhD’ which allows you to establish relevant skills before beginning your research.

You may also be eligible for course ‘credits’, where you are granted a unit or units towards your qualification for equivalent previous study or work experience, so you can graduate sooner.

Entry criteria

To be considered for postgraduate study, you will need to have specific academic qualifications, as outlined below. We also consider non-academic research and work experience for our research candidates.

Admission criteria

Completion of Bachelor Honours degree (or equivalent) in psychology (accredited by the Australian Psychological Accreditation Council, completed within the last 10 years, with a minimum average of at least 75 in fourth-year sequence). OR Completion of an Australian Graduate Diploma (or equivalent) in psychology (accredited by the Australian Psychological Accreditation Council, completed within the last 10 years, with a minimum average of at least 75). PLUS IELTS (or equivalent): Overall score of 7 (with no band less than 7.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) in keeping with the AHPRA registration Standard for English Language Skills. Applicants would need to have their relevant studies formally assessed by the Australian Psychological Society for equivalency.

Additional information

Applicants will also be required to: • Submit a completed VU supplementary information form. • Provide two referee statements (one personal and one academic) submitted via Australian Psychology Postgraduate Reference System at https://www.psychologyreference.org/ • Attend an interview (short listed applicants only) • Obtain a Working with Children Check prior to being placed in a work placement setting, in accordance with the accreditation requirements and the Department of Justice. Students with an overseas qualification in psychology will need to provide certification from the Australian Psychological Society (APS) that their qualification/s are equivalent to an APAC-approved, 4-year sequence in psychology.

Special entry programs

If you are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic or cultural background, you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. These programs are designed to help you access education more easily.

Learn more about special admission programs

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course structure

To attain the Master of Professional Psychology students will be required to complete:

96 credit points of Core units.

Units

Fees & scholarships

As an international student at Victoria University, you will be required to pay your tuition fees up front each semester.

There may be additional materials fees throughout your studies, depending on your chosen course, as well as an administrative fee as part of your course.

Victoria University is proud to support our international scholarship recipients and sponsored students.

Fees

Scholarships

Careers

The Master of Professional Psychology provides an accredited pathway to registration as a psychologist. After graduating, you can apply for a required internship year of supervised practice in psychology, as approved by the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA). Following completion of both this course and the internship year, you will become eligible to sit the National Psychology Exam, and apply for registration as a general psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA).

Graduates of the Master of Professional Psychology at VU go on to have rewarding careers that match their passions and interests in these areas: