Master of Professional Psychology
This degree is part of the programs offering government subsidised places
Find information about indicative course and program fees.AUD 48,400 (indicative annual fee, 2024)
Indicative annual fees are based on a full year full time load (80 units). Find out more about fees
2024 International Student Applications Open
See ‘how to apply’ for more information
Study Professional Psychology
The Master of Professional Psychology is a professional qualification for those who wish to practice as a Registered Psychologist. Through intensive psychological training and education, graduates will be skilled in applying advanced psychological learnings competently and ethically across a broad range of professional settings.
You will enhance your theoretical skills and learn to use relevant principles and methods to assist people with a range of behavioural problems, taking into account social and cultural diversity, current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards and codes of ethical practice.
On successful completion of the program and an additional internship year under the supervision of a registered psychologist, graduates will be eligible for registration with the Psychology Board of Australia as a General Registered Psychologist.
Why study with us?
- Take advantage of flexible and diverse placement opportunities – our academic experts will assist you with obtaining diverse placement opportunities that will allow you to develop your professional skills and career in psychology under the supervision of highly experienced Registered Psychologists.
- Be mentored by leading specialists in the field – during your placement, you will be supervised by highly experienced Registered Psychologists to ensure you receive extensive experience and preparation for seeking General Registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.
- Discover an alternative APAC accredited pathway into the profession of psychology – successfully complete our program and complete an additional internship year to become a PsyBA registered psychologist.
- Save up to 85% with a commonwealth-supported place
Where can a Master of Professional Psychology take you?
What you will study
The University of Newcastle’s Master of Professional Psychology offers a professional qualification for those who wish to practice as a registered psychologist.
You will enhance your theoretical skills and learn to use relevant principles and methods to assist people with a range of behavioural problems, taking into account social and cultural diversity, current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards and codes of ethical practice.
Courses to support your drive and direction include:
- Professional & Ethical Practice
- Psychological Practice – Adult Psychopathology
- Psychological Practice – Children and Families
- Counselling and Psychological Interventions
- Assessment in Psychological Practice
- Applications of Psychological Practice
- Psychological Practice
Registration Pathways
Career
Career opportunities
On successful completion of the program and an additional internship year under the supervision of a registered psychologist, graduates will be eligible for registration with the Psychology Board of Australia as a General Registered Psychologist.
Other career prospects may include:
- applied research
- behavioural support practitioner
- counsellor
- community health
- human resources
- law courts
- mental health clinician
- prisons
- private, public and non-government organisations
- rehabilitation consultant and disability services
- specialist psychological services
- schools
- teaching and supervision
Professional recognition
The Master of Professional Psychology is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council and, together with a subsequent year of supervised practice, is a pathway to becoming a registered, practicing Psychologist in Australia.
Practical experience
This program integrates practical placements with suitably qualified supervisors. You will be required to complete a minimum of 300 hours of direct client contact.
How to apply
Applying for Master of Professional Psychology
Application instructions
If you are an Australian Citizen, Australian Permanent Resident, or hold an Australian Permanent Humanitarian Visa, please follow the steps outlined below.
Please ensure that your UAC application is submitted and ALL supporting documentation is provided to The University of Newcastle by 11:59PM AEDT 3 October 2023. No late applications will be accepted.
Admission applications will open via UAC at 9am on 6 September 2023. Instructions on how to apply via UAC are available Online.
The University of Newcastle offers both Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) and Full Fee Paying places in the Clinical and Professional Masters programs. CSP places are limited, and are offered to the highest ranked applicants. CSP places may also be offered to Indigenous applicants whose status has been previously verified in accordance with the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander - Establishing Status within the University Policy.
Applicants who are successful in gaining a Commonwealth Supported place will be notified at the time of offer. * Master of Clinical Psychology– UAC Code 927805 * Master of Professional Psychology – UAC Code 927807. If you wish to be considered for both Masters programs, you must list both as preferences on your UAC application.
Complete the Master of Clinical Psychology and Master of Professional Psychology Admission Portfolio and submit your portfolio and supporting documents within this form.
In addition, if you are offered the opportunity to enrol in the Master of Clinical Psychology or the Master of Professional Psychology you will be required to apply for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) (unless you already are provisionally or fully registered). Please make sure that you are eligible for provisional registration. You are required to meet the Ahpra English Language Skills to meet Ahpra’s requirements to obtain provisional registration.
All applicants must provide TWO referee reports. This could be either one Academic and one Professional reference, or two Professional References, depending on your circumstances.
Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that your referees complete the report via the Psychology Reference Portal.
The University of Newcastle welcomes and encourages Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people to consider applying for entry into our postgraduate psychology programs.
Across our Master of Professional Psychology Program (MPP) and Master of Clinical Psychology Program (MCP) there are two CSP places in the MPP and four CSP places in the MCP which are given preferentially to our highest-ranking Indigenous applicants.
All applicants will be evaluated on their academic achievement, personal statement, curriculum vitae, referee reports, and performance on an interview to ensure that they have the preparedness to undertake the program.
To be considered for CSP places, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants are required to:
- Go through Establishing Status within the University of Newcastle (UON students, Internal Applicants)
- Or send the filled ESTABLISHING ABORIGINALITY AND/OR TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER STATUS - APPLICATION FORM to PVCIndigenous@newcastle.edu.au email address (Applicants from other universities).
Please review the UON Establishing Status within the University policy and if you have any questions or would like more information about this pathway, please contact Dr Stacey McMullen (Stacey.McMullen@newcastle.edu.au).
For all other enquiries, please contact:
- Dr Sally Hunt (Sally.Hunt@newcastle.edu.au) about Master of Professional Psychology Program (MPP)
- Dr Tanya Hanstock (Tanya.Hanstock@newcastle.edu.au) about Master of Clinical Psychology Program (MCP).
Applications are open from August to October 3rd 2023.
CSP places are being prioritised for those who identify and are officially recognised as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander as part of an exception of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 [s51], which is being applied to achieve equality.
The international application deadline of 14th of August has passed (Round 1). No late applications will now be considered for that round.
Round 2 of international applications is now open.
Please ensure that your application and ALL supporting documentation is provided to The University of Newcastle by 11:59PM AEDT 3 October 2023. No late applications will be accepted.
There are two ways to make an application as an international student.
Online
You can apply through our International Admissions System. You can save your online application after you have started, and come back to it later.
Education Agent
You are able to apply through one of the University’s contracted education agents. Our education agents are trained to provide you with support during your university admissions and visa application process. If you have any questions on the application process please, contact ia@newcastle.edu.au.
Please ensure that your application is submitted and ALL supporting documentation is provided to The University of Newcastle by 11:59pm, 3rd of October 2023 (no late applications will be accepted).
Complete the Master of Clinical Psychology and Master of Professional Psychology Admission Portfolio and submit your portfolio and supporting documents within this form.
In addition, if you are offered the opportunity to enrol in the Master of Clinical Psychology or the Master of Professional Psychology you will be required to apply for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) (unless you already are provisionally or fully registered). Please make sure that you are eligible for provisional registration. You are required to meet the Ahpra English Language Skills to meet Ahpra's requirements to obtain provisional registration.
All applicants must provide TWO referee reports. This could be either one Academic and one Professional reference, or two Professional References, depending on your circumstances.
Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that your referees complete the report via the Psychology Reference Portal .
Other things to consider
Make sure you double check the special entry requirements, assumed knowledge or recommended studies for the degree:
Admission to this program is available through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC code 927806).
Admission to the degree is competitive. Applicants require all of the following in order to be considered for a place in the program:
- Successful completion of an AQF Level 8 four-year APAC accredited sequence (or equivalent).
- Eligibility for provisional registration with the Psychology Registration Board of Australia.
- Successful completion of an admission portfolio, including at least two references.
- Successful completion of an interview.
All Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the University’s English proficiency requirement. Further information regarding English language proficiency requirements can be found at the English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy here.
The IELTS requirement for admission to this program is 7.0 with no sub-test less than 7.0.
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All applicants are required to submit an admission portfolio with their admission application. The admission portfolio must include:
- Certified or full colour copies of education and training certificates (if applicable)
- Evidence of civil and academic awards (if applicable)
- Copy of your curriculum vitae
- Evidence of English Language Proficiency Requirements
- All applicants must provide TWO referee reports. This could be either one Academic and one Professional reference, or two Professional References, depending on your circumstances. Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that your referees complete the report via the Psychology Reference Portal. Encourage your referees to check their junk mail folder for this request. Late referees’ reports will not be accepted and applications with fewer than two referee reports will not be considered.
There are two placements required in the program. Each placements will be 20 days (a total of 300 hours) duration.
To ensure that the process goes smoothly for you, you should complete the following steps before applying:
- Review the program that you wish to apply for. Note the admission criteria, admission instructions, requirements & structure and any additional information listed.
- Review the program fees and costs.
- Check whether your postgraduate program has a Semester or a Trimester closing date.
- If you are from a non-English-speaking background, you need to satisfy the University's English language requirements and ensure that you can provide evidence of your English proficiency if required.
You will be considered for entry based on criteria such as your undergraduate studies and/or equivalent prior learning and/or relevant work experience.
Admission to the degree is competitive. Applicants require all of the following in order to be considered for a place in the program:
- Successful completion of an AQF Level 8 four-year APAC accredited sequence (or equivalent).
- Eligibility for provisional registration with the Psychology Registration Board of Australia.
- Successful completion of an admission portfolio, including at least two references.
- Successful completion of an interview.
All Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the University’s English proficiency requirement. Further information regarding English language proficiency requirements can be found at the English Language Proficiency for Admission Policy here.
The IELTS requirement for admission to this program is 7.0 with no sub-test less than 7.0
-
All applicants are required to submit an admission portfolio with their admission application. The admission portfolio must include:
- Certified or full colour copies of education and training certificates (if applicable)
- Evidence of civil and academic awards (if applicable)
- Copy of your curriculum vitae
- Evidence of English Language Proficiency Requirements
If you have completed your undergraduate qualification outside of Australia, you will be required to provide evidence that it has been assessed by the Australian Psychology Society (APS) as equivalent to the Australia Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) 4th Year Psychology Sequence.
Please note that this process can take time, so please ensure that you apply to have this assessed in time for your Admission Portfolio submission.
In addition, if you are offered the opportunity to enrol in the Master of Clinical Psychology or the Master of Professional Psychology you will be required to apply for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) (unless you already are provisionally or fully registered). Please, make sure that you are eligible for provisional registration. You are required to meet the English Language Skills, please note that the requirements of Ahpra are more stringent than those for the University of Newcastle and that you need to meet Ahpra’s requirements to obtain provisional registration.
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All applicants must provide TWO referee reports. This could be either one Academic and one Professional reference, or two Professional References, depending on your circumstances.
Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that your referees complete the report via the Psychology Reference Portal. Encourage your referees to check their junk mail folder for this request. Late referees’ reports will not be accepted and applications with fewer than two referee reports will not be considered.
There are two placements required in the program. Each placements will be 20 days (a total of 300 hours) duration.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.