How to apply

Applicants with at least an upper H2A Honours degree in psychology (or equivalent) may apply for Master of Clinical Psychology or Master of Clinical Neuropsychology and must use the form labelled ‘DOMESTIC STUDENTS ONLY: Application for Admission to a Postgraduate Coursework Program’ (available below).

Two supporting academic referee reports and two professional referee reports are required (on proforma). Applicants must indicate first and second preferences if applying for each of the degrees (Clinical Psychology or Clinical Neuropsychology).

No university scholarships are available for Master of Psychology coursework degrees. Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) (HECS) will be offered to those candidates eligible for Commonwealth support.

Applicants with a first class Honours degree in psychology (or equivalent) may apply for the Doctor of Clinical Psychology and Doctor of Clinical Neuropsychology professional doctorates by research and must use the application form labelled ‘Higher degree research application’.

Two academic referee reports and two professional referee reports must be provided (on proforma). Applicants must indicate first and second course preferences if applying for each of the degrees (Clinical Psychology or Clinical Neuropsychology) on one form.

Applicants with a first class Honours degree (or equivalent) may also be considered for scholarships (Australian Postgraduate Award and/or La Trobe University Postgraduate Research Scholarship) by ticking the appropriate boxes.

Before submitting DPsych application forms, candidates must obtain agreement from a member of staff willing to supervise the proposed research and notify their intention to the Director of Postgraduate Programs:

Professor Susan Paxton

Telepone +61 3 9479 1736
susan.paxton@latrobe.edu.au

YOU MUST INCLUDE AN OUTLINE OF REASONS FOR APPLYING TO AN MPSYCH OR DPSYCH PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM (NO MORE THAN 300 WORDS).

LOCAL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 31ST OCTOBER. INTERNATIONAL APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 30 SEPTEMBER.

SHORTLISTED APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND AN INTERVIEW, TO BE HELD IN NOVEMBER, AS THE FINAL BASIS FOR SELECTION TO MASTER OF PSYCHOLOGY AND DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAMS.

Applicants for the PhD require at least an H1 Honours degree in psychology (or equivalent), and applicants for the MSc by research require at least an upper H2A. Applicants must use the application form labelled ‘Higher degree research application’. Two academic referee reports must be provided (on proforma).

Applicants with a first class Honours degree (or equivalent) may also be considered for scholarships (Australian Postgraduate Award and/or La Trobe University Postgraduate Research Scholarship) by ticking the appropriate box.

Before submitting PhD/MSc application forms, candidates must obtain agreement from a member of staff willing to supervise the proposed research and notify their intention to apply to the Director of Postgraduate Programs:

Professor Susan Paxton

Telepone +61 3 9479 1736
susan.paxton@latrobe.edu.au

Credit points

The Master of Psychology coursework degree requires 240 credit points for completion (120 per year full-time).

The Doctor of Psychology research training scheme degree requires 420 credit points for completion (120 per year full-time for three years and 60 for Semester 1 of year four).

Undergraduate pre-requisites/equivalence

Applicants must have completed a three-year program in psychology accredited by APAC (Australian Psychology Accreditation Council) (and have attained at least a B average over the three years) as well as an APAC-accredited fourth year of psychology (either Honours/postgraduate diploma or equivalent). The fourth year result must be at least an upper H2A or equivalent for Master of Psychology, and at least H1 (first class Honours) for the Doctor of Psychology degrees.

NB: applicants who have completed their undergraduate qualifications overseas should submit their academic records to the Australian Psychological Society (APS) to be assessed as equivalent to an Australian four year sequence (contact APS directly: a fee is charged). 

Required Honours results

The fourth year course (either an Honours degree or a postgraduate diploma) must be accredited by APAC and the result equivalent to at least H2A to be regarded as a prerequisite for Master of Psychology or H1 for the doctorates. The course content must contain a fourth year empirical research thesis of approximately 15,000 words and count for at least fifty per cent of the work requirements.

Attendance

Full-time professional program places are just that - five days per week, normal office hours (9 am to 5 pm). There is flexibility with timing though for non-seminar components such as casework, placement and research thesis (where students can devise a schedule to suit clients and supervisors).

The Master of Psychology coursework degree may be completed in up to four years part-time. The Doctor of Psychology research training scheme degree may be completed in up to seven years part-time. No part-time candidature is available to international applicants. 

Thesis requirements

Although bound together, the MPsych coursework thesis contains two parts which are written as self-contained documents that could stand alone. The first part is a literature review of up to 5000 words. The second part is the empirical research report which is in journal article style. The current word limit 15,000 words. The word limit for a DPsych research training scheme doctorate thesis is 75,000 words, with a recommended maximum of 60,000 words.

Referees

Applicants usually require two academic and two professional referees. Academic referees can assess academic suitability for higher degree candidature based on undergraduate record. Professional referees provide assessment of the candidate’s suitability for professional training based on experience in a professional capacity (e.g. evidence of skills working with people, such as volunteer work). One referee can complete both an academic and a professional reference if qualified to do so.

Offers, commencement and deferring

Offers are usually made early in December. Offers can be accepted or declined on a written form.

Professional postgraduate degrees may only be commenced in first semester.

A place cannot be deferred. If an offer is declined the applicant must apply again for a place in a subsequent year.

Scholarships

Candidates applying for a research training scheme place in the Doctor of Psychology may also apply for a scholarship (closing dates: 31 October for local applicants and 30 September for international applicants).

University scholarships are not available for Master of Psychology coursework degrees. 

Distance Education

Distance education/external enrolment is not possible for Master or Doctor of Psychology.