Key Facts
$97,483* (international)
Course Overview
The Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) program prepares students for professional practice and undertaking a Psychology Board of Australia approved registrar program, leading to endorsement as a clinical psychologist. Clinical psychology focuses on the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of complex clinical disorders across the life span. Students will develop advanced knowledge, skills and experience in psychopathology, assessment and therapeutic interventions.
Students participate in over 1,000 hours of supervised work placements and undertake qualitative or quantitative research into aspects of psychological interventions, such as the therapeutic process, client and therapist experiences, change processes, various presenting issues and studies of treatment outcomes.
Students also undertake advanced coursework units, which are central to the practice of clinical psychology, as well as units of professional skills development and training.
All teaching staff are experienced clinicians and academics who are committed to advancing the field of psychology through their own work and their interaction with students.
What does this course offer you?
- Robust supervised placement program – three internal CMI clinics and deep links with industry and professional agencies.
- Opportunities for all students to observe practicing clinical psychologists in public mental health settings.
- Coverage of multiple therapeutic modalities (including CBT and psychodynamic approaches, as well as Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Family Systems approaches).
- Subjects to equip you for the demands of professional practice across a range of settings including public mental health, private practice, health and hospital settings and community agencies.
Please note: Cairnmillar’s courses are subject to minimum and maximum group numbers. Courses may be cancelled or postponed if minimum numbers are not achieved by the start date of the course. Courses may close prior to the start date if the maximum numbers are reached. In that situation, eligible applicants will be offered a place in the next available intake.
Course Information Session
Application Period
Applications for 2026 semester 1 are now closed!
For more information about future intakes and other study options, contact our Applications team at [email protected].
Information Session
There are no upcoming info sessions for this course but you can book a one-on-one consultation with our Student Services team if you have any questions about this course, how to apply, or your eligibility.
Course Structure
This program consists of 200 credit points. Students undertake a total of 15 units of study consisting of eight coursework units (100 credit points), four placement units (50 credit points) and three research units (50 credit points).
Year One
| Semester | Unit Code | Unit Name | Credit Points |
| FULL YEAR (1 & 2) |
CLN560 | Supervised Clinical Placement A & B | 25 |
| 1 | CLN501 | Cognitive-Behavioural Processes and Interventions | 12.5 |
| 1 | CLN502 | Psychological Assessment, Diagnostic Testing and Interview Competencies | 12.5 |
| 1 | CLN503 | Professional Practice and Professional Ethics | 12.5 |
| 1 | CLN551 | Research Project A | 12.5 |
| 2 | CLN504 | Child and Adolescent Psychopathology and Intervention | 12.5 |
| 2 | CLN552 | Research Project B | 12.5 |
Year Two
| Semester | Unit Code | Unit Name | Credit Points |
| 1 | CLN602 | Adult Psychopathology and Intervention | 12.5 |
| 1 | CLN603 | Interpersonal Processes & Therapeutic Practices | 12.5 |
| 1 | CLN653 | Research Project C | 12.5 |
| 1 | CLN662 | Supervised Clinical Placement C | 12.5 |
| 2 | CLN601 | Health Psychology | 12.5 |
| 2 | CLN604 | Psychodynamic Therapy | 12.5 |
| 2 | CLN654 | Research Project D | 12.5 |
| 2 | CLN663 | Supervised Clinical Placement D | 12.5 |
Entry Requirements
Applicants to this program must have successfully completed a four year, or three plus fourth year, APAC accredited sequence in psychology within the last ten years, obtaining a minimum weighted average mark of 75 (upper second-class Honours) overall.
Applicants must also be eligible for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia. See Pathways & Registration.
An order-of-merit for entry will be prepared, taking into account (a) academic record, (b) previous work experience and training, (c) academic and professional referee reports and (d) admissions interview.
Please see the how to apply page for detailed instructions on submitting an application. Documentation required in the application includes:
- Most recent academic transcripts.
- Proof of residency/citizenship (e.g., passport, birth certificate, or citizenship certificate)
- One academic and one professional reference using the Psychology Reference Portal.
Short-listed applicants will be invited to attend an admissions interview with members of Cairnmillar’s academic faculty. This provides applicants with the opportunity to discuss any questions they have about the course of study. Further information on interviews can be found on our FAQ page here.
Inherent Requirements
Inherent requirements are those skills, values and behaviours which must be demonstrated by students in order that they successfully complete the program of study. As a guide for prospective and current students, a series of inherent requirement statements have been developed that relate to student admission and progression through the course. These requirements are mandatory; however, there may be some flexibility in how they can be demonstrated. Click here to view the Inherent Requirements.
Graduate Learning Outcomes
- Knowledge of the Discipline
-
- Implement core clinical psychology principles across a range of settings.
- Assess and diagnose a variety of clinical presentations with reference to the DSM-5/DSM-5-TR.
- Interpret current research on psychopathology and apply this to formulate appropriate intervention and assessment protocols.
- Ethical, Legal and Professional Matters
- Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the Australian Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics as well as relevant legislation that informs current professional practice.
- Apply ethical principles to professional practice.
- Psychological Assessment and Measurement
- Develop knowledge of a broad range of assessment measures and understand the theoretical frameworks and psychometric properties that support their empirical validation.
- Demonstrate an ability to administer, score, interpret and write up specific assessment batteries.
- Intervention Strategies
- Demonstrate an understanding of a select range of empirically validated interventions suitable for use with adults and children.
- Perform interventions in an effective and ethical manner and to be able to evaluate therapeutic outcomes.
- Research and Evaluation
- Demonstrate an expert understanding of a particular topic relevant to Clinical Psychology. This understanding is exhibited by: the development of the intellectual skills necessary to interpret previous findings and developments relevant to their research in clinical psychology and the ability to devise and implement an original research project that is based on sound and current research methods.
- Conduct high quality research independently and ethically and be able to disseminate findings to both specialist and non-specialist groups.
- Communication and Interpersonal Relationships
- Demonstrate effective and efficient written and oral communication skills.
- Relate appropriately to a range of clients and mental health professionals across academic and clinical settings.
- Working within a Cross Cultural Context
- Develop competence in working in a culturally sensitive manner with clients from diverse backgrounds.
- Supervision and Reflective Self-Practice
- Demonstrate an appreciation of the importance of reflective self-practice and the ability to implement constructive feedback in order to improve clinical practice
- Practice across the Lifespan
- Deliver a range of psychological services appropriate to adults, children, adolescents and older adults.
Fees & Scholarships
*Total fees are estimates only based on the current fee schedule. Annual tuition fee review and possible increases applies, see: Fees & Scholarships.
For information on tuition fees and what scholarships might apply to this course, please visit the Fees & Scholarships page.
Career Opportunities & Study Pathways
Graduates will be required to complete a PsyBA approved supervision plan to be accepted as registrars, followed by two years of supervised practice for the purpose of gaining endorsement in the area of clinical psychology and becoming clinical practitioners with Medicare.
Clinical psychologists are trained in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of psychological conditions. They can seek employment in a variety of settings, including:
- Private practice
- Community mental health centres
- Psychiatric hospital settings
- Teaching and supervision
- Program and policy development and evaluation
- Tertiary education and universities
- Clinical rehabilitation services
- And many more…
On completion of this course, graduates will be eligible to apply for:
- A Psychology Board of Australia approved Clinical Psychology Registrar program, as the pathway to gaining endorsement as a clinical psychologist.
- Full membership to the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and associate membership of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.
Accreditation
The Master of Psychology (Clinical) is a Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) accredited program and sits within level 9 of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Further information on accreditation can be found on the APAC website, as well as in APAC’s publicly available accreditation reports.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Applicants to this program may apply to be granted credit or partial credit towards the qualification, in recognition of previous experience where an equivalence of earlier learning can be established.
Credit transfer for an APAC accredited course is only applicable for recently completed APAC accredited postgraduate programs. Credit or partial credit is not granted in recognition of knowledge or skills gained through work or life experience.
The granting of credit for placements on the basis of previous experience gained as a registered psychologist is not permitted by APAC.
Cairnmillar’s RPL policy can be viewed here and further information can be found here.
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