Key Facts
Part-time (2 years)
Semester 1 each year
Semester 2 each year
$39,118* International
Course Overview
The Master of Professional Psychology Practice (MPPP) is a unique course which is the “+1” part of the 5+1 pathway to general registration as a psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioners Agency (AHPRA).
This course comprises the (CMI sourced) Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA) Internship, during which students develop therapeutic skills, professional knowledge and experience in psychological practice.
Upon successful completion, you will graduate a degree known as the Master of Professional Psychology Practice.
Entry into this program is possible for those who have already completed an APAC accredited 5th year program at another institution. Intakes for direct entry occur in November, February and July each year.
What does this course offer you?
- Robust supervised placement program – individual and group supervision included, and excellent links to further employment. Simply tell us your preferences and we’ll find a placement for you!
- Preparation workshops for the National Psychology Exam (including mock exams).
- Skills development workshops, including trauma informed therapy, couples counselling, writing case reports, and assessment refresher.
- Professional Mentoring Program
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.
Application Period
Applications for February 2025 are now open!
Course Structure
This program consists of 4 units (100 credit points), including one coursework unit (5 credit points) and three placement units (95 credit points).
Full-time (6th year) course structure:
| Semester | Unit Code | Unit Name | Credit Points |
| Summer School | INT600 | Internship Planning & Preparation | 5 |
| 1 | INT601 | Supervised Professional Placement 1 | 35 |
| 2 | INT602 | Supervised Professional Placement 2 | 35 |
| Summer School | INT603 | Supervised Professional Placement 3 | 25 |
Entry Requirements
Applicants must have successfully completed an APAC accredited fifth year course in psychology and be eligible to hold provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.
Documentation required as part of this application include:
- Most recent academic transcripts.
- A current Curriculum Vitae (resume).
- Proof of residency/citizenship (e.g., passport, birth certificate, or citizenship certificate)
- Two academic and one professional reference using the HODSPA reference system. A guide on how to use the system is available here.
Please visit our How to Apply page for instructions on using Cairnmillar’s online Application Portal.
International students must satisfy additional requirements, such as evidence of English Language proficiency, to apply for this program. See our International Students page for further information.
Short-listed applicants will be invited to attend an Admissions Interview with members of Cairnmillar’s academic faculty. This provides applicants the opportunity to discuss any questions they have about the course of study. Further information on interviews can be found 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
Students who satisfactorily complete the Master of Professional Psychology Practice will have capacity to demonstrate the following skills and knowledge:
- Analyse, articulate and synthesise psychology as a systematic body of knowledge.
- Analyse, synthesise and critically reflect on psychological constructs, models and theories.
- Administer and interpret a comprehensive range of psychological tests and assessments.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills for different audiences, as well as effective oral and written communication.
- Apply a range of evidence-based psychotherapies.
- Liaise and collaborate with other allied health professionals in a range of professional and applied settings.
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 may find employment in a variety of settings, including:
- Community health centres
- Schools and tertiary education providers
- Rehabilitation providers
- Human resources
- Forensic and private practice.
On completion of the course, graduates of the program will be eligible for:
- Membership to the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
- General registration as a psychologist with AHPRA.
Accreditation
The Master of Professional Psychology Practice is a Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) accredited program and sits within level 9 of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Although this course is a pathway to general registration as a psychologist, APAC cannot accredit the 6th year Internship Program, as it is regulated by the Psychology Board of Australia instead. For this reason, the MPPP (6th year) is not an APAC accredited course of study (note: the Master of Professional Psychology (5th year) is APAC accredited). See our Pathways & Registration page for further information.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Students applying for this program may enter a process in which they may 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 Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) 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. Further information on RPL can be found here.
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