Master of Psychology
Overview
Deepen your knowledge in a chosen area of specialisation and gain the practical training needed for a rewarding career as a practising psychologist.
This 2-year full-time program will equip you with core professional skills and knowledge required to practise competently as a psychologist. You may choose to specialise in counselling psychology, health psychology or sport and exercise psychology.
By undertaking this program, you'll develop core professional competencies, including skills in counselling, behaviour change and psychological assessment. You'll also understand the ethical issues and professional standards relevant to the practice of psychology.
You'll complete a range of advanced coursework in your chosen specialisation, an applied psychology research project supervised by highly trained staff, and specialist and generalist placements.
You'll undertake 1000 hours of supervised clinical placements in a range of organisations, including community service, government, hospitals, healthcare providers and private practice.
The program is recognised by the Psychology Board of Australia as providing suitable training towards eligibility for general registration as a psychologist. This program has full accreditation with the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council.
Program highlights
- Join the largest school of psychology in Australia.
- Learn from staff and academics who are internationally recognised for their work across the breadth of psychology.
- Choose to specialise in counselling, health psychology or sport and exercise psychology.
- Complete an applied research project with support and supervision by highly trained staff.
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
- Counselling
- Health
- Sport and Exercise
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Work placements
- Research experience
- Fieldwork
Placements and work experience
You will have the opportunity to develop your skills and apply your knowledge through 1000 hours of supervised clinical practice in a range of organisations including not-for-profit, community service, and private practice.
Every effort is made to place students within a reasonable distance of the UQ campus but they can be expected to travel up to 60 minutes away. Students are generally placed at Ipswich, Brisbane and the Southeast corner of Queensland.
There will be no extra costs to the student in addition to course fees except for incidentals such as travel and daily expenses. The Master of Psychology Placement Handbook provides additional information about practicum and school experience requirements and is available from the School of Psychology.
Prior to applying, applicants should ensure they will be able to meet placement requirements outlined on this website.
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Advanced clinical health psychology
- Assessment in psychological practice
- Working with children and young people in therapy
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Depending on which field you choose, here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Clinical psychologist
- Registered psychologist
- Sports psychologist
- Relationship counsellor
- Counsellor
- Social worker
- Sexual assault counsellor
- Child and youth counsellor
- School counsellor
- Welfare officer
Graduate salary
Psychology (postgraduate)
compared.edu.au
Professional memberships
When you graduate, you may be eligible for memberships with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to become a member.
- Australian Psychological Society
- APS College of Counselling Psychologists
- APS College of Health Psychologists
- APS College of Sport and Exercise Psychologists
Professional registration
When you graduate, you may be eligible for registration with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to register.
- Psychology Board Of Australia
Program accreditation
The Master of Psychology is accredited by:
- Australian Psychology Accreditation Council
I specialised in health, as the combination of psychology and public health appealed to me and it has been really interesting to learn about how a person's physical health and mental health impact on one another.
I specialised in health, as the combination of psychology and public health appealed to me and it has been really interesting to learn about how a person's physical health and mental health impact on one another.
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What can you do with a Bachelor of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences?
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Extracurricular activities at university led to my arts career
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
To be eligible for entry, you'll need:
Applicants must be eligible for provisional or if applicable, full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.
Applicants with non-Australian degrees must have their qualifications assessed by the APS.
Applicants must be eligible for provisional or if applicable, full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.
Applicants with non-Australian degrees must have their qualifications assessed by the APS.
English language requirements
IELTS overall 7; reading 7; writing 7; speaking 7; listening 7. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL IBT - Overall 100, listening 25, reading 25, writing 27, speaking 23.
TOEFL PB - Overall 600, listening 59, reading 59, writing 64/6.
Pearsons - Overall 72, sub bands minimum 72.
CES - Overall 185, All sub bands minimum 185.
BE and OET are not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Inherent requirements
To complete this degree, you have to meet its inherent requirements by demonstrating essential skills and attributes. Read the inherent requirements before you apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Psychology are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.
Need help meeting the entry requirements?
Additional application information
Irrespective of professional background, entry to the program will be considered on the basis of previous academic study, experience and personal qualities.
Detailed application requirements can be found on the School of Psychology website. Applicants must submit via the Online Application a Psychology Additional Information form, academic transcripts, and CV. In addition, two references will need to be submitted using the Australian Psychology Post-Graduate Program Reference Request System. For further information regarding the reference system including costs, visit www.psychologyreference.org.
Shortlisted candidates are required to undertake an interview. Offers will be made on the basis of academic achievement, references and interview. There are limited places available for this program. A limited number of places are available for suitably qualified applicants on the basis of equity and students identifying as Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander are encouraged to apply.
All successful applicants are required to apply for and gain provisional registration or if applicable, full registration, with the Psychology Board of Australia, which includes the Board's English Language Proficiency requirements. Students must have registration prior to commencing their study and this must be maintained for the duration of the program.
Prior to applying, applicants should ensure they will be able to meet placement requirements outlined on this website.
For applicants who need to provide evidence of English proficiency, please note that this program requires a higher level of English language proficiency than the UQ minimum.
Additional application information
This program has limited intake capacity.
Applicants must submit the Psychology Additional Information form, academic transcripts, CV and nominate three referees^. Shortlisted candidates are required to undertake an interview. Offers will be made on the basis of academic achievement, referee reports and interview.
^ Referees must be: your honours supervisor, another academic staff member and a third person who knows you well. Referees cannot be provided by a near relative or close associate. Examples of near relatives are partner, child, sibling and parents. Examples of close associates are close friends, neighbours and children of colleagues.
All successful applicants are required to apply for and gain provisional registration or if applicable, full registration, with the Psychology Board of Australia, which includes the Board's English Language Proficiency requirements. Students must have registration prior to commencing their study and must be maintained for the duration of the program.
Prior to applying, applicants should ensure they will be able to meet placement requirements outlined on this website.
Fields of study
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
As a counselling psychologist, you'll help individuals, families and groups in areas related to personal well-being, interpersonal relationships, work, recreation and health.
You'll be trained to assist people who are experiencing both acute and chronic life crises. You can find employment in a number of areas where therapeutic counselling is an important focus, such as non-government counselling and crisis organisations, school counselling and health and wellness settings. You may also choose to offer therapy within private practice.
As a graduate, you'll be eligible for registration as a psychologist in Australia and for associate membership in the College of Counselling Psychologists.
As a health psychologist, you can work on health promotion campaigns with the government and NGOs, or work with clients in hospital settings or in private practice.
You'll assist clients who may have chronic pain or disease, or who require palliative care. The role of health psychologists is constantly expanding as the work of promoting good health and managing illness develops.
As a graduate, you'll be eligible for registration as a psychologist in Australia and for associate membership in the College of Health Psychologists.
Careers in sport and exercise psychology provide diverse opportunities from helping elite athletes develop the psychological skills needed to reach peak performance to conducting research and awareness into the benefits of exercise for the treatment of chronic illness.
As a graduate, you'll be eligible for registration as a psychologist in Australia and for associate membership in the College of Sports Psychologists.
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
As a counselling psychologist, you'll help individuals, families and groups in areas related to personal well-being, interpersonal relationships, work, recreation and health.
You'll be trained to assist people who are experiencing both acute and chronic life crises. You can find employment in a number of areas where therapeutic counselling is an important focus, such as non-government counselling and crisis organisations, school counselling and health and wellness settings. You may also choose to offer therapy within private practice.
As a graduate, you'll be eligible for registration as a psychologist in Australia and for associate membership in the College of Counselling Psychologists.
As a health psychologist, you can work on health promotion campaigns with the government and NGOs, or work with clients in hospital settings or in private practice.
You'll assist clients who may have chronic pain or disease, or who require palliative care. The role of health psychologists is constantly expanding as the work of promoting good health and managing illness develops.
As a graduate, you'll be eligible for registration as a psychologist in Australia and for associate membership in the College of Health Psychologists.
Careers in sport and exercise psychology provide diverse opportunities from helping elite athletes develop the psychological skills needed to reach peak performance to conducting research and awareness into the benefits of exercise for the treatment of chronic illness.
As a graduate, you'll be eligible for registration as a psychologist in Australia and for associate membership in the College of Sports Psychologists.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$5,050
2024
$5,050
2024
Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $48,160
2024
AUD $48,160
2024
Additional costs
- Psychology Board of Australia Registration (approx total for 2 years $1000)
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
HECS-HELP
Domestic places in the Master of Psychology are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.
Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.
HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government has approved this master's program for income support payments to be made to eligible students.
Scholarships
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Master of Psychology is 5666.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Master of Psychology is 5666.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 1 - September 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 1 - September 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying - or if you have any questions about Uni - get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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