Become a clinical psychologist. Train in this exciting field.
Not applicable
AU$39,360 (2024 annual)
The Master of Clinical Psychology provides you with the advanced knowledge and clinical skills that will enable you to function as professional clinical psychologist in a wide range of health, community and allied settings.
This training encompasses a wide range of theoretical and applied topics, such as knowledge of psychological principles, application of psychological theories and models, design and implementation of psychological interventions, ethical, legal and professional aspects of psychological practice, psychological assessment and measurement, applied research and evaluation, and communication and interpersonal relationships.
Gain practical experience before you graduate through clinical placements and supervised work in our Health Sciences Clinic.
Learn from experts and make professional connections through our established industry partnerships.
With accreditation from the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council, this degree puts you on the path to becoming a registered psychologist
Advanced skills in assessment, diagnosis and treatment are imparted through intensive, small-group face-to-face didactic lectures/seminars, tutorials, case presentations, role plays and workshops. Students receive ample opportunities to develop advanced therapeutic skills within a cognitive-behavioural framework and other contemporary evidence-based theoretical paradigms, utilising the scientist-practitioner model.
You’ll experience a range of learning environments, participating in lectorial seminars, a diverse range of placement duties, and supervised academic research.
Lectorials are used extensively in this degree to communicate knowledge and guide student learning.
A large proportion of time is spent under supervision in the on-campus Health Sciences Clinic treating clients presenting with a variety of psychological, educational and developmental problems.
RMIT’s clinical psychology service offers high-quality support for children, adolescents and adults. It allows postgraduate students, registered as provisional psychologists, the opportunity to treat the general public under the supervision of senior clinical staff, all of whom are registered practitioners.
In addition, you’ll be required to undertake two practicum placements off-campus in supervised psychological practice (minimum of 40 days and 60 days, respectively) in agencies such as hospitals, clinics and other health facilities.
Casework subjects and field placements comprise a minimum of 132 days of practicum experience. You'll also do a supervised research thesis. In addition to this, students complete a supervised research project, reporting their findings in a thesis document at the conclusion of the program.
Practicum training provides our trainees with opportunities to develop clinical skills through a wide variety of clinical practicum programs and internal and external clinical placements. As a trainee, you’ll undertake four internal practicums (minimum of 40 days each) in the RMIT Health Sciences (Psychology) Clinic, as well as two practicum placements (40 and of 60 days each respectively) in external agencies such as hospitals, clinics and other health facilities. During the practicum training, you will learn and practice clinical skills under the supervision of experienced clinically-endorsed, AHPRA-registered supervisors.
The types of classes you have will depend on the course you’re studying. Classes are offered in various formats designed to provide meaningful engagement with staff, industry and peers and provide for access and use of spaces where learning can be applied and active, including an array of specialised equipment.
Most RMIT courses do not include passive large-scale classes such as lectures, instead the content traditionally provided in lectures is made available online. This may be in the form of readings, videos or other on-demand learning materials. This content will also support the basis of interactive learning that takes place in on-campus classes.
RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional or vocational practice.
Industry input into the curriculum is regularly provided via the program advisory board.
The knowledge and skills you will acquire throughout this degree and how they can be applied in your career are described in the learning outcomes.
The two-year Master of Clinical Psychology consists of 16 courses, valued at 192 credit points, and includes structured and comprehensive coursework, so that our trainees can acquire in-depth knowledge in the areas outlined below:
As a trainee, you will learn advanced skills in the design and conduct of clinically-relevant research, and how to assess data in a critical and objective manner; attributes that are essential for best-practice as a clinical psychologist. As part of your practical training, you will undertake an original research project in an area applicable to clinical psychology, with example project topics from previous years including:
Choose a plan below to find out more about the subjects you will study and the course structure.
Note: International student visa holders can only study full-time.
Clinical psychologists are specialists in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems and mental illness.
They work in a wide range of community settings, including private practices, hospitals, general medical practices, community health services and universities. Clinical psychologists also function as valued members of multi-disciplinary teams where they work alongside practitioners from other health and medical disciplines.
This program has been accredited with conditions by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Visit APAC.
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).
On completion of the program you'll be eligible to apply for registration with the AHPRA (Psychology). Registration will allow you to practise in any Australian state or territory. Specialist endorsement as a clinical psychologist is possible after two years of supervised practice following completion of the Master of Clinical Psychology.
You need to satisfy all of the following entry requirements to be considered for entry into this degree.
You must have:
AND
AND
AND
Please note that entry to this program is competitive and meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an offer.
Applicants will be ranked and short listed based on their average percentage across their fourth year of study, references, and personal statement. Short listed applicants will be invited for an interview.
The selection interview aims to identify applicants who have a demonstrated interest in clinical psychology, an awareness of clinical issues, and are personally suitable for clinical practice, with sound interpersonal and relational skills. We are looking for applicants who demonstrate the capacity to achieve high levels of scholarship, to be responsive to diversity, and to handle the stress and demands of clinical training.
Offers will be issued subject to the outcome of the interview.
Interim grades will be used for ranking where applicants are still completing their fourth year. Final grades provided after the short-listing process is complete will not be considered as part of the ranking or shortlisting process.
There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.
A selection task is not required for entry into this qualification.
Local applicants who completed an APAC approved fourth year of study in psychology that was taught and assessed entirely in English must meet the University’s minimum English language requirements for local students.
Local applicants who completed an APAC approved fourth year of study in psychology that was taught and assessed in a language other than English must complete an IELTS test achieving a score of 8.0, with no band less than 8.0, or equivalent.
If you have not received an outcome (offer or deny) by mid-December, it means that while most offers have been issued, you are still on the ranked list and will considered for further offers, if additional places become available.
Submit your application directly to RMIT University by clicking the Apply button.
See the direct applications page for instructions on submitting your application.
Your application cannot be considered until all required information has been correctly submitted.
We may contact you to request additional documentation. Please ensure you check your emails regularly.
Please attach the following when submitting your application:
Your offer letter may list conditions that you will need to meet by a specified deadline, such as providing evidence that you have completed your degree and maintained an average of 80%. Please read the conditions listed on your offer letter carefully.
You will also be required to accept your offer by a specified deadline. If you do not accept your offer by this date, your offer will lapse, and the place will be offered to the next ranked applicant. Please ensure you check your emails for additional information carefully.
Successful applicants must complete any specified immunisation or compliance requirements prior to commencing the clinical component of the program. These processes can be time consuming and should be started once you have accepted your offer. Failure to do so could impact on your clinical component commencement. Please see the ‘Immunisation and compliance requirements’ heading below for further information.
If you are successful in obtaining a place in this program, you must meet a number of professional compliance requirements upon commencement of your studies.
Immunisations may be required by the placement organisation. Students will need to check the immunisation requirements of the placement organisation before commencing their placements.
For more information or if you have any questions about these requirements please contact RMIT Connect – Work and Study Opportunities where your enquiry will be dealt with accordingly.
*All relevant screening and compliance check fees are the responsibility of the student.
The following information outlines the tasks you will be required to undertake during professional experience placement and on-campus learning activities.
The non-academic abilities listed are provided for your information only and are not entry requirements.
If there are any activities outlined which may be difficult for you to undertake, there are a range of adjustments to your study conditions available to enable and support you to demonstrate these abilities. Please contact the Equitable Learning Service to discuss any adjustments you may require.
By understanding the types of activities you’ll participate in, you can:
If you are living with disability, long-term illness and/or a mental health condition, we can support you by making adjustments to activities in your program so that you can participate fully in your studies.
To receive learning adjustments, you need to register with Equitable Learning Service
The University considers the wellbeing and safety of all students, staff and the community to be a priority in academic and professional experience placement settings.
You need to satisfy all of the following requirements to be considered for entry into this degree.
You must have:
AND
AND
AND
Please note that entry to this program is competitive and meeting the minimum entry requirements does not guarantee an offer.
Applicants will be ranked and short listed based on their average percentage across their fourth year of study, references, and personal statement. Short listed applicants will be invited for an interview.
The selection interview aims to identify applicants who have a demonstrated interest in clinical psychology, an awareness of clinical issues, and are personally suitable for clinical practice, with sound interpersonal and relational skills. We are looking for applicants who demonstrate the capacity to achieve high levels of scholarship, to be responsive to diversity, and to handle the stress and demands of clinical training.
Offers will be issued subject to the outcome of the interview.
Interim grades will be used for ranking where applicants are still completing their fourth year. Final grades provided after the short-listing process is complete will not be considered as part of the ranking or shortlisting process.
There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.
A selection task is not required for entry into this qualification.
To study this program you will need to complete the following English proficiency test:
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
If you have not received an outcome (offer or deny) by mid-December, it means that while most offers have been issued, you are still on the ranked list and will considered for further offers, if additional places become available.
Submit your application directly to RMIT University via International Application portal. See the apply to RMIT as an international student page for instructions on submitting your application.
Your application cannot be considered until all required information has been correctly submitted.
We may contact you to request additional documentation. Please ensure you check your emails regularly.
Please attach the following when submitting your application:
You will need to obtain one academic referee report and one professional or personal referee report. The reports must be submitted online via the Reference Request System. This system allows applicants for Australian postgraduate programs in Psychology to apply for a reference from academic and/or professional referees. There is a $35.00 fee payable for use of the Reference Request System. Your referees must submit their reports to the Reference Request System no later than the application closing date.
If you are successful in obtaining a place in this program, you must meet a number of professional compliance requirements upon commencement of your studies.
Immunisations may be required by the placement organisation. Students will need to check the immunisation requirements of the placement organisation before commencing their placements.
For more information or if you have any questions about these requirements please contact RMIT Connect – Work and Study Opportunities where your enquiry will be dealt with accordingly.
*All relevant screening and compliance check fees are the responsibility of the student.
The following information outlines the tasks you will be required to undertake during professional experience placement and on-campus learning activities.
The non-academic abilities listed are provided for your information only and are not entry requirements.
If there are any activities outlined which may be difficult for you to undertake, there are a range of adjustments to your study conditions available to enable and support you to demonstrate these abilities. Please contact the Equitable Learning Service to discuss any adjustments you may require.
By understanding the types of activities you’ll participate in, you can:
If you are living with disability, long-term illness and/or a mental health condition, we can support you by making adjustments to activities in your program so that you can participate fully in your studies.
To receive learning adjustments, you need to register with Equitable Learning Service
The University considers the wellbeing and safety of all students, staff and the community to be a priority in academic and professional experience placement settings.
You can gain entry to this masters degree from a range of RMIT undergraduate programs, if you meet the entry requirements.
Credit, recognition of prior learning, professional experience and accreditation from a professional body can reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant experience.
Credit and exemptions will be assessed consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.
Upon successful completion of this degree, you may be eligible for entry into an RMIT Masters by Research or Doctoral (PhD) program.
You can gain entry to this masters degree from a range of RMIT undergraduate programs, if you meet the entry requirements.
Credit may reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant study experience.
When you are submitting an application, please indicate that you want to be considered for credit and provide detailed course syllabus (also known as course outline), outlining volume of learning, course content and weekly topics, learning objectives/outcomes, assessment types and their weightings, and reference to the learning resources such as prescribed textbooks and recommended readings.
Credit and exemptions will be assessed consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.
Upon successful completion of this degree, you may be eligible for entry into an RMIT Masters by Research or Doctoral (PhD) program.
Entry for this program is primarily through Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs).
Government financial assistance is available to eligible students regardless of the type of place you enrol in.
Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
*Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
For information on how to pay your fees or how to apply for a refund, please see Paying your fees and applying for refunds.
If you are offered a Commonwealth supported place, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government.
Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set on an annual basis by the government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of your individual enrolled courses, not the overall program.
The Australian Government has introduced changes to university funding and student contribution fees under its Job-ready Graduates Package.
The fees in the table below apply to students who commence their program in 2024. Fees for continuing students are available at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Each course (subject) falls into a band. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at Fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount (per EFTSL) in 2024 |
|---|---|
| Education, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics, Statistics, Nursing, Indigenous and Foreign Languages, Agriculture | $4,445 per standard year $555 per standard (12 credit point) course |
| Allied Health, Other Health, Built Environment, Computing, Visual and Performing Arts, Professional Pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work, Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Science, Pathology | $8,948 per standard year $1,118 per standard (12 credit point) course |
| Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science | $12,720 per standard year $1,590 per standard (12 credit point) course |
| Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications, Society and Culture | $16,323 per standard year $2,040 per standard (12 credit point) course |
On 1 January 2022, the Government implemented the Student Learning Entitlement (SLE).
For more information about SLE, visit Study Assist.
If you are offered a full-fee place, you will need to pay the full tuition costs of your program. However, eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) may apply to defer payment of some or all of their tuition fees via the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2024 is $351.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the HECS-HELP loan scheme, which allows eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) to defer payment of up to the full amount of their student contribution.
Eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) may apply to defer payment of some or all of their tuition fees via the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme.
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
If your HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
This program is approved for income support.
You may be eligible for student income support payments from the Commonwealth Government if you are undertaking a graduate certificate, graduate diploma or an approved professionally oriented masters by coursework program. For more information see Income support for Masters students.
If you are enrolled in an eligible program you will also need to satisfy all other student payment eligibility requirements. You can contact Centrelink or Services Australia for further information about student income support entitlements, your eligibility and how to apply.
You may be eligible to apply for income tax deductions for education expenses linked to your employment.
See the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for more information.
For postgraduate by coursework students enrolled full-time in a health-related discipline who can demonstrate circumstances which impact their study; worth up to $5,000.
For Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students working, or intending to work in the social and emotional well-being workforce, enrolled in related programs; worth up to $135,000 for tuition fees, SSAF and financial support.
RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.
The annual tuition fee for 2024 is AU$39,360.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2024 commencement is AU$80,640.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.
Find out more details about how fees are calculated and the expected annual increase.
Find information on how to apply for a refund as a continuing international student.
RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.
Use our Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the application process and its equity access schemes, find out how to accept or defer your offer or request a leave of absence, discover information about your fees, refunds and scholarships, and explore the various student support and advocacy services, as well as how to find out more about your preferred program, and more.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.
