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Postgraduate

Master of Professional Psychology

Domestic students International students
Master of Professional Psychology (MPPS)
Entry requirements
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Study mode
  • On-campus
  • External
Campus
  • Ipswich
Duration
  • 1 year or part-time equivalent
Start
  • Jan
Intakes
Note: If enrolled in the External study mode, your mandatory residential school courses and internships will be held on-campus at UniSQ Toowoomba.

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Overview

  • Take the next step to become a registered psychologist with UniSQ’s Master of Professional Psychology. 
  • Have you have already completed a four-year psychology degree and want to achieve general registration? Our Master of Professional Psychology, plus one year of full-time supervised practice, will qualify you for a career as a Psychologist. 
  • Your professional psychology masters and practical experience will prepare you to provide psychological assessment and intervention strategies in a variety of different settings.  
  • Work under the supervision of Counsellors or Clinical Psychologist during your internship at the UniSQ Psychology and Counselling clinics based in Toowoomba or Ipswich.

Further study

Graduates seeking to specialise as a clinical psychologist can apply to articulate into the Master of Clinical Psychology.

Professional accreditation

The Master of Professional Psychology has received accreditation with conditions from the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as a fifth-year program in Psychology.

Upon completion of your Master of Professional Psychology degree and a further one year of full-time supervised practice, you will be able to apply for general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. Graduates will also be able to apply for full membership with the Australian Psychological Society after a period of supervised practice.

Career outcomes

  • As a graduate, you will be able to find employment as a general psychologist in a variety of public health and community services, as well as private practice.

Entry requirements 

  • Completed an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)-accredited four-year bachelor degree (Honours AQF Level 8).
  • Hold, or be eligible for, immediate Provisional Registration or General Registration from the Psychology Board of Australia.
  • Provide two satisfactory referee reports1 and a report to address the selection criteria (PDF 665KB) indicating your abilities to successfully undertake the professional and research components of the program.
  • Provide a CV of your work and study history.
  • Provide an academic transcript demonstrating strong academic performance.
  • Be assessed in a face-to-face interview with a panel of school staff.

1The Australian Psychology Postgraduate Reference Request system is the same across all Australian universities. To be able to use the system, you will need to have an active membership. The membership allows you access the service during the application period and will expire on 31 July of each year. The subscription is $AUD35.

Work and life experience

You may be able to use your work experience and other adjustment factors to increase your selection rank and meet UniSQ's entry requirements.

English language requirements

You are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires an overall score of  IELTS 7.0, or equivalent, and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four skills areas of listening, reading, speaking and writing. Additional requirements regarding prior education taught and assessed solely in English and prior employment - refer to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)'s Registration Standard for further information. 

If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a University-approved English language program.

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

If you don't meet the entry requirements, we have pathway options available to you.

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 8 units.

Courses to be studied Units
Core courses 6
2 x practicum courses 2
Total 8

  • For the Ipswich offering, all coursework courses will consist of mandatory mid-week workshops on campus at Ipswich campus. Students are required to complete an internship at the UniSQ Ipswich Psychology and Counselling clinic for a minimum of three days per week for 12 weeks.
  • The External offering consists of a combination of mandatory residential schools on-campus at UniSQ Toowoomba and online workshops. Students enrolled in the external mode are also required to complete an internship at the Toowoomba Psychology and Counselling clinic for a minimum of three days per week for 12 weeks.

Throughout the practicum courses, you are required to accrue a minimum of 600 hours of practical experience with an additional minimum of 68 hours of supervision from a registered psychologist who is a board-approved supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia.

Deferment is not an available option for this degree.

Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for an example of courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Professional experience

As part of the degree, you will need to complete professional experience placements. These experiences provide you with opportunities to put theory into practice.

All students must be able to meet the physical and other professional requirements of professional practice within this degree.

Fees and scholarships

Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for your first year of study (8 units) in this degree are:

Study Mode Cost
Domestic full fee paying

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 26640
Commonwealth supported

The Federal Government contributes to the cost of your course and you need to pay a student contribution.

AUD 16363

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2024. 

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Professional experience costs

This degree includes a professional experience component that may involve travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Loan to help you pay your fees

You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. FEE-HELP allows you to defer your fees until your income reaches a certain level. Find out if you are eligible for FEE-HELP. 

You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Centrelink.

Scholarships

At UniSQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Complete your online application directly to UniSQ.

Note: All core courses in this degree are offered as on-campus Saturday workshops at UniSQ Ipswich.
Apply direct to UniSQ

Intakes

Applications for the 2024 intake are now closed.

Study period  Orientation  Study period start date
Block 1 Monday 15 January Monday 22 January 

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at UniSQ that is relevant to you. 

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Begin your study journey today with the university rated 5/5 stars for graduates starting salaries* and start the degree that’s right for you.

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What is a Masters of Professional Psychology?

A Masters of Professional Psychology is a one-year (or part-time equivalent) degree that provides you with the skills and knowledge required to carry our your final year of supervised practice, qualifying you to practice as a psychologist.

The professional psychology masters degree at UniSQ builds on your prior qualification and prepares you to become industry-ready with practical workshops, residential schools and an internship.

After completing your Masters in Professional Psychology and your one year of supervised practice, you will be able to apply for registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and apply for full membership with the Australian Psychological Society.  

What can I do with a Masters of Professional Psychology degree?
You will be qualified to apply for employment opportunities as a general psychologist in a variety of settings including: welfare, child protection, juvenile justice, community correction, private clinics, hospital and physicians offices, mental health clinics and schools and education providers.
What will I learn?

Learn key psychology principles including ethics, psychological assessment, intervention strategies, adult psychopathology, and child and adolescent psychology.

You will also undertake two practicum courses giving you valuable hands-on work experience and providing you with the opportunity to put theory into practice.  

How do I know which psychology course is right for me?

UniSQ offers a number of psychology master degrees to choose from depending on your career prospects and what study path you prefer.

If you are seeking General Registration as a psychologist you can:

  • study the Master of Professional Psychology for a year and then continue to complete one more year of supervised practice, or
  • study the two-year Master of Clinical Psychology degree and be eligible for registration upon graduation.

If you don’t meet the entry requirements, we may have a pathway option available to you. Get in touch with us and we can find the degree or pathway that’s right for you.  

Are flexible study options available?
Yes! This professional masters degree is available to study externally or on-campus, full-time or part-time. All students will complete an internship as well as attend on-campus workshops or residential schools. Discover more about the ways you can study at UniSQ. 
Why study Masters of Professional Psychology with UniSQ?

Align your psychology skills with industry led demand at UniSQ: