Master of Professional Psychology

Applications close on Tuesday 3 October 2023 (AEDT). Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. All applicants must lodge their admissions portfolio online for assessment by the University of Newcastle.

About

The Master of Professional Psychology is a professional qualification for those who wish to practice as a Registered Psychologist. Through intensive psychological training and education, graduates will be skilled in applying advanced psychological learnings competently and ethically across a broad range of professional settings.

You will enhance your theoretical skills and learn to use relevant principles and methods to assist people with a range of behavioural problems, taking into account social and cultural diversity, current relevant legal frameworks, mental health practice standards and codes of ethical practice.

Our academic experts will assist you with obtaining diverse placement opportunities that will allow you to develop your professional skills and career in psychology under the supervision of highly experienced Registered Psychologists.

On successful completion of the program and an additional internship year under the supervision of a registered psychologist, graduates will be eligible for registration with the Psychology Board of Australia as a General Registered Psychologist.

Admission criteria

To be considered for a place in the program, applicants must:

• hold a four-year – or three-year plus a fourth year – Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited sequence in psychology qualification which has been completed with a second-class Honours (2B) or above, or an overall GPA of 5.0 or above (7-point scale) in the 4th year component of a non-Honours program, or equivalent postgraduate qualifications with an accredited sequence in psychology which has been completed with an overall GPA of 5.0 or above (7-point scale); and
• be eligible for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia; and
• provide an online application portfolio, as well as providing two referee reports via the Psychology Reference Portal (PRP); and
• satisfy the School of Psychological Sciences of their suitability for the professional practice of psychology; and
• participate in and be selected via an interview process.

When evaluating suitability, the School of Psychological Sciences will consider previous relevant experience, referee reports, units of study previously completed, and the outcome of a selection interview.

Additional selection criteria

As places in the Master of Professional Psychology are limited, admission is based on a competitive selection process. Applicants are required to submit an online admissions portfolio, and two referee reports, in addition to their UAC application. These are all essential components of the application process and will be used to rank and select applicants to participate in a competitive interview process.

The 2024 admission timeline is outlined below:

• August 2023: PRP Applications Open. Applicants must arrange for the required referee reports to be completed and shared to the University of Newcastle via the Psychology Reference Portal (PRP) .
• Tuesday 3 October 2023: Applications close 11:59PM AEDT. Applicants must apply via UAC, ensure that references have been completed and shared via the PRP, and lodge their online admissions portfolio by this date. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Week commencing Monday 13 November 2023: Interview invitations are finalised and sent by the School of Psychological Sciences. Applicants who satisfy the minimum academic admission requirements (or are on track to) and who are chosen by the selection panel will be invited to participate in a selection interview with the University of Newcastle (UON) School of Psychological Sciences.
• Tuesday 21 – Wednesday 22 November 2023: Interview period. Selection interviews will be held via Zoom.
• Saturday 16 December 2023: Round 1 offers are released. Successful applicants will be provided with a formal offer of admission via UAC to commence studies in 2024. This will be communicated via e-mail. Applicants who were successful at interview but are still awaiting 2023 qualification results (e.g., completion and Honours classifications) will need to wait until these are finalised before UON can release a formal offer via UAC. This will need to occur by early February 2024 at the latest.
• Thursday 15 February 2024: Compulsory Orientation Day. Students who have received and accepted a UAC offer are required to attend a compulsory orientation session at the University of Newcastle (UON).
• Friday 16 and Monday 19 – Friday 23 February 2024: Compulsory Intensive Course for Semester 1, 2024. Commencing students attend a compulsory 6-day intensive course (PSYC6501) at the University of Newcastle (UON).

Note: Initial feedback on applications and submitted portfolios will not be given to individual applicants throughout the admissions process. It is the responsibility of each individual applicant that all components are addressed, in that UAC applications, online portfolios, and referee reports are all lodged correctly, and submitted by the final closing date.

The University of Newcastle offers both Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) and full fee paying (FEE) places in the Master of Professional Psychology program. CSPs are limited and are offered to the highest ranked applicants following the interview process. CSPs may be awarded preferentially to our highest-ranking Indigenous applicants. For further information on how to be considered for this opportunity refer to the ‘How to apply’ section of the Master of Professional Psychology. Applicants will be notified of their fee status at time of offer.