Note: 144 UOC is the PhD component only.

The combined Doctor of Philosophy/Master of Psychology (Clinical) degree program has an emphasis on research training in clinical fields. The combined degree program requires a minimum of four full-time years to complete, and offers advanced training in research skills that are particularly relevant to clinical areas.

It is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as the fifth and sixth years of study leading to full membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and registration as a psychologist with the national Psychology Board of Australia (PsyBA). After completing a further 1.5 years of full-time equivalent supervised practice, graduates of the program are eligible to apply for endorsement as a Clinical Psychologist and for full membership of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree encourages initiative and originality in research. Students will make a significant contribution to knowledge in their field and will be competent to carry out research in their chosen area.

The combined program consists of three components which are compulsory:

(1) a research thesis (PhD)
(2) a coursework component (MPsychol(Clin))
(3) 1000 hours of supervised placement experience.

The research project should be original, and lead to a significant contribution to our knowledge of the nature of psychological processes, particularly in the field of clinical psychology. The program structure requires students to work on their research project during the entire candidature until submission, and the same research-related requirements as for the regular PhD degree (Program code 1400) will apply for the first two years of this program. University regulations and guidelines for good practice in postgraduate research supervision will apply to this program.

Students will concurrently undertake a compulsory coursework component, which is set out below. There are twelve courses and students will normally complete these by taking three courses in each of the four years. The coursework program focuses on training in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of people with a range of psychological problems or disabilities, and the training stems from a strong theoretical and empirical background in experimental clinical psychology.

* Any of the 12 courses required for the Master of Psychology component of the program, including any of the four PEP courses.

^ In Australia, the psychology profession is regulated by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act as overseen by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). The School of Psychology is responsible for adhering to federally legislated professional and accreditation standards for training provisionally registered psychologists in full compliance with the APS Code of Ethics and Ethical Guidelines. Master of Psychology students, as provisionally registered psychologists, are expected to display the competencies, professionalism and reputable behaviours the discipline demands. In making their recommendation, the Program Director will consider these factors not simply from an academic standpoint, but as the discipline's chief authority on such professional and ethical matters within the program.

Should a student disagree with a recommendation made by the Program Director, their avenue of appeal will be to the Head of School and/or School Board.

Please also refer to the Conditions for the Award of Degrees (Faculty of Science).

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.

Entry requirements are (1) completion of an accredited four-year Bachelor degree in psychology (with First Class Honours) from UNSW, or equivalent from another APAC-recognised university, and (2) the availability of adequate supervision and research infrastructure.

Psychology qualifications obtained outside of Australia must contain a significant research thesis component, and be assessed as the equivalent of an Australian four-year sequence in psychology (including Honours) by the APS.

UNSW English Language Requirements can be found here, however all Combined PhD/Master of Psychology students must meet registration standards developed by both the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and PsyBA in order to register as provisional psychologists. Those not registered as provisional psychologists cannot undertake professional practice, a compulsory component of all Combined programs, as they are not permitted to have any client contact.

Therefore, all applicants, regardless of current residency or citizenship status, should familiarise themselves with the PsyBA registration standards here, and AHPRA’s new standards on English language skills and criminal history.

As the number of places available each year is limited, entry into the program is competitive. In addition to availability of adequate supervision and research infrastructure, selection is based on academic qualifications for the program, two referee reports, and performance at an interview. Only shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview.

Applicants should refer to both the School of Psychology’s How to Apply page, and Graduate Research School's website for more detail about the application procedure and requirements.

The minimum period of enrolment before the award of the degree is eight semesters.

If you are considering applying for a PhD with the School of Psychology, you must first make contact with the School. This will help to establish that your research interests are aligned with those of the School and Faculty, and that there is suitable supervision available for your particular area of research. You can search the School's Areas of Expertise page, or the Find a Researcher page for more information.

Please also refer to the Graduate Research School's website for further information on how to apply, scholarships, English language requirements, and other research-related matters.