Note: This course is not available in 2025.

Course overview

Description

The Master of Professional Psychology degree provides comprehensive training in the application of psychological theories and principles to professional practice, focusing on enhancing individual well-being and addressing diverse psychological needs. This program equips students with expertise in the following areas: conducting effective psychological assessments; delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions; fostering resilience and coping strategies in clients; supporting mental health in diverse populations; implementing tailored interventions to address specific psychological challenges; enhancing interpersonal and communication skills for professional practice; promoting ethical and culturally sensitive approaches to client care; and conducting research to inform best practices in psychology.

Course title
Master of Professional Psychology (coursework)
Award abbreviation
MPsych (Prof)
Course code
73590
Course type
Master's degree by coursework only
Status
Not available in 2025
Administered by
Psychological Science

Course details

Intake periods
Beginning of year only
Attendance type
Full-time only
Credit points required
48
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Professional accreditation
Master of Professional Psychology (coursework)(Level 3 degree) is accredited by: Australian Psychology Accreditation Council.
Standard course duration
1
Time limit
2 years
Delivery mode
Multi-mode
Locations offered
External agencies
Domestic fee type
Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP; or postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
Available to international students
Not available to international students on student visas. Available to international students on other visas if visa conditions allow (see https://www.immi.gov.au). For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
Course Coordinator(s)
Dr Vance Locke
Fees
Visit the fees calculator.

Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.

No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.

Course structure

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
SS
summer teaching period
N/A
not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027
*
to be advised

All units in the Masters of Professional Psychology degree are compulsory.
It is a requirement that students pass all first semester units before they commence PSYC5578 placement.

Take all units (48 points):

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
*PSYC5570 ( points)None
*PSYC5571 ( points)None
*PSYC5572 ( points)None
*PSYC5574 ( points)None
 PSYC5575Professional Psychology: Working with Children
*PSYC5576 ( points)None
*PSYC5577 (12 points)None

See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.

Rules

Note: This course is not available in 2025.

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules

2.(1) Except as stated in (2), a student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).

(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the CARS module is not required to repeat the module.

(3) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

English Language competency requirements

3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.

Admission requirements

4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—an accredited bachelor's honours degree in psychology with at least an upper second class Honours (2A), or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by the Psychology Board of Australia or the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council;

(2) meet the inherent requirements for the course; and (3) Applicants must be eligible for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.

Admission ranking and selection

5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on—

(a) Marks in accredited 4th year psychology course

(b) a satisfactory personal statement, as recognised by UWA;

and

(c) two satisfactory referees, as recognised by UWA;

and

(d) a curriculum vitae summarising relevant occupational and practical experience, as recognised by UWA;

and

(e) an interview in which eligible applicants will be assessed based on the personal qualities considered desirable in psychology with invitation to attend the interview based on Rules 4, 5(a), (b) and (c) and the interview quota for that year.

Articulations and exit awards

6. This course does not form part of an articulated sequence.

Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 48 points.

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.

Progress status

10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.

(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—

(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';

(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';

(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.

11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.

Award with distinction

12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—

(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;

(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;

and

(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.

Deferrals

13. Applicants are not permitted to defer admission to this course and are expected to commence their course in the offered intake only. Approved leave is not available during the first academic year of this course. Applicants seeking admission to an alternative intake must submit a new application for that intake.

Additional rules
Time Limit

14. Unless the University on the recommendation of the Head of the School of Psychological Science approves otherwise, students must complete the units required for the Master of Professional Psychology within two academic years from the date of first enrolment in the course.