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Master of Professional Psychology (MPPS) - MProfPsy

CRICOS code (International applicants): 089812F

From 2023, the MPPS, will be offered in the Block calendar for coursework. The Block calendar allows us to eliminate assessment overlap between courses and provide regular breaks between courses. It also provides more flexibility with the finalisation of grades for practicums and is consistent with the skill development of a professional/clinical psychologist.

You are currently viewing the 2023 Handbook. For study in 2024, please refer to the .

 On-campus *External ^
Start:Block 1 (January)Block 1 (January)
Campus:Ipswich -
Fees:Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Domestic full fee paying place
Residential school: Toowoomba campus 
Standard duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time. Note that a minimum number of 17.5 hours per week must be undertaken in order to meet Psychology Board of Australia registration requirements.  

Notes

In 2023 the programs follows the Blocks calendar. The Academic Calendar and Important Dates webpage will allow you to view and download a copy of the important dates for the Blocks calendar.

Footnotes
* All coursework courses will consist of mandatory Monday workshops on-campus at the Ipswich campus. Students are required to complete an internship at the Ipswich Psychology and Counselling clinic for a minimum of three days per week for 12 weeks.
^ All coursework courses will consist of a combination of mandatory online workshops and mandatory 5鈥揹ay residential schools based at the Toowoomba campus. Students are required to complete an internship at the Toowoomba Psychology and Counselling clinic for a minimum of three days per week for 12 weeks.

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Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students  Future International students  Current students 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315
Email: study@usq.edu.au 

Phone: +61 7 4631 5543
Email: international@usq.edu.au 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285
Email: usq.support@usq.edu.au  

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Professional accreditation

The Master of Professional Psychology has received accreditation from the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council () as a fifth-year program in psychology. Graduates will be eligible to apply for general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia after a further one year of full-time supervised practice. Graduates will also be able to apply for full membership to the after a period of supervised practice.

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Program aims

The aim of the Master of Professional Psychology is to provide advanced knowledge of the discipline in the core areas of professional practice which comprise the competency standards of the and prepare for a final year of supervised practice prior to full registration. On completion of the program graduates will:

  • be eligible for general registration as a psychologist once a further one-year of Board approved supervised practice has been completed

  • be able to apply for positions which require postgraduate training in Psychology

  • take an active role in the theoretical and practical aspects of the practice of Professional Psychology

  • contribute to the overall development of the discipline of Psychology.


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Program objectives

On successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

  1. Select and critically apply an appropriate evidence-based approach to psychological practice that is informed by the scientist practitioner framework

  2. Critically evaluate the scope of Psychological practice, including how Psychology integrates within an interprofessional context

  3. Integrate and apply advanced ethical, legal, and professional frameworks in relation to the practice of Psychology

  4. Critically apply a range of advanced skills and theoretical knowledge to conduct comprehensive psychological assessments using a variety of different techniques and instruments

  5. Evaluate psychological disorders utilising international taxonomies of classification

  6. Strategically utilise advanced knowledge and skills in individual and group interventions

  7. Apply high level research knowledge and skills to psychological practice

  8. Employ a range of high level technical and communication skills to evaluate and interpret information in oral, written and digital formats

  9. Integrate and apply advanced knowledge and skills regarding the provision of psychological services across the lifespan, in a culturally responsive manner

  10. Apply advanced theoretical knowledge and technical skills in the workplace within the scope of professional practice.


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Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 09. Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for research, and/or professional practice and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting .

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Completion of an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited AQF Level 8 four-year bachelor degree, or equivalent

  • Hold, or be eligible for, immediate Provisional Registration or General Registration from the Psychology Board of Australia

  • English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 4.


In addition, applicants must submit the following for consideration as part of their application:

  • provide two (refer to Other Program Requirements below)

  • provide a 1-2 page report which addresses the Master of Professional Psychology Selection Criteria

  • be assessed in a face-to-face interview with a panel of School staff

  • provide an academic transcript demonstrating strong academic performance

  • provide a CV of their work and study history

    • Applicants who have not completed their four-year bachelor degree, or equivalent, within the last three years will be required to demonstrate how they have maintained up-to-date knowledge and skills in the area of Psychology since completion of their four-year bachelor degree, or equivalent.



Before commencing the program, students must have Provisional Registration or full registration from the Psychology Board of Australia.

International applicants

International applicants must have completed the equivalent of a four-year APAC accredited AQF level 8 sequence in psychology and be considered eligible for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. Applicants from countries other than Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America must meet the Psychology Board of Australia English proficiency requirements of minimum scores of 7 in listening, reading, writing, and speaking achieved in one sitting in the International English Language Testing System.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a 精东传媒app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

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Requirements for professional experience placements

Mandatory Documents required prior to commencing ANY clinical placements in the program:

  • Blue Card or Working with Children Check

  • Psychology Board of Australia Registration

  • Resume


Students must also provide the following immunisation evidence prior to commencing clinical placements with Queensland Health or Southern Queensland Rural Health:

  • Hepatitis B Immunisation evidence

  • Measles, Mumps and Rubella immunisation evidence

  • Varicella immunisation evidence

  • Pertussis immunisation evidence

  • Influenza immunisation evidence

  • Tuberculosis Risk Assessment

  • Queensland Health Student Orientation Checklist

  • Queensland Health Student Deed Poll

  • Queensland Health iLearn Modules


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Program fees

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.

Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, external or online. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

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Program structure

The program is designed for full-time or part-time attendance in the on-campus mode. The program contains 8 units of study comprising of 6 units of coursework and 2 practicum units.

All coursework courses are offered as mandatory Monday workshops on-campus for the Ipswich offering, and a combination of mandatory online workshops and mandatory 5-day residential schools held at the Toowoomba campus for the External offering.

Course  Block(s)
On-campus 
Blocks(s)
External 
Semesters
(placement courses only) 
PSY5110 Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues    
PSY5140 Comprehensive Psychological Assessment    
PSY5145 Psychological Treatment and Intervention    
PSY5130 Psychology Practicum 1 *      1,2,3 
PSY5050 Evidence-based Practice for Psychologists    
PSY5070 Adult Psychopathology    
PSY5060 Child and Adolescent Psychology    
PSY5230 Psychology Practicum 2#      1,2,3 

Footnotes
* Students are required to accrue a minimum of 300 hours of practicum experience with an additional minimum of 34 hours of supervision from a registered psychologist who is a board-approved supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia. All students are required to complete an internship at the Psychology and Counselling clinic (Toowoomba for External students or Ipswich for Ipswich based students) for a minimum of three days per week for 12 weeks.
#Students are required to accrue a minimum of 300 hours of practicum experience with an additional minimum of 34 hours of supervision from a registered psychologist who is a board-approved supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia.

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Program completion requirements

To be eligible to graduate, students must pass all 8 courses within the maximum time frame of two years, and with a passing mark for every piece of assessment within each course. Coursework course content is delivered in five mandatory day-long workshops per course delivered in blocks over the semester, and attendance at all workshops is required for eligibility to graduate.

Other Program Requirements

The two referee reports are to be uploaded to the National Referee System.

  • Link to


Please note: This system is the same across all Australian Universities. To be able to use the system, you will need to have an active subscription.

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Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 2 years to complete this program.

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IT requirements

For information technology requirements please refer to the .

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Articulation

The Master of Professional Psychology articulates into the MCPS Master of Clinical Psychology via a merit based selection process.

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Credit

Applications for exemptions/credit will be assessed according to

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

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Recommended enrolment pattern - Full-time students

All coursework courses are offered as mandatory Monday workshops on-campus for the Ipswich offering, and a combination of mandatory online workshops and mandatory 5-day residential schools held at the Toowoomba campus for the External offering.


CourseYear of program and block in which course is normally studiedResidential schoolEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearBlkYearBlkYearBlk

Year 1

PSY5110 Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues # 1 1 1 1 MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS
PSY5140 Comprehensive Psychological Assessment 1 2 1 2 MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS
PSY5145 Psychological Treatment and Intervention 1 3 1 3 MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS

PSY5130 is offered in a Semester calendar layer:

PSY5130 Psychology Practicum 1 1 1 Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS or be undertaking the course as professional development
PSY5050 Evidence-based Practice for Psychologists # 1 5 1 5 MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS
PSY5060 Child and Adolescent Psychology 1 4 1 4 MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS
PSY5070 Adult Psychopathology 1 6 1 6 MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS

PSY5230 is offered in a Semester calendar layer:

PSY5230 Psychology Practicum 2 1 1 Pre-requisite: PSY5130 and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS

Footnotes
#Mandatory online residential school for external students

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Recommended enrolment pattern - Part-time students

All coursework courses are offered as mandatory Monday workshops on-campus for the Ipswich offering, and a combination of mandatory online workshops and mandatory 5-day residential schools held at the Toowoomba campus for the External offering.


CourseYear of program and block in which course is normally studiedResidential schoolEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearBlkYearBlkYearBlk

Year 1

PSY5110 Ethical, Legal and Professional Issues # 1 1 1 1 MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS
PSY5140 Comprehensive Psychological Assessment 1 2 1 2 MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS
PSY5070 Adult Psychopathology 1 6 1 6 MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS
PSY5060 Child and Adolescent Psychology 1 4 1 4 MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS

Year 2

PSY5145 Psychological Treatment and Intervention 2 3 2 3 MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS

PSY5130 is offered in a Semester calendar layer:

PSY5130 Psychology Practicum 1 2 2 Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS or be undertaking the course as professional development
PSY5050 Evidence-based Practice for Psychologists # 2 5 2 5 MPre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS

PSY5230 is offered in a Semester calendar layer:

PSY5230 Psychology Practicum 2 2 2 Pre-requisite: PSY5130 and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MPPS or MCPS

Footnotes
#Mandatory online residential school for external students