Master of Professional Psychology
Overview
The Master of Professional Psychology is a pathway for those wanting to become a registered Psychologist. This course follows the completion of a four-year APAC accredited sequence in Psychology and is a route to general registration that requires 5 years of study and 1 year of supervised professional practice (5+1 pathway).
If you have completed an accredited four-year sequence in psychology and wish to undertake additional training to become a registered psychologist, this course is ideal for you.
The Master of Professional Psychology allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in the core competencies required to practise as a general psychologist in Australia. The course is an accredited 5+1 pathway towards registration as a general psychologist. It prepares you to undertake a sixth-year internship (supervised professional practice) and gain registration as a general psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Career Opportunities
The Master of Professional Psychology is a pathway to registration (5+1) as a general psychologist in Australia. As a Psychologist, you may find a rewarding career in a diverse range of rural and urban settings such as:
- hospitals
- multi-disciplinary health clinics
- community health centres
- private practice.
You may also find employment in the area of research and development.
Structure & Availability
The course structure and available locations can change depending on when you want to study. You can choose the intake that best suits you in the drop-down menu below.
Available Locations
Your Course
You must complete eight units (48 credits):
- 1The core structure (8 units)
Unit Details
The units you'll study are listed below. Click on a unit to learn more.
Course Planner
To help you plan your studies and see which unit comes first, if one unit should be completed before another and when you will study each unit, check out our course planners.
Additional Information
As an online student, you’ll be required to attend three residential schools. The below provides a guide of approximate timelines for these residential schools. Before planning any travel (if required), make sure you check the confirmed dates and times of any residential schools after enrolling in the relevant units, as details can change.
Full-time students
As a full-time student, your residential schools typically follow the below schedule*:
Year 1
| Term 1 | PSYC20056: Your first residential school is held online via Zoom. It is a seven-day residential school generally held on Thursday and Friday in Orientation Week as well as the following Monday to Friday in Week 1. PSYC20058 & PSYC21001: Your second residential school runs for five days, face-to-face, at CQU Rockhampton. This residential school is usually scheduled from Monday to Friday in Week 3. |
| Term 2 | PSYC29002: You’ll complete the third residential school, which is five days in duration, face-to-face at CQU Cairns. It’s usually held from Monday to Friday in Week 5 |
Part-time students
If you’re studying part-time, your residential school schedule will span the two years of your course. You’ll attend the residential schools for the same durations and locations outlined above in the full-time schedule but in the following sequence*:
Year 1
| Term 1 | PSYC20056: Week 1 |
Year 2
| Term 1 | PSYC20058 & PSYC21001: Week 3 |
| Term 2 | PSYC29002: Week 5 |
* These details can change and should only be used as a guide. Once enrolled in the relevant units, you'll receive further information about your residential school schedule. Ensure you check the confirmed dates and times of residential schools after enrolling, as details can change.
If you have completed prior study relevant to units within this course, you may be eligible for credit for your past studies. Learn more about credit and recognition of prior learning.
Requirements
To Be Eligible
For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.
During Your Study
While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies.
Fees & Scholarships
Indicative First-Year Fee
The Indicative First-Year Fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one full-time academic year (eight units over two terms) depending on the type of place you are offered, for example, a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or Full Fee Paying (FFP) Place. The indicative fee provided should be used as a guide only. Your actual fees may vary, depending on the units you select to study and your study load. Check the cost-per-unit spreadsheet available on our fees webpage for the approved unit fees. Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change.
Commonwealth Supported Places
With Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this course in 2025, you may be eligible for significant fee savings, provided you meet CSP eligibility requirements. CSPs are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees.
If you are not eligible for a CSP or if CSPs are full, you will be required to pay full fees.
HECS-HELP
You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan if you are offered a CSP. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees.
Part of your course costs will include Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). SSAF is charged in addition to your student contribution or tuition fees and is used to help enhance your study experience. There may also be other costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations. Explore other study costs.
How to Apply
How to Apply
Check what you need to do to apply to study this course.
Your Application Options
Follow These Steps
Extra Admission Information
Learn about the assessment of applications and everything you need to know about receiving and accepting an offer to study with CQU.
HODSPA Psychology Reference Portal
As part of the application process, you'll need to submit the required references via the HODSPA Portal. Register to use the Portal.
Registration is free of charge and enables you to access resources such as applicant guides, FAQs, tips for using the portal, news and announcements and more.
When you request your references via the Portal, you will be prompted to pay the Portal’s annual subscription fee – if you subscribe in 2024 to apply for the Term 1 2025 intake, the subscription fee is a flat fee of approximately $45.
