Master of Clinical Psychology
Study Clinical Psychology at ANU
The well-regarded Master of Clinical Psychology prepares you to practise in a range of clinical settings such as hospitals, community health centres and private practice, all while giving you a strong foundation for life-long professional learning.
It comprises clinical coursework, clinical field placements and a research project. Our contemporary training is founded on the scientist-practitioner model where clinical skills and interventions are considered on the basis of available scientific evidence and knowledge.
Learn from world-class experts and tackle big ideas while relating them to real-world contexts. We have a reputation for research excellence in the areas of cognition and perception, developmental, clinical and health psychology, and social psychology.
You will have access to clinical training through the ANU Psychology Clinic, a treatment and research centre offering specialised psychological services to the community. Under supervision from our clinical psychology team, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the core areas of clinical psychology and develop practical skills that will underpin your career.
Key facts
What you will learn
The Master of Clinical Psychology is a two-year program listed with the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council. You will study clinical coursework and undertake a clinical field placement and clinical research.
In your first year you will undertake supervised clinical practice in the ANU Psychology Clinic. You'll also do at least two supervised clinical placements oustide ANU. Choose from internships in variety of community and hospital based settings within Canberra or nearby country areas. They include community health centres, general hospital, psychiatric and medical units, neurology and neuropsychology services, veterans' counselling services, alcohol and drug services and school counselling units.
In addition to 1,000 hours of clinical coursework you will conduct an approved empirical research project. Throughout your degree you will research and write a thesis in the form of a journal article.
Download the Clinical Psychology handbook (1.16MB PDF).
Research topics
We have a wide range of potential research topics. They range from short-term PhB projects to year-long honours and graduate projects to three-year PhD projects.
What it's like to study Clinical Psychology
ANU Psychology Clinic
Get clinical experience in the ANU Psychology Clinic, a treatment and research centre offering specialised psychological services to the community.
Imaginative play & language acquisition
Sara is in the final months of her PhD in clinical psychology, writing her thesis on the relationship between imaginative play and language acquisition in childhood.
Working with real clients
“The environment for studying here is very supportive, which helps me grow professionally and transition into a career through external placements. I am enjoying working in the ANU clinic, where students get to practice their skills on real clients in a safe environment. I would recommend ANU to anyone who wants to study clinical psychology.” - Yushi Wang
Meet some of your teachers
Associate Professor Bruce Christensen
Bruce is Associate Director (Clinical) and Director of Clinical Training. His research can be described as "cognitive psychopathology”. He works in the cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms of mental illness, with an emphasis on psychotic and affective disorders. He is an active clinician (clinical psychology and neuropsychology) and studies psychometric and pragmatic issues relating to clinical assessment.
Associate Professor Elizabeth Rieger
Elizabeth's clinical experience has included treating adults with eating disorders, medical patients with accompanying psychological problems, and children and adults with obesity, working in public and private hospitals, university clinics, and private practice. She has also been involved in teaching clinical skills to diverse populations including clinical psychologists and intern clinical psychologists, general practitioners, nurses, and medical students.
Clinical Psychology careers
This degree is the basic professional qualification in clinical psychology. However, this degree also can form the basis of a career in other areas in psychology.
Within psychology, graduates from this program have gone on to work as:
- clinical psychologists
- counsellors
- forensic psychologists
- neuropsychologists
- health psychologists
- organisational psychologists
- sport psychologists.
The program is accredited for full membership of the Australian Psychological Society. It is also accredited for membership of the Clinical College of the Australian Psychological Society and fulfils the requirements of the Psychology Board of Australia.
The Australian National University has been ranked as the top university for graduate employability in Australia in the Global University Employability Ranking 2020. As a student at ANU, you gain access to the ANU CareerHub – an online career development and employability tool that includes a jobs board and careers resources. You also have access to drop-in chats with a career consultant and to attend our career fairs to meet potential employers.
Fees & scholarships
Tuition fees: Tuition fees
Scholarships: Scholarships
ANU offers many scholarships both to overcome disadvantage and to recognise academic merit.
Watch the webinar
Learn about what it is like to study Professional Psychology at ANU with Dr Kristen Murray, and hear from our current students Jack and Amelia about their experiences studying the Master of Professional Psychology.
How to apply
Understand the entry requirements
- Check domestic admission dates on the ANU Study website.
- Check admission requirements and deadlines for this degree on the Handbook website. Read the requirements carefully to make sure you understand them.
- You must also meet the University's English language admission requirements.
Prepare references & supporting documents
You need to submit the supplementary form and two referee reports with your application. Complete these forms and upload them as supporting documents in the application process.
Submit an application
Start your application on the ANU Programs and Courses website.
Attend an interview
Applicants will be shortlisted on the basis of their academic achievements and supporting documentation. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in a suitability assessment process in late November which will include a panel interview and other activities.
Accept your offer
Once you receive an offer it is very important that you accept it to ensure your place at ANU is reserved.
Understand the entry requirements
- Check international admission dates on the ANU Study website.
- Check admission requirements and deadlines for this degree on the Handbook website. Read the requirements carefully to make sure you understand them.
- You must also meet the University's English language admission requirements.
Prepare references & supporting documents
You need to submit the below supporting documentation with your application.
- Clinical Psychology Supplementary Form (216KB PDF)
- Referee Form (360KB DOC)
- Curriculum Vitae.
Get your overseas qualifications assessed
This can take approximately 2 months. If you hold an accredited degree from a New Zealand university you are exempt from this assessment.
You are required to get your overseas psychology qualifications assessed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). The APS assesses the level at which an applicant’s qualifications are comparable to an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) sequence of study in psychology. There is a fee for this service.
When your assessment is completed, you can apply for an APAC accredited psychology course at ANU.
Submit an application
Start your application on the ANU Admissions website.
Attend an interview
Applicants will be shortlisted on the basis of their academic achievements and supporting documentation. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to participate in a suitability assessment process in late November which will include a panel interview and other activities.
Accept your offer
Once you receive an offer it is very important that you accept it to ensure your place at ANU is reserved.
Need more information?
Send us an enquiry and we'll get back to you within 48 hours