Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology

with third-year specialisation in Clinical Child, Adolescent & Family Psychology; Clinical Forensic Psychology; or Advanced Health Psychology

Information for prospective students

Please note: While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, it is possible that there will be some minor revisions in the next few months.

1. Introduction

The Doctor of Psychology (DPsych) in Clinical Psychology at Monash University is offered by the School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine and administered by the Monash Research Graduate School.

A distinguishing feature of the Monash University DPsych in Clinical Psychology is that its training in clinical psychology is extended through specialisation, in the third year of training, in a choice of professional areas:

• Clinical Child, Adolescent and Family Psychology, with its focus on the understanding, assessment and treatment of children, adolescents and families in a variety of mental health, paediatric and community settings.
• Clinical Forensic Psychology, with its focus on the application of psychological knowledge to the understanding, assessment and management of individuals in the legal system including the behaviour of offenders, victims, witnesses, judges and juries, prisoners and prison staff.
• Advanced Health Psychology, with its focus on the application of psychological knowledge to the promotion and maintenance of health and the prevention and treatment of illness, the identification of aetiological and diagnostic correlates of health, illness and related dysfunction, and to the analysis and improvement of health care systems and health policy formation.

See additional details relevant to each specialisation in the Monash University Handbook.

2. Professional accreditation

3. DPsych (Clinical) course structure

Details of the structure of coursework units and practicum placements may be found in the Monash University Handbook.

Full-time candidates should be aware of the relevant employment restrictions (see ‘Employment Restrictions’ in the Monash University Handbook).

3.1  Thesis

The thesis is expected to provide a significant contribution to knowledge and/or practice in the field of clinical psychology and to demonstrate the capacity of the student to carry out independent research. Details on the thesis requirements may be found at the Monash University Handbook.  

3.2  Coursework

Coursework objectives will be assessed through seminar presentations, case presentations, written assignments and examinations.  The Monash University system of grades is used for most units, with participation in seminars and practical sessions taken into consideration in the assessment process. In addition to the core coursework units, students will be expected to attend workshops and relevant special seminars from time to time, as well as monthly case conferences.

An outline of the course structure, listing units completed in each semester of the course, may be found in the Monash University Handbook.

3.3  Practica

Students are required to gain supervised assessment, treatment and professional experience with a range of problems across varying age ranges. Thus, practica are available with clients of varied age groups in settings within the psychiatric, forensic and health domains. Students' responsibilities in their practica increase as they proceed through the training so that by the final practicum, they should be able to independently carry out assessments and generate, implement and evaluate management plans. At the commencement of each practicum a contract is developed between the student, University and practicum supervisor which identifies the tasks to be undertaken by the student. At completion of the practicum, these form the basis of the assessment reports, with performance assessed as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory.

4. Admission and enrolment requirements

Applicants for the DPsych (Clinical) must have completed an APAC approved four-year undergraduate sequence in psychology or equivalent (International applicants must have their qualifications assessed by the Australian Psychological Society. You will need a final fourth year mark equivalent to H1 (High Distinction) or H2A (Distinction) to be eligible. An interview and referee reports are also used to assess students’ suitability to the role of a professional working in the public arena.

Enrolment into the DPsych in January 2010 is contingent upon the applicant submitting a brief research proposal and arrangements being made for supervision of the research project. Academic staff will not liaise with potential students about research until they are provisionally accepted into the course due to the large number of enquiries they receive.

Enrolment is probationary for the first year with firm admission to the program granted at the end of the first year if performance on all components is satisfactory. Students should note that satisfactory performance in all three components of the DPsych is necessary throughout the course, and that progression is always contingent upon satisfactory completion of previous requirements. In addition, an assessment of personal suitability to undertake or continue work as a trainee clinical psychologist is made prior to each practicum.

While students who choose or are required to leave the program may seek admission or transfer to other programs of study, the DPsych program does not offer a lower ranking qualification such as a Masters degree.

5. Fees

Students are advised to obtain information regarding fees for the DPsych program from the Monash University Course Finder website.

6. Scholarships

Only applicants with First class Honours (H1) degree or equivalent will be eligible to apply for scholarships.  All applicants with an H1 or equivalent result in their fourth year psychology program should apply for scholarships. All applicants who are currently completing a psychology fourth year should also apply for a scholarship, even if they do not anticipate receiving an H1 result. Please note that applicants will be required to complete a research proposal (of approximately 250-500 words) as an attachment to this application. This can be a general project, based on an extension from a fourth year thesis for example, and can be amended at a later stage after further consideration. Further, as you will need to provide a response for the "Member of Monash staff consulted" you could submit one of the following responses:

• Not applicable for DPsych applicants
• Research Degrees Administrator
• Course coordinator

The Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences requests that all scholarship applicants identify a possible supervisor. The School is happy for you to submit the name of a potential supervisor without contacting the staff member.

Further information regarding scholarships is available on the web, with detailed steps to completing the application outlined.

If you do not hold a First class Honours (H1) degree from an Australian or New Zealand university, please contact the Research Degrees Administrator on +61 3 990 51232 to discuss nomination for H1 equivalence.

7. The Application Process

Applying for the DPsych (Clinical) program is a three-phase process:

Phase 1: Preliminary Application

Domestic Applicants (Australian Citizens/Permanent Residents/NZ Citizens):
Please refer to the Monash Graduate Research School website for application processes and forms.

• original academic transcripts or certified copies of transcripts,
• evidence of Australian or New Zealand citizenship (copy of birth certificate, passport or Australian citizenship certificate) or residency status, and
• completed forms from three referees,

to the The Postgraduate Studies Office, School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Building 17, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Victoria 3800 by the closing date for applications stated below.

International Applicants:
Please refer to the Monash Research Graduate School website for application processes and forms). The completed preliminary application form, along with:

• original academic transcripts or certified copies of transcripts,
• completed forms from three referees,
• evidence of an assessment of your psychology qualifications (if you have overseas qualifications) by the Australian Psychological Society. (NOTE assessments cost AU$575 and can take up to 8 weeks), and
• a letter from your university stating your overall grade and ranking within the final year of your undergraduate psychology program,

must be submitted to:

• the Postgraduate Studies Office (details above) AND
• Monash International Admissions – documents@adm.monash.edu.au

by the closing date for applications stated below.   Please note that international applications can often take longer to process by the International Admissions office, and we therefore recommend that you lodge your application form at least 3 weeks before the closing date.

Phase 2: Interview

Applicants who are short-listed on the basis of Phase 1 information will be required to attend an interview within the second week of November, 2009.

Phase 3: Final Application

Applicants who are provisionally offered a place in the DPsych (Clinical) program will need to consolidate their thesis topic and formalise supervisory arrangements in order to submit section B of the Dpsych application for submission to the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Monash Research Graduate School. Successful applicants will be invited to enrol in January 2010.  Course commences in the first week of February.