Curtin University
Master of Psychology (Professional)
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
- Course Type: Master's
Advance your psychology training through an APAC-accredited program that integrates evidence-based practice, assessment, intervention, research and supervised professional experience.
Course overview
The Curtin University Master of Psychology (Professional) is designed for graduates of a four-year APAC-accredited psychology program who want to continue towards professional psychology practice. The course develops advanced knowledge and practical capability for evidence-informed work with clients.
Coursework connects psychological theory and scientific evidence with professional application. You will develop skills in psychometric assessment, case formulation, treatment planning, intervention and counselling, including approaches for working with children, young people and families from a scientist-practitioner perspective.
Experiential learning is integrated across coursework, research and supervised practice. The course includes a 300-hour professional placement where you can apply assessment, intervention, communication, record-keeping and reflective practice skills under the supervision of a registered psychologist.
Completed on campus at Curtin Perth over one year of full-time study, the APAC-accredited course represents the fifth year of the 5+1 pathway towards general registration as a psychologist. After graduating, you must complete a further year of supervised practice, pass the National Psychology Examination and meet the Psychology Board of Australia’s registration requirements before applying for general registration.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
What you will study
To earn the Master of Psychology (Professional), you must successfully complete units totalling 200 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 25 credit points.
Core units
- Professional Practice in Psychology
- Counselling and Interpersonal Processes in Psychology
- Psychopathology and Interventions
- Interventions for Youth and Families
- Psychological Assessment Theories and Practice
- Psychological Theories and Applications
- Psychology Practicum (50 credit points)
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To be eligible for this course, you must meet one of the following:
- A four-year undergraduate psychology degree that is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council, such as Curtin’s Bachelor of Psychology.
Entry is competitive and shortlisted candidates will be interviewed.
Fieldwork and compliance requirements
This course requires you to undertake fieldwork placements to complete your qualification. In order to undertake fieldwork, you must meet the following requirements:
- Complete the required student declaration.
- Hold the required AHPRA registration.
- Obtain the required criminal record screening and clearance.
Curtin also advises that this can be a physically and mentally challenging course. Applicants should review the course’s inherent requirements before applying.
English language requirements
Applicants need to demonstrate English language proficiency. You can meet this requirement by providing evidence of one of the following:
- An IELTS Academic overall band score of 7.0, with a minimum score of 7.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
- An alternative English language test accepted by Curtin, provided you achieve the required equivalent scores.
- An eligible previous qualification or another form of English language evidence accepted by Curtin.
Contact the university or visit its website for more information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Apply psychology knowledge, principles and practice to achieve client-centred and evidence-informed outcomes.
- Generate effective solutions through critical analysis, reflective practice and professional reasoning.
- Critically appraise information and apply it to contemporary psychology theory and practice.
- Communicate effectively and appropriately to ensure positive and effective therapeutic and inter-professional relationships; use relevant documentation and reporting processes, including the ethical disclosure of professional information.
- Evaluate and apply appropriate technologies to contemporary psychology practice.
- Develop and apply life-long learning skills to achieve professional competence; engage in research to further develop personal and professional knowledge and skills.
- Comply with APAC standards and practices by integrating local and global perspectives relevant to the field.
- Practice psychology in a culturally responsive and inclusive manner, incorporating the perspectives of multiple stakeholders.
- Work professionally and collaboratively to meet ethical and legal responsibilities.
Career outcomes
This course provides access to various employment opportunities in government and non-government counselling and mental health services. Upon completing a further year of supervised practice and completing the national Psychology Examination, graduates are eligible to apply for registration as psychologists with the Psychology Board of Australia.
Fees and CSP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $17,400 (Commonwealth Supported Place).
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $40,818 (Full-fee paying place)
Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- The number of units studied.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.