Psychology
The career-ready placement requirements for students in our psychology and psychological science programs are as follows:
| Program | Commencement | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Psychological Science (Advanced) | 2023 or later | Complete 140 hours of placement experiences or activities through the course PSYC3002 Work Integrated Learning in Psychology. |
| Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Psychological Science (Advanced) | Prior to 2023 | Placements are not compulsory. However, if you have elective space in your program, you may be eligible to enrol in PSYC3002 Work Integrated Learning in Psychology. Refer to your program handbook and Program Planner for more information or contact Program Advice. |
| Graduate Diploma in Psychological Science | All years | N/A |
| Master of Clinical Psychology | All years | Complete a minimum of 1000 placement hours through the courses PSYC6504, PSYC6508, PSYC6512 and PSYC6516. |
| Master of Professional Psychology | All years | Complete two placements totalling 300 hours through the courses PSYC6526 and PSYC6527. |
| PhD in Psychology | All years | Complete 750 hours of placement across five placement courses PSYC6701, PSYC6702, PSYC6703, PSYC6704 & PSYC6705. |
Additional information about the placement requirements for the above programs can be found on the College of Engineering, Science and Environment’s Professional Experience website.
Within PSYC3002 Work Integrated Learning in Psychology, you will do one of the following:
Placement
Immerse yourself in a real-world environment by completing a supervised placement of at least 140 hours. This hands-on experience not only enhances your practical skills but also boosts your employability, expands your professional network, and provides valuable industry insights and mentorship. There are two ways to organise your placement:
- University-sourced placements: The University has negotiated some placement opportunities with organisations in the region for which you may be considered. This includes opportunities within research spaces, community clinics, and professional agencies. The Course Coordinator will advise how these opportunities are allocated and what you need to do to be considered.
- Student-sourced placements: Tailor your placement to fit your career plans and interests by sourcing your own placement host. Begin looking for opportunities a few months before you plan to start your placement, as finding a host can take time. The Careers Service can help you with finding and applying for placement opportunities. Once you’ve found a placement host, you’ll need to confirm with the Course Coordinator that the experience is suitable before proceeding.
Note that you may be able to complete your placement overseas. Check out the opportunities available for your program here.
Project / Groupwork
Tackle a real-world problem through a collaborative group project, approximately140 hours. You’ll work on a brief provided by an external industry organisation, gaining valuable hands-on experience and mentorship from industry professionals.
Supervised placements are an integral component of our postgraduate and research by higher degree (HDR) psychology programs and are compulsory for accreditation purposes. These placements allow you to gain practical knowledge and develop skills relevant to the role of a registered or clinical psychologist.
Within the Master of Clinical Psychology, you will complete four placements totalling 1000 hours. Within the Master of Professional Psychology, you will complete two placements totalling at least 300 hours. Within the PhD in Psychology, you will complete five placements totalling 750 hours.
The University will source your placements for you. We work collaboratively with various government services, non-government and private organisations to deliver exceptional training opportunities. Where possible, we will match you to internal and external placements in accordance with your stage of development.
If you undertake placement with NSW Health, you will be required to meet the NSW Health minimum mandatory verification requirements. Please visit Verification Requirements for more information and follow the processes outlines. These processes can take 8 weeks or more. It is recommended that you submit your documents well in advance of your proposed placement dates to avoid delays.
The Professional Experience Unit (PEU) for the College of Engineering, Science and Environment can provide advice and support regarding Sonia Online, the placement management system, as well as processes and documentation requirements.
Email: CESE-PEU@newcastle.edu.au
Phone: (02) 4921 7302
Location: W357, Callaghan Campus (interactive campus map)
Face-to-face and virtual appointments with the PEU are available at both Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses. For more information, visit their website.
The Careers Service can support you with finding placement opportunities for PSYC3002. Visit Sourcing your experience for more information.
If you are having trouble finding or securing a placement opportunity, you are encouraged to seek advice from your Placement Coordinator.
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