PhD (Clinical Psychology)

The PhD (Clinical Psychology) (12452) is a Level 10 AQF compliant coursework PhD program which includes 320 units (40 units of coursework, 50 units of clinical placements and 230 units of research). The PhD (Clinical Psychology) is a professional and research qualification for those who wish to work as clinical psychologists and who also want to work in the areas of clinical psychology academia and/or clinical psychology research currently or in the future. Graduates come out eligible for registration as psychologist and can work towards their Clinical Psychology endorsement by commencing their registrar program and also have a PhD qualification. Graduates will be knowledgeable, skilled and ethical practitioners of Clinical Psychology, capable of adhering to the ‘scientist-practitioner’ model of practice. The program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and approved by the College of Clinical Psychologists for the purposes of determining College membership and accepted by the Psychology Board of Australia as a stand-alone level 4 program.

To qualify for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology), a candidate shall satisfactorily complete a Masters Professional Psychology coursework degree or one year of a Master of Clinical Psychology Program. Entry to the program for applicants who have not achieved professional competencies through a coursework Master program requires a minimum of 12 months’ practice as a registered psychologist with no conditions on their registration. In addition, entry to the program requires all applicants to demonstrate achievement of Level 3 Professional Competencies in the course of an assessment of personal and professional suitability and evaluation of prior learning.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) includes five clinical placements, each of which contributes 10 units.  These placements are available in a wide range of settings and the placement supervisors are all qualified Clinical Psychologists who are eligible for membership of the College of Clinical Psychologists of the Australian Psychological Society. A minimum of one of the five placements will be in the Psychology Clinic of the University of Newcastle.  The program also includes 4 taught courses, all of which are compulsory.  These courses include advanced clinical psychology in children, adolescents and adults; advanced clinical interventions, and advanced clinical psychology in specialised areas of practice. The remaining units, 230 are distributed over research courses to fulfil the requirement of PhD.  The project must make an original contribution to scientific knowledge and must address a topic relevant to Clinical Psychology.

How to apply

From the following descriptions of applicants, please determine which best describes you:

  1. Interested in applying for the PhD (Clinical Psychology) but have not yet commenced or completed a fifth year of psychology as part of a Master of Professional Psychology Program (MPP) or a Master of Clinical Psychology Program (MCP).
  2. Already completing your first year of the UON MPP.
  3. Already completing your first year of the UON MCP.
  4. Currently completing a PhD (Psychology - Science) at UON.
  5. Already holding general registration as a psychologist.

Application Process

You need to complete one year of either the MPP or MCP before you are eligible to commence the PhD (Clinical Psychology). Please then see the B option for how students in the first year of MPP and the MCP apply towards the end of their first year of these two degrees.

This application process is currently open until midnight 3rd October 2022.

Step 1

After you have completed one semester of the MPP, inform the Program Convenor and the Placement Coordinator that you would like to apply for a candidature in the PhD (Clinical Psychology) program to ensure you will be able to finish your coursework and placements by the end of the year of your current enrolment.

Step 2

You then need to apply for the PhD (clinical psychology) through the shared intake process (commencing in September each year) with the MCP. If you did not have the Honours or GPA from fourth year to be eligible for the MCP, you need to have had a D average in the first year of the MPP. Then you need to be competitive in obtaining an interview and a formal offer to the PhD (clinical psychology).

Step 3

Follow the formal application process for all Higher Degrees by Research at the University of Newcastle. This process is clearly outlined on the GR website

To be admitted into the program you also need to follow the formal application process for all Higher Degrees by Research at the University of Newcastle. The process is clearly outlined on the Graduate Research website. This process includes identifying a suitable supervisor in the School of Psychology AND gain the agreement of said supervisor to supervise you. This arrangement needs to be negotiated prior to submitting an application.

Then submit a PhD (Clinical Psychology) Admissions portfolio to Graduate research using this application form.

Step 4

Contact the Program Advisor and Program Coordinator to ensure you are awarded your MPP degree once all elements are completed so you can commence the PhD (clinical psychology) in a timely manner.

Step 1

After you have completed one semester of the MCP inform the Program Convenor and the Placement Coordinator that you would like to apply for a candidature in the PhD (Clinical Psychology) program to ensure you will be able to finish your coursework and placements at the end of the year.

Step 2

Follow the formal application process for all Higher Degrees by Research at the University of Newcastle. This process is clearly outlined on the GR website

To be admitted into the program you need to follow the formal application process for all Higher Degrees by Research at the University of Newcastle. The process is clearly outlined on the Graduate Research website. This process includes identifying a suitable supervisor in the School of Psychology AND gain the agreement of said supervisor to supervise you. This arrangement needs to be negotiated prior to submitting an application.

Then submit a PhD (Clinical Psychology) Admissions portfolio to Graduate research using this application form.

Step 3

At the end of Semester Two, if you have completed all your coursework, placement, and research units for the first year of the MCP, contact the program Convenor and the program Advisor to apply to exit the MPC with a MPP (Clinical Foundations) so you can commence the PhD (Clinical Psychology) in a timely manner.

This process is for candidates currently enrolled in a PhD (Science – Psychology) program who do not hold general registration as a psychologist. You can not be concurrently enrolled in the PhD (Science – Psychology) and the MPP or MCP at UON.

Step 1

Apply for the MPP and/or MCP.

This pathway involves applying for entry into the Master of Professional Psychology Program (MPP) and/or The Master of Clinical Psychology Program (MCP). You need to complete one year of either the MCP or MPP before you are eligible for the PhD (Clinical psychology). If you are successful in your application, apply through the GR services to defer your PhD enrolment for a year.

This application process is currently open until midnight 3rd October 2022.

Step 2

After one year of the MPP or the MCP, and if you have been successful in your interview and offered a position in the PhD (Clinical Psychology) program, you can apply to have your PhD (Psychology) transferred to a PhD (Clinical Psychology). You can submit your PhD earlier than as per the program structure depending on how far into your PhD candidature you are.

If you are accepted into the MCP program, after one year, request an exit out of the program with a MPP (Clinical Foundations) you can then request to have your PhD (Science – Psychology) transferred to a PhD (Clinical Psychology).

Alternatively, you can complete your PhD (Science – Psychology) and be awarded this degree. Then apply for a MPP or MCP program and complete one of these degrees. The separate degrees (MCP+ PhD (Science Psychology)) is the equivalent as completing a PhD (Clinical Psychology) in terms of how much clinical and research experience you will have and the same opportunities career wise.

Step 1

This pathway involves applying for entry into The PhD (Clinical Psychology) by completing the admission portfolio. If you are successful in getting an interview and offered a position in the program.

This application process is currently open until midnight 3rd October 2022.

Step 2

Follow the formal application process for all Higher Degrees by Research at the University of Newcastle. This process is clearly outlined on the GR website

To be admitted into the program you need to follow the formal application process for all Higher Degrees by Research at the University of Newcastle. The process is clearly outlined on the Graduate Research website. This process includes identifying a suitable supervisor in the School of Psychology AND gain the agreement of said supervisor to supervise you. This arrangement needs to be negotiated prior to submitting an application.

Then submit a PhD (Clinical Psychology) Admissions portfolio to Graduate research using this application form.

For further application support, please contact:

Email: PSYC-Admin@newcastle.edu.au
Phone: +61 2 492 15000