Postgraduate
Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Clinical Psychology
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Address
Student Central
The University of Western Australia (M355), 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia 6009
Telephone
131 UWA (131 892)
International
(+61 8) 6488 1000
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Fees and scholarships
Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this course.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.
Research Training Program
Cost of living
Higher degree by research – onshore students
Annual course fees are calculated based on a standard annual study load of 48 credit points.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.
Research Training Program
Cost of living
Admission requirements
If you’re interested in furthering your career by studying this postgraduate degree, find out the admission details below.
Important note for applicants
Referee reports
Applicants must ask two academic referees to provide reports using the National Online Referee System. Ensure you give your referees enough notice to meet the deadline. This system is the same across all Australian universities. To be able to use the system, you will need to have an active subscription. The subscription allows you to access the service during the intake period. The cost is $25 and can be paid for through the 'My account' section in the payment tab of the National Online Referee System.
Applicants must also provide the following information with their application:
• Brief personal statement outlining the reasons for applying for the program (maximum of one page).
• Curriculum vitae summarising any occupational or practical experience of relevance to the program.
• Names and contact details (telephone numbers and email addresses) of the two nominated academic referees that will be completing the referee report.
Clinical Psychology Placements
This course requires students to undertake clinical psychology placements in health facilities to successfully complete the course. Placements enable students to acquire needed skills and competencies whilst under careful supervision of qualified clinical psychologists.
To ensure public safety, and to satisfy placement provider requirements, applicants must meet or be able to meet the following before placements begin:
Infectious Diseases Screening and Immunisation requirements.
These requirements protect clients and students from communicable diseases during your training, and reflect requirements of placement sites.
- You will need to be screened for and vaccinated against various infectious diseases, such as Hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (Chicken Pox), diphtheria, polio, tetanus, pertussis, influenza (vaccination only, not screening), and tuberculosis prior to starting placements.
- You will also need to have received three doses of an approved Covid-19 vaccine (or equivalent).
- Note that exemptions on medical grounds only are considered when completed by certain medical practitioners.
National Police Certificate (NPC) and Working with Children (WWC) Check
Students enrolled in the Clinical Psychology program are required to obtain a clear National Police Certificate (NPC) and a Working with Children’s Check (WWCC) prior to client contact. Currently, and in accordance with WA Health, this involves a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check and/or a National Police Clearance that has been issued within the past 12 months of starting each placement. If you have resided outside of Australia, you will also be asked to provide a national police check from that country (those countries). If you have a criminal record, you might be excluded from placements and thus be ineligible to continue the course.
Students enrolled in the Clinical Psychology program must apply for and hold a Department for Child Protection “Working with Children Check” (WWC Check). The WWC Check must be valid for the duration of the placements and while conducting research involving unsupervised work with children (individuals under 18 years of age).
Preparing your application
Applicants need to:
- have obtained an APAC-accredited honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology, with a mark of IIA or higher, and
- find a PhD supervisor who is an academic staff member of the School of Psychological Science who agrees to supervise you if you are offered a place in program, and agree on a basic outline of the research project you will undertake. You must have this supervisory agreement and outline of your PhD worked out prior to applying to the program. Start looking for a supervisor at least two to three months before the application is due.
Supervision
Candidates for the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), Master of Philosophy (by research), and combined Master/PhD programs must secure potential supervisors before submitting their application.
Course-specific English competency
English competency
English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.
Minimum overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 (must include Academic Reading and Writing modules).
UWA Applicants
Non-UWA Applicants
All Applicants
Concurrent applications
Eligibility for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia
Applicants must be eligible for provisional registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia. Prospective students must ensure that they only submit an application for entry into the program if they would meet the provisional registration requirements by the time they receive an offer into the program.
New students must apply for provisional registration as soon as they accept their offers. Students must maintain provisional registration for the entire duration of their enrolment in the degree.
How to apply

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Course details
About the course
Quick details
- Available
- Perth (Crawley campus)
- Full-time
- On-campus
- Semester 1
- Students are expected to work at least 30 hours per week on their research throughout the year, in addition to their coursework commitments.
- Postgraduate
- 01870
- 077710M
Important dates
- Semester 1, 2024
- For Semester 1, 2024 entry, applications open Tuesday 1 August 2023.
- For Semester 1, 2024 entry, applications close Tuesday 31 October 2023.
- Domestic scholarship applications close on 31 October 2023.
Refer to Admissions Requirements for information on eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Course structure
Postgraduate coursework degrees and combined (coursework and research) degrees comprise a number of units. Refer to the course structure for more information.
Pathway to entry information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants
Frequently asked questions
Am I eligible to apply?
To be eligible to apply, you need to:- have obtained an APAC-accredited honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology, with a mark of IIA or higher, and
- find a PhD supervisor who is an academic staff member of the School of Psychological Science who agrees to supervise you if you are offered a place in program, and agree on a basic outline of the research project you will undertake. You must have this supervisory agreement and outline of your PhD worked out prior to applying to the program.
Start looking for a supervisor at least two to three months before the application is due.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) frequently asked questions
What is a PhD?
- UWA’s flagship research degree, which can be taken in any discipline area in the University, providing that appropriate supervision and resources are available.
- A program of independent, supervised research that is assessed solely on the basis of a thesis, which is examined externally (as of 2018, by two examiners and a viva).
- The work presented for a PhD must be a substantial and original contribution to scholarship, demonstrating mastery of the subject of interest as well as an advance in that field of knowledge.
- PhD applicants must meet the eligibility requirements for studying a PhD at UWA, which includes adequate research preparation and a minimum level of English language competence.

Course Accreditation

Why study with us?
Psychology can take you anywhere and everywhere. Psychology is relevant to almost any human endeavour, meaning a psychology degree, or some complementary psychology studies, are relevant not only for traditional psychology careers, but for a wide range of careers.