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Doctor of Psychology (Counselling Psychology) 

N008     


Campus Availability Study Mode Study Level Duration
Hawthorn Full-time, Part-time (day & evening) Postgraduate Four years full-time or eight years part-time.

This is a higher degree by research, incorporating coursework and professional placement components, completed over four years of full-time or eight years of part-time study. It is possible for students to move between full-time and part-time modes in certain circumstances. International student visa holders must study full-time.

The program gives candidates the opportunity to develop professional and research skills in counselling psychology. The major component of the program (70%) involves a substantial research project, and reporting this research in the form of a thesis. Normally the thesis is 40,000-60,000 words in length, not including appendices and references.

A research topic must be mutually agreed upon by the candidate and a member of staff in the psychology discipline who is qualified to supervise the research. There will normally be an intake of up to five new entrants each year. The faculty may vary the frequency of intake and the number of new entrants depending on the availability of staff to provide suitable research supervision.

Prospective students may also wish to consider the  Doctor of Psychology (Clinical Psychology) or Master of Psychology (Counselling Psychology) or Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology).

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Candidates undertaking the Doctor in Psychology (Counselling Psychology) program will complete the coursework components, 1500 hours of placement and their major thesis. Graduates will be highly skilled in research and professional practice in the area of counselling psychology.

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Full-time program structure

Year 1
Semester 1
 
Semester 2
 
Semester 2
HAY672 Research Project (Counselling) H2

Note: subject availability may vary slightly from year to year due to timetable constraints.

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Graduates are equipped for careers in counselling psychology in hospitals, community welfare organisations, research organisations, and private practice.

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This program  has been granted full accreditation as a fifth and sixth year course in psychology by the Australian Psychological Society (APS).

Graduates will be eligible for:
  • membership of the Australian Psychological Society (APS)
  • registration as a Psychologist in the State of Victoria
  • membership of the APS College of Counselling Psychologists

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The formal admission requirements for the doctorate are:

  • a degree from an Australian university and a completed four-year sequence of studies in psychology at first or upper second class level in a course or courses accredited by the Australian Psychological Society, or equivalent overseas qualifications recognised by the APS, or a masters degree in psychology recognised by the APS
  • experience in face-to-face counselling or significant training in counselling skills e.g. Lifeline, Care Ring, counselling skills in tertiary programs or other appropriate work experience
  • demonstrated possession of an appropriate level of knowledge and skill related to research. In accordance with the guidelines set by the Swinburne Graduate Research School, to have applied for and gained candidature approved by the Swinburne Higher Degrees Committee. Applicants who fail to gain candidature will not be eligible to continue in the doctoral program and may choose to apply for a place in the masters program
Applicants with excellent results in their fourth year studies and relevant human services work experience will be shortlisted and interviewed by a selection panel and an order-of-merit for entry will be prepared taking into account (a) academic record, (b) demonstrated knowledge and skills related to research, (c) previous work experience and training, and (d) academic and professional referees' reports.
 
Note: this program is normally available on a full-time basis only.

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Due to Australian Psychological Society accreditation requirements for eligibility, Credit Transfer Arrangements are not possible for this program.

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Candidates are eligible to apply for both Australian Postgraduate Awards and Swinburne University of Technology Postgraduate Research Awards. The application closing date for these awards is 31 October each year.

Candidates are also eligible to apply, on a competitive basis, for a Research Training Scheme (RTS) fee waiver after the equivalent full-time first year of study.

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Refer to the Office of Research and Graduate Studies website for further information and guidelines http://www.swin.edu.au/research/schols.htm.

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Two application forms must be completed for the coursework and research candidature components of the course. Both the Postgraduate Application form and Postgraduate Research Candidature Application form need to be completed and can be obtained by downloading from the web at http://www.swin.edu.au/hed/postgrad or by contacting the Faculty of Life and Social Sciences on telephone: (03) 9214 5209, email: lssinfo@swin.edu.au.
 
Candidates are eligible to apply for both Australian Postgraduate Awards and Swinburne University of Technology Postgraduate Research Awards.
 
Postgraduate Research Candidature Applications and scholarship applications are made on the same form, however, the deadline for 2009 scholarship applications is 31 October 2008. 
 
Shortlisted applicants may be invited to attend a highly competitive selection interview.
 
Applications for March 2009 entry closed on 31 October 2008.

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Web: Enquire online
Tel: 1300 ASK SWIN (1300 275 794)
Email: postgrad@swinburne.edu.au
 

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