Why Study/Key Benefits

The Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) at Swinburne University of Technology combines doctoral-level research with advanced professional clinical psychology training. Students develop skills in psychological assessment, diagnosis and intervention across the lifespan, alongside research, ethical decision-making, reflective practice and cultural competence. The programme includes multiple clinical placements and culminates in a doctoral research thesis.

Key benefits include:

• APAC accreditation through the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council.
• Training that meets the additional qualification requirements of the Psychology Board of Australia for the clinical psychology area of practice endorsement, subject to completion of the required Registrar Program/supervised practice.
• Eligibility for general registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia after successful completion, subject to the applicable registration requirements.
• Development of clinical skills in psychological assessment, diagnosis, intervention and counselling.
• A substantial research component allowing students to undertake original research in psychology/clinical psychology.
• Multiple supervised clinical placements providing practical professional experience.
• The opportunity to complete the doctoral thesis as a monograph or by publication, subject to Swinburne's requirements. 

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The programme consists of 8 core units, 4 clinical placement units, 8 research units and a doctoral thesis.

Year 1:

Semester 1:

• Counselling Theory and Skills — PSY60007 — 12.5 credit points
• Advanced Psychological Assessment — PSY60002 — 12.5 credit points
• Research Project (Clinical) A — PSY80055 — 25 credit points

Semester 2:

• Adult Psychopathology — PSY60001 — 12.5 credit points
• Clinical Placement A1 — PSY70001 — 12.5 credit points
• Research Project (Clinical) B — PSY80056 — 25 credit points
• Ethical, Legal and Culturally Reflective Practice — PSY80014 — 12.5 credit points

Swinburne notes that PSY80014 must be studied during Winter Term before Semester 2 commences.

Year 2:

Semester 1:

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Research — PSY80007 — 12.5 credit points
• Psychology Practice with Children and Adolescents — PSY60003 — 12.5 credit points
• Research Project (Clinical) C — PSY80057 — 25 credit points

Semester 2:

• Systemic Family Counselling — PSY80062 — 12.5 credit points
• Clinical Placement A2 — PSY70002 — 12.5 credit points
• Research Project (Clinical) D — PSY80058 — 25 credit points

Year 3:

Semester 1:

• Clinical Placement B1 — PSY70003 — 12.5 credit points
• Research Project (Clinical) E — PSY80059 — 25 credit points

Semester 2:

• Foundations of Health Psychology — PSY60006 — 12.5 credit points
• Clinical Placement B2 — PSY70004 — 12.5 credit points
• Research Project (Clinical) F — PSY80060 — 25 credit points

Year 4:

Semester 1:

• Research Project (Clinical) G — PSY80061 — 50 credit points

Semester 2:

• Research Project (Clinical) H — PSY80073 — 50 credit points

Part-time research alternative:

Candidates may apply to spread the Year 4 and Year 5 research component over two years:

• Research Project (Clinical) G1 — PSY80063 — 25 credit points
• Research Project (Clinical) G2 — PSY80064 — 25 credit points
• Research Project (Clinical) H1 — PSY80065 — 25 credit points
• Research Project (Clinical) H2 — PSY80066 — 25 credit points.

Doctoral thesis:

Students can complete the PhD thesis either:

• As a monograph; or
• As a thesis incorporating associated papers / PhD by publication.

Progress reviews occur at approximately:

• 3 months: preconfirmation review
• 9–12 months: confirmation of candidature review
• 21–24 months: mid-candidature review
• 33–36 months: draft thesis review, with follow-up approximately three months before thesis submission.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The programme's stated research areas are:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

The clinical training covers areas including:

• Psychological assessment
• Psychological diagnosis
• Adult psychopathology
• Counselling
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
• Child and adolescent psychology practice
• Systemic family counselling
• Health psychology
• Ethical, legal and culturally reflective practice
• Clinical research.

Programme Highlights

• 4-year full-time doctoral qualification.
• 400 credit points based on the published unit structure.
• Hawthorn campus.
• CRICOS 064191C.
• APAC-accredited programme.
• Combines clinical psychology training and doctoral research.
• 4 clinical placement units.
• 8 research units.
• Training in assessment, diagnosis and intervention.
• Research project work throughout the programme.
• Doctoral thesis can be completed as a monograph or thesis by publication.
• General psychologist registration eligibility after successful completion, subject to Psychology Board of Australia requirements.
• Clinical psychology endorsement pathway following the additional approved supervised practice/Registrar Program requirements.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne identifies potential career opportunities including:

• Psychologist
• Academic
• Researcher
• Consultant.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

The latest programme page currently specifies a 2027 Research Period 1 start of 1 January 2027 and an application closing date of 9 October 2026 at 11:59pm.

Important application requirements include:

• Finding an appropriate and willing research supervisor before applying.
• The application will not be considered without an appropriate supervisor.
• Academic Referee Report.
• Professional Referee Report.
• APS assessment of overseas qualifications.
• Selection interview.
• Research capability.
• Eligibility for provisional psychologist registration.
• Additional checks/documentation for clinical placements.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students studying this programme in Australia generally require a Student visa (subclass 500), subject to their individual circumstances and the requirements in force when they apply.

Swinburne specifically states that international students in Australia holding Student visas must study full-time and on campus.

Key Australian Student visa requirements include:

• Enrolment in an eligible course.
• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), where required.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an exemption applies.
• Meeting applicable Genuine Student requirements.
• Meeting health and character requirements.
• Demonstrating financial capacity where required.
• Providing English-language evidence where required by the Department's document checklist/evidence framework.

Financial capacity:

The Department of Home Affairs currently states that applicants must have sufficient funds for:

• Travel costs
• 12 months of tuition fees
• 12 months of living costs
• Schooling costs for accompanying school-age children, where applicable.