Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental)/Doctor of Philosophy (DR-PHILEDP) // Entry and participation requirements

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:

• Within the last 10 years, an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) accredited four-year undergraduate sequence in psychology (namely a three-year major in psychology as part of an undergraduate degree plus a fourth year Honours specialisation in psychology, or equivalent) with a weighted average mark of at least H2A (75%)* or equivalent; and
• A successful application into the Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental) and be undertaking the first year of the Masters^, before applying for the combined Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental)/Doctor of Philosophy; and
• A research proposal of 5000 – 6000 words; and
• Have the written support of a principal supervisor for the thesis.

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• Prior academic performance; and
• The research proposal.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the University’s English language requirements for graduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 7+ is required.

Note:

a) *Entry to the Doctor of Philosophy is highly competitive and typically requires achievement of an H1 (80-100%) overall grade range in the relevant honours or Masters degree.

b) ^Direct entry to this combined program is not available. All applicants must first gain admission and enrol into the Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental) and may then apply for entry to the combined the Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental)/Doctor of Philosophy program for the following year. Applications to transfer are opened to currently enrolled Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental) students towards the end of their first year.

c) To be validly enrolled, applicants not currently registered with the Psychology Board of Australia must apply for Provisional Registration with the Psychology Board of Australia before the start of the first semester of enrolment, and applicants without a Working with Children Card must apply for one before the start of the first semester of enrolment.

d) Applicants with non-Australian qualifications must provide an Australian Psychological Society (APS) comparability assessment with their application, to confirm their eligibility for Associate Membership. See the Australian Psychological Society (APS) website for details: www.psychology.org.au

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The Melbourne Faculty of Education welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and Faculty policy to take reasonable steps to enable the participation of students with disabilities, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the Faculty’s programs.

The core participation requirements for study in this course are:

1. The ability to comprehend complex information related to educational and developmental psychology.

2. The ability to communicate clearly and independently in assessment tasks and knowledge of the content, principles and practices relating to educational and developmental psychology.

3. Behavioural and social attributes that enable a student to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.

4. The ability to undertake professional practice placements independently, including:

a. the ability based on personal maturity to establish a professional relationship with client groups and interact with them appropriately;

b. the ability to create, monitor and maintain a safe physical environment, and a stable and supportive psychological environment;

c. the ability to establish effective relationships with all members of the client and caregiver groups;

d. the ability based on mental and physical health to exercise sound judgment and respond promptly to the demands of client groups, and the personal resilience to cope and maintain their wellbeing under stress.

Students who feel a disability will prevent them from meeting the above academic requirements are encouraged to contact Student Equity and Disability Support http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity.

Last updated: 10 February 2024