Master of Educational Psychology/Doctor of Philosophy (G02AA)

Overview

Award title	Master of Educational Psychology/Doctor of Philosophy
Year & campus	2025
CRICOS code	056962J
Fees information	Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & type	Graduate Research
AQF level	10
Duration	4 years full-time, or equivalent part-time

Please Note: This course has been re-named and has a new course code. Please refer to DR-PHILEDP Handbook entry.

The MEd Psych/PhD will enable students to become practitioners while developing advanced research skills and experience to enhance their capacity to work in professionally related tertiary programs. The course provides a grounding in the theoretical, conceptual and empirical foundations of professional practice in educational psychology, and the opportunity for students to develop skills relevant to professional practice through supervised professional experience. The course provides the opportunity for students to undertake a substantial piece of original research within the field of practice of educational psychology and related practice.

This is a 4-year combined course comprising a Masters (Coursework) and a PhD. The coursework subjects and practica are spread across the four years; with the PhD component completed over the final three years.

Links to further information

https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/master-of-psychology-educational-and-developmental-doctor-of-philosophy/

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 personal statement of no more than 500 words; and
Two academic referee reports to be submitted online; and
A selection interview (short-listed applicants only).

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

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

Prior academic performance; and
Suitability for clinical training as determined by the interview, personal statement and referee reports.

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 postgraduate 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) The weighted average mark is calculated one third from third year psychology subjects and two thirds from fourth year psychology subjects.

b) Selection into the Master of Educational Psychology/PhD requires the approval of the intended PhD supervisor, and the Melbourne Educational Research Institute. Direct entry into the combined Masters/PhD programmes is available to international applicants only. Local applicants must enrol in the Master of Educational Psychology programme and then apply to articulate to the combined PhD programme towards the end of their first year in the Masters programme.

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 Graduate School of Education welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and Graduate School 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 Graduate School’s programs.
The core participation requirements for study in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education are:

1. The ability to comprehend complex information related to educational psychology.
2. The ability to communicate clearly and independently in assessment tasks and to demonstrate knowledge of the content, principles and practices relating to educational 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 tasks completed in collaboration with other students.

In courses requiring students to undertake practicum placements:

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

Professional accreditation

Australian Psychology Accreditation Council

This course is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council, and recognised by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Graduates of this course will be qualified to practice as a registered psychologist, become a member of the Australian Psychological Society, and an Associate Member of the College of Educational and Developmental Psychologists.

Intended learning outcomes

Graduates of the Master of Educational Psychology/Doctor of Philosophy should demonstrate the skills and knowledge needed to work as an Educational and Developmental Psychologist. On completion of the course, graduates should be able to:

Demonstrate and articulate an understanding of contemporary issues in human development theory, particularly differential development, learning processes and social processes in development;
Demonstrate an awareness of the social and cultural diversity in communities, skill in working collaboratively with people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and cultural responsiveness to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures;
Understand exceptional development and approaches to inclusion of clients with exceptional needs;
Use assessment and observation procedures and interpret findings to gain accurate information on the cognitive, social, emotional and personality development of children and adolescents; use professional approaches to interact with others by using skilled interviewing, counselling and assessment across the lifespan;
Compose reports to other professionals, parents, and organizations;
Apply a range of approaches to intervention, development, interactive processes, and assessment to the treatment of children and adolescents with identified learning and mental health problems, and where necessary to make appropriate referrals;
Consult and collaborate with colleagues, including those from other professions, and coordinate programs for meeting developmental needs, in keeping with principles of inter-professional learning and practice;
Evaluate critically and interpret research and theory in this field, and carry out research and program evaluation of their own;
Understand and apply ethical principles and procedures;
Develop a wide range of practical professional skills in appropriate educational settings.

Graduates also demonstrate advanced research skills demonstrating:

Systematic and critical understanding of the theoretical, conceptual and empirical foundations of professional practice in educational psychology, and the accompanying skills relevant to professional practice through supervised professional experience;
Critical understanding of a complex area of investigation in professional educational psychology, and specialised research skills as shown in completing a substantial piece of original research;
Capacity to present research findings to the professional and general community;
Capacity to operate autonomously demonstrating responsible judgement as an exemplary practitioner and researcher in the field of Educational Psychology.

Generic skills

Graduates of the Master of Educational Psychology/Doctor of Philosophy will develop the following set of generic skills:

Critical reasoning and thinking
Problem solving
Respectful communication
Evidence based decision making
Creativity and innovation
Teamwork and professional collaboration
Self-reflection, career awareness and lifelong learning
Active and participatory citizenship.

Graduate attributes

Graduates of the Master of Educational Psychology/Doctor of Philosophy will show a breadth and depth of psychological knowledge, research and inquiry skills, and an ability to apply these to assist with psychological issues across the lifespan and in a range of settings. They will demonstrate:

Advanced psychological knowledge related to educational and developmental psychology.
Critical, creative thinking with strong reasoning skills. They can apply psychological knowledge, information and research skills to complex problems relating to educational attainment and difficulties, emotional and mental health matters, human behaviour, behavioural change and school wellbeing.
Capacity to use their professional communication skills in an ethical and culturally sensitive manner, in their work with a range of individuals and groups with diverse backgrounds.
Creativity, innovation and self-directedness, continually learning through open evaluation of a range of points of view and possibilities.
Skill in self-assessment, reflective thinking and self-awareness; placing great importance on their personal and professional integrity, and on the willingness to explore, experiment and learn from mistakes.
Empathy and concern for the welfare of others and developed skills in managing their own well-being, reflected in a high regard for human rights, social inclusion, ethics and the environment.

Course structure

Candidates are required to complete:

Ten compulsory subjects (totalling 112.5 credit points of coursework)
Four field practica (totalling 50 points of coursework); and
A PhD thesis

Detailed information on the thesis is available at Graduate Research Hub.

Subject options

Students undertake the following subjects in this order:

Year 1

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
		Year Long (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) July (On Campus - Parkville) September (On Campus - Parkville)
EDUC90229	Ed Psych Practicum 1	Year Long (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
EDUC90253	Research Proposal	Year Long (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
EDUC90220	Research Methods	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
EDUC90225	Psychological Tests	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
EDUC90227	Working with Groups	July (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
EDUC90221	Consultation in Educational Settings	September (On Campus - Parkville)	6.25
EDUC90223	Exceptionality:Assessment & Intervention	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
EDUC90224	Counselling Skills for Ed. Psychologists	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
EDUC90226	Learning Processes and Problems	July (On Campus - Parkville)	6.25

Year 2

The thesis (EDUC80001 PhD Research. Detailed information on the thesis is available at Graduate Research Hub) and

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
EDUC90218	Ed Psych Practicum 2	Year Long (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
EDUC90228	Development and Differences	July (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
EDUC90222	Intervention in Problems of Young People	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Year 3

The thesis (EDUC80001 PhD Research) and

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
EDUC90217	Ed Psych Practicum 3	Year Long (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Year 4